^i6 Dr. Percival on the Effe&s of Famin:^ ^c'^ 



the fadories are now tolerably wt-ll ventilated.' 

 fupplied with purer oil, and kept in a ftate of 

 greater cleanlinefs. SciJl, however, the delicate 



and 



Gentlemen, 



We have taki?n into tile nioft deliberate eonfiieratlon/ 

 your very humane and judicious requifition ; and we fliall 

 now Jay before you the refult of our inquiries, concerniog 

 thofe intereiling objedls, which you have propofed to our 

 inveftio-ation. We have fullv fatisficd ourfelves, either 



to 



from aftual obfervation, or authentic telHniony, that a low, 

 putrid fever, of a contagious nature,' has prevailed man/ 

 months in the cotton mills, and amongil the poor, in the 

 townlhip of Radclifie. We cannot, however, afcertain, 

 whether this fever originated in thofe works, or was im- 

 ported into RadclifFe from forae other parts of the ceunty. 

 But though this point remain doubtful, we are decided in 

 our opinion — That the difbrder has been fupported, dif- 

 ftifed, and aggravated, by the ready communication of 

 contagion to numbers crowded together; by the acceffion- 

 to its virulence from putrid effluvia ; and by the injury 

 done to young perfons through confinement, and too long 

 continued labour ; to which feveral evils the cotton-mijls- 

 have given occafion. 



Thefe evils, we truft, are not without remedy -^ and from- 

 the benevolent attention, which the proprietors of the Rad- 

 cliffe-works have Ihewn to the fick and infirm under their 

 charge, we may reafonably prefume to hope, they wilt be in- 

 duced to adopt the following praftical regulations, fron* 

 motives of policy, humanity, and jullice, as well as from 

 the refpeft, which is due to your authority. 



I. All the cafements of the windows, and the three large 

 weftern doors of the cotton-mills, Ihould be left open every 

 night: The fame regulation ftiould take place, during the 

 recefs from work, at noon ; and as many cafements fliould 



be 



