ryp2. on coughs and colds. 121 



for purifying- their clothes and the furniture of the 

 chambers they inhabited. 



23d. Pains might also be taken to introduce the 

 custom of airing and fumigating, during the course 

 of the summer, the clothes which were worn in win- 

 ter, and the same precaution might be used as to beds 

 and furniture. " 



24th. A clerygman, whom I know, causes his 

 beadle to open the doors and the windows of his 

 church, every fine day, through the course of the 

 week, and seems to think there is lefs coughing in 

 his church than before ; though the fliort while he 

 has tried this experiment prevents his speaking with 

 great certainty on the subject. He is certain, how- 

 ever, that coughing has not increased since he began 

 this practice. 



It would be safe therefore to recommend this ex- 

 periment to be tried in all our churches, playhouses, 

 coffeehouses ,and other places of public resort. 



25th. The mortality occasioned by putrid fevers 

 in Batavia is well known. There i* scarce a family 

 which has not lost some of its members or connec- 

 tions, in the sea-faring line, who have touched at 

 that port. The cause of this mortality was not dis- 

 covered till of late, that the doctrine of the conta- 

 giousnefs of such putrid distempers has been esta- 

 blifhed. There is in the great city of Batavia but 

 one public hotel for the reception of strangers. The 

 right of keeping this hotel is farmed by the govern- 

 ment. The governor, and higher members of the 

 ' Dutch council, there, fhare in the profits of this 

 farm. Private houses are therefore forbidden, uii- 



