cf PeJlUential Fluids. 137 



confiderable quantity of fuch dilute aquafortis being takei 

 into their bodies as they grazed during the night. He 

 thought this was corroborated by the fymptoms related by 

 Lancifi to have been obferved in the cattle fick of fuch dif- 

 eafes in Italy. 



And it was no lefs plain that rujl and mildeiv in wheat 

 were owing to the fame caufe. 



The unwholefomenefs of certain dews, in certain places 

 and times, was evidently, he believed, to be afcribed to a 

 portion of feptic acid gas, volatilized during the heat of the 

 day, and precipitated with a portion of atmofpheric water in 

 the cool of the night. 



With this branch of the enquiry was conncfted the whole 

 hiftory of nitre, and the pits, beds, and caverns wherein it 

 was produced, whether fpontaneoufly, or by the hand of 

 roan. The interpretation of all the fa6ls relative to which 

 amounted to this ; that the alkali neutralized the acid poifon 

 of putrffa^ion. 



On looking around, it could not efcape Dr. Mitchill, that 

 the fwcetening and clean (ing effefts of Iwie, alkaline ley, 

 and Joap, in domestic economy, were now capable of 

 an eafy and complete explanation. The fweat, perfpiration, 

 and excreted matter of almoft every fort, which rendered 

 clothing, bedding, furniture, and houfes foul, contained 

 fepton ; and confequcntly, in the heat of the human body, 

 ftptic acid might be produced in quantity and flrcngth fuffi- 

 cicnt to excite many morbid aj'edions ofthejkin, and, if ab- 

 forbcd, engender the worjl forms of fever. Lime, ley, and 

 foap rendered the human body, its clothes, bedding, &c. 

 pure and wholefonie, by their power of aitrafting all kind of 

 peftilential matter, and carrying it clean off. He therefore 

 became G\tisficd that the old maxims of female management 

 were bed ; for he never knew infeftion break out where 

 there was a smart woman for a houfekeeper: the reafon 

 was, flic ktpt ibe niifchicf down hy 'alkalies. On thg other 



hand. 



