290 Means of preventing the Development 



afforded in their favour. Now this great point has been, as I 

 apprehend, incontestably established by geological researches 5 

 and I know of no other method by which it is possible to esta- 

 blish it : for all the metaphysical reasonings which have been 

 essayed on this subject, not excepting the vaunted demonstra- 

 tion of Dr. Samuel Clarke, appear to me to be as visionary as 

 any piece of chimerical nonsense from the Cabbala, and to afford 

 not the smallest presumptive proof that the world has not ex- 

 isted in its present state from all eternity. 

 I have the honour to be, sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



Brbtol, Oct. 10, 1315. J. C. PUICHAUD, M.D. 



LII, Means of preventing the Development and Propagation 

 of contagious Ty pints. By M. Le Roux, Dean 0/ the Fa- 

 culty of Medicine ai Paris : published with the Jipprohation 

 of the French Minister of the Interior*. 



XT is ascertained tliat every place in which any number of pa- 

 tients affected with contagious typhus have been immured, re- 

 tains for a very long time in its whole extent, and still more in all 

 the furniture which has been used by the patients, deleterious 

 and contagious miasmata calculated to communicate typhus to 

 those who are alterwards doomed to inhabit the place. 



The method of disinfecting such a spot is very simple. It 

 consists in decomposing and destroying contagious miasmata ; 

 and this method is certain. Chemistry has procured ns these 

 means, and the healing art teaches us their application and pre- 

 cepts wliich secure its success. 



To the use of the medicaments which ought to be employed 

 in different periods of the disease, acid fumigations ought 

 to be added, which, by diffusing themselves through the air, 

 seize -ipon the jjutrid and contagious miasmata with which it is 

 loaded, combine with them, and consequently destroy their de- 

 leterious properties. 



1 . I'he fumigations of oxygenated muriatic acid according to 

 the ])rocess of Guyton Morveau, tlie efficacy of which has been 

 demonstrated by experience, ought to be managed in the follow- 

 ing manner, in rooms not inhabited. Muriate of soda (common 

 salt) 90 grammes (three ounces), black oxide of manganese seven 

 grammes (two drachms). 



This powder is put into a capsule of earthenware, which is 



* Aintaks (k. Chimie, tome :;civ. p. 327. 



placed 



