Contagion of Plague. 
tagious it might be. Great stress has 
been laid, by those who deny the con- 
tagion of plague, that it has not ap- 
peared in England for these last 160 
years; to this observation we.adduce, 
the great improvements that have since 
taken place in the cleanliness of our 
habitations, ia the comforts of our 
tables, and, in short, in-all our habits of 
life. For no one pretends to deny that 
a contagions disease will easier gaia a 
footing, and rage with greater. violence, 
among people living in the slothful man- 
ner Erasmus and others have as- 
cribed to the English in former times, to 
what must naturally happen among 
their refined and luxurious descendants 
of the present day. In like manner, I 
have no doubt that, ike the ancient 
Egyptians, the cleanly habits of the 
Dutch, and the great humidity of their 
country, must importantly operate in 
warding off, and destroying contagion 
of every kind. We have the fact stated 
by Dr. Russell, that the contagion of 
plague, which, in all probability, is the 
most violent of any, is only active at a 
short distance from its source; the at- 
mosphere, by diluting and decomposing 
it, rendering it inert.* It seems owing 
to this circumstance not having been 
sufficiently attended to, that we have 
frequently opposite explanations of the 
same fact ; and by which the public has 
been held in anxious suspense on this 
important question. I am fully per- 
suaded that no contagious disease is 
caught except by a nearer approach to 
the sick than what is generally supposed, 
or by the inspiration of contagious. va- 
pours contained in the clothes or goods 
that have been actually in contact with 
those labouring under the disease. 
The matter of contagion, as it is 
extricated from the morbid functions in 
a gazeous form, and immediately mix- 
ing with the atmosphere, can therefore 
only produce its peculiar impression 
upon those in health; while it remains 
comparatively pure and undiluted, con- 
sequently, from its affinity to the atmo- 
sphere, it must be nearly innocuous at 
but a short distance from its source— 
and which must admit of modification, 
according to the virulence of the conta- 
gion itself, and the state of the sur- 
rounding atmosphere. Therefore, unless 
by a near approach to the sick, so that 
the air inspired is strongly impregnated 
with contagion, no apparent effect will 
* Vide Fracastorti Overa, and Haygarth’s 
Works, 
Monttut.y Mac. No. 412.—Supp. 
657 
follow such intercourse; and pariicu- 
larly if the visit is made, so that the 
current of air may lead towards the 
sick.* Hence, from superficial obser- 
vation, the anomalous cases that have 
been quoted as warranting the idea of 
the non-contagious nature of plague. 
To the same cause, also, we must 
impute the greater number of exemp- 
tions during the prevalence of plague, 
or. other contagious diseases, to what 
we find is the case during the prevalence 
of any epidemic fever, depending on local 
and general causes. In the Remittent, 
or Yellow Fever, as it is commonly 
called, it is to be observed, that as its 
sources of exciting cause are extended 
over a greater surface, and: being more 
permanent in its evolution, it therefore 
reaches higher in the atmosphere, and 
spreads more equally; and, consequent- 
ly, it excites its baneful effects in a 
more general manner than contagion; 
whose source. is more limited, as being 
confined to. living bodies, continually 
undergoing some.change, and being 
more liable to be, decomposed in. the 
atmosphere: .consequently, the fluid 
thus evolved, being sooner diluted in 
the atmosphere, is harmless at a much 
shorter distance from its source than 
the other. 
I have thus thrown together a few 
remarks, illustrated by facts, which, in _ 
my mind, prove the contagious nature 
of plague—an opinion which has never 
been disputed seriously, but in-modern 
times, in opposition to general opinion 
and observation, and. without the sup- 
port of one*pure and genuine } fact. 
The discussion of the question has 
brought us into difficulties with other 
nations; and it is to be hoped that 
measures will be adopted.to set this 
matter at rest, by a fresh investigation 
of the subject, which ought never to 
have been taken out of the hands of 
the profession. For this end, I should 
propose a Committee, consisting of a 
Fellow from each of the Colleges of 
London, Edinburgh and Dublin, with 
two Licentiates of the London College, 
assisted with two or four Members of 
Parliament—in the first place, to take 
into ‘consideration the Reports of the 
Committees which have already investi- 
gated this subject; and with the power 
to call before them, at the public ex- 
pense, any person from whom they 
think they can obtain information on 
this matter. If 
ca ALA US 
“* See Jackson, On Morocco, 
4P 
