1826.] Miasma of the Marshes contiguous to the Aleditaranean. 19 



Zendrini, mathematician to the llepubHc of Venice, invited to Lucca by 

 the government, insisted upon the necessity of erecting flood-gates near 

 the mouth of the Burlamacca ; these gates would be closed by the flow- 

 ing of the tides, or the force of the waves, when impelled by high 

 winds, and would be opened by the fresh waters of the marshes when 

 their level became higher than that of the sea. In 1740, the Republic 

 gave orders for the construction of this work, which was finished in 

 1741. The utility of the experiment was proved in the most ample and 

 satisfactory manner. The year after the construction of these flood- 

 gates, the dreadful maladies wliich had before desolated the population 

 of Viareggio, Massaciuccoli, Queisa, and the neighbourhood of the lakes 

 of Matrone and Perotto, had entirely disappeared. Since then the 

 population rapidly increased, and is at this moment in a state of pro- 

 gression. Viareggio has become a considerable town ; all suspicion of 

 the insalubrity of its air has disappeared, and it is now the favourite 

 summer residence of the wealth}^ families of Lucca, who come there to 

 bathe and breathe the sea air. But if any doubts had still remained of 

 the cause of this sudden amelioration, they were completely set at rest 

 by what took place in the summers of 1768 and 1769, when Viareggio, 

 and the parishes contiguous to the lakes of Massaciuccoli, were again 

 visited by epidemic maladies. 



From the parish registers of Viareggio for these two years it resulted 

 that there were 170 deaths in a population of 1,130 souls, which is 

 nearly one in fifteen per j'ear, whilst in the following year, 1770, there 

 were but thirty-two deaths, that is one in forty. The cause of the 

 epidemic had been discovered and removed. During the years 1768 

 and 1769 the flood-gates, from being out of repair, had permitted the 

 entrance of the sea-water. On this being remedied the following year 

 the malady disappeared. In 1784 and 1783 a similar cause led to similar 

 results. In 1784 the number of sick in Viareggio, as stated in the 

 report made to government, was 1,200 in a population of 1,898 souls. 

 This epidemic was removed, like that of 1769, by repairing the flood- 

 gates. The inhabitants of Montignoso, near the marshes of Cinquale, 

 were reduced to such a deplorable state by the catfiva aria, that the 

 government of Lucca thought proper to compel them to quit their 

 habitations, and remove to anotlier part of the country during the sum- 

 mers of 1808 and the foUowmg years until 1812, when the completion 

 of a lock and flood-gates on the outlet of the Ciiiquale rendered this 

 extraordinary measure no longer necessary. Since that period the air 

 of Montignoso has become as salubrious as tliat of Viareggio. Similar 

 means to destroy the insalubrity of the air were adopted at Matrone in 

 1819, and at Tanfalo in 1821, and the results have been invariably 

 satisfactory. 



TRANSLATION OF LATIN EPIGRAM. 



Aeon and Leonille each of an eye bereft. 

 He of his right, the lovely damsel of her left. 

 Since both in grace and beauty \vith the Gods could vie : 

 Yield, yield, sweet boy, to her thy sole remaining eye. 

 Then blind, thou wilt "become the God of Love divine, 

 Then will thy sister as celestial Venus shine. 

 D 2 



