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IV. Progrffs of Br. Mitch ill'5 Mind in invejiigating the 

 Caufe of the Pc/lilential Difevipers which '■jifit the Cities of 

 America in Summer andAutu?nu. Being a Dcvclopement 

 of his Theory of Pejlilential Fluids, as puM'fhed to the 

 IVorld in 1795 and the fucceeding Years. 



[Concluded from Page 43.] 



VV HILE thefe inquiries were making, a memorable dif- 

 pute was carried on in fome of the Atlantic cities, Whether 

 the exciting caufe of yellow fever was of domeftic origin, or 

 imported from foreign places in {hips and merchandize? 

 The prevailing opinion at New- York was, that there were 

 local caufes enough for the produ&ion of that diftemper in 

 the city itfelf. With the intention of removing the caufes 

 of this plague from the town, the Lesriflature, then fitting at 

 Albany, 160 miles didant, rapidly pafTcd a bill prohibitory 

 of certain trades and manufactures within the compaft part 

 of the city. The a6t forbade, among other things, the ma- 

 ■niifatlure of foap and candles under a heavy penalty, except 

 at definite diftances from the houfes and fcttlemcnts. The 

 dcf<.nption of citizens engaged in thefe branches of bufincfs 

 prefciiled immediately a memorial to the Legiflature for re- 

 lief on this occafion, and retained Dr. Mitchill as their 

 counfel to manage the bufincfs of procuring fome terms of 

 mitigation at the feat of Government. In drawing up the 

 argument in favour of his clients, he became more firmly 

 convinced than before, that fubfi:ances compofed of carbone 

 and hydrogene, fach '^sfaf, grcafc, and oil, were incapable 

 of yielding peftilential air; and that the fubfiances contain- 

 \ng fepton, to wit, ihc fkimiy, lean, mufcidar, and vicmhra- 

 nous parts of animals, together with the hlood and alimcntarj/ 

 faces^ wore the fubftances whence unhealthy and noxious 

 exhalations proceeded. From a general and broad indu6lion 

 of facts arranged in the argument employed on that occa- 

 fion, it was rendered clear, that the fubilances containing 



frpton. 



