40 Memoirs of the late 
had passed; they had been treated, (as I 
have heard it alleged) with every precaution 
against cold; and nothing had been omitted 
which the midwife had directed. 
Under these circumstances, Mr. White 
commenced practice, and he directly set him- 
self in opposition to usages so fatal in their 
consequences. The evil was, indeed, of great 
amount, and the mortality truly alarming. 
To overcome the influence of prejudice and 
long established custom, required a manly 
spirit and steady perseverance, united with 
real professional ability and the possession of 
the public confidence. With these requisites, 
Mr. White finally accomplished his object. 
His patients, instead of being confined to their 
beds for above a week, were permitted to rise 
on the second day; the room was well venti- 
lated and kept cool ; and no cordials or vinous 
liquors were allowed, except when absolutely 
necessary, and under proper restrictions. The 
good effects of these changes were so evident, 
as to carry conviction wherever they were in- 
troduced. The miliary fever almost entirely 
disappeared, and the puerperal soon became 
comparatively, of rare occurrence. 
Of the febrile diseases which have been just 
noticed, the miliary fever was not confined to 
lying-in women, norto the female sex. It be- 
