the Validity of the Doctrine of Contagion in the Plague. 423 



mion, saw there some diseases of the plague, and a great variety 

 of Asiatic fevers, highly infectious. Considers the plague, from 

 what he has seen, as highly infectious, and equally so through the 

 medium of the diseased atmosphere of a sick chamh.er, as by 

 simple contact, by feeling the pulse. Supposes the plague at 

 Constantinople to arise from the diseased constitution of the at- 

 mosphere and other peculiar causes, such as efHuvia and soil, 

 which produce endemic diseases all over the globe; from the same 

 causes as we have epidemic diseases in England, and from the 

 circumstance of that city standing upon hills. Many of the houses 

 are built on ground sloping to the south-west, consequently liable 

 to the whole action of the south-west sun ; all are badly venti- 

 lated. The streets are very narrow, and they do not possess that 

 grand source of health, common sewers. The suburb of Pera, 

 which is chiefly inhabited by Europeans, has generally less plague 

 than any other district; owing, he conceives, to the houses not be- 

 ing so close, or the streets so narrow. Does not consider the 

 plague in England in 1665 to have been the real Levant plague. 

 At that period, as far as he Tias been able to trace from a 

 variety of old authors, there was scarcely such a thing as a com- 

 mon sewer. The privies were accumulated under every house, 

 probably not emptied for years; and an order was given to empty 

 them once a month. That order originated, it is believed, in the 

 College of Physicians after the spreading of the plague. Ascribes 

 the sickness of 16G5 to the narrowness of the streets, accumu- 

 lation of filth, and want of ventilation ; and probably a diseased 

 constitution of the atmosphere at that period. Firmly believes 

 that it was not imported, but that it originated in England. Does 

 not consider that our quarantine establishments have kept the 

 plague from being introduced into Great Britain or Ireland. 

 From having been frequently under quarantine restraint himself, 

 has made it his business to visit most of the lazarettos between 

 Gibraltar and Constantinople ; but the source of disease is more 

 frequently seen among the Greek vessels that carry cargoes to 

 Marseilles. Considers the lazarettos particularly inefficient in 

 fitment for the purpose of purifying bales of goods from infection, 

 that is with respect to ventilation and ballast. Thinks it very 

 doubtful whether the Levant plague can exist in a British atmo- 

 sphere, but that there is great encouragement to nurse disease, 

 if any is imported into the lazarettos. There are some of the 

 lazaretto ships where the shingle ballast has not been shifted for 

 many years ; and in many instances fevers have been produced, 

 and nursed from this case, even in our men of war; the men of 

 war formerly used to be ballasted with shingles ; on turning this 

 ballast, it has produced fever in several of the ships. Has never 



D d 4 heard 



