the Validily of the Doctrine of Contagion in the Vlague. 425 



that it can be conveyed by an individual infected by it to another 

 in perfect health. Ascribes our not having it in Great Britain 

 to the regulations of the quarantine laws. 



Being asked what precautions are taken to prevent infection, 

 by the Frank inhabitants of Smyrna and Constantinople, and 

 other places visited by the plague ? — answers, " If they can af- 

 ford it, shutting themselves up in the houses before communica- 

 tion with persons infected ; if they are obliged to go abroad, as 

 some are, such as physicians who have their livelihood to get, 

 some wear oilskin dresses, oilskin gloves, and other medical pre- 

 cautions to prevent breathing the infected air ; others anoint 

 themselves with oil, and avoid contact as much as possible, un- 

 der a strong persuasion that contact produces disease. In Egypt 

 and Syria they shut themselves up as soon as there is a rumour 

 of the plague, and never quit till the dews fall, that is, till St. 

 John's day ; then they come out, and proceed to church in order 

 to sing Te Deum." — During the prevalence of great disease in 

 any of these towns, never knew the plague destructive in the fa- 

 milies of the Franks, who avoid contact with diseased persons. 

 The plague is not epidemic. Can bring cases in support of the 

 assertion, and that it does not depend on atmosphere or ventila- 

 tion. The state of the air may render the person exposed to the 

 contact, more or less liable to feel its effect, but will not operate 

 in checking the disease. Attributes the periodical appearance of 

 the plague in the spring and autumn to the seasons having an 

 influence on the character of the disorder ; the same as in this 

 country, in winter, we are more likely to catch a cold or catarrh. 

 Thinks the plague most probably an endemic disease, at some 

 particular parts of Egvpt. The first mention of it is as coming 

 from that country. Refers to Thucydides, though of opinion that 

 the plague of Athens mentioned by him was not the plague of 

 the present day. The other authors who mention the disease 

 are Muratori, Guastaldi, Foderc, Nacquart, and very recently 

 Jourdan and Valli. 



Cases of plague not so frequent in the division of Constanti- 

 nople called Pera, as in Constantinople, because every Frank 

 takes precaution against the disease. That suburb is a little more 

 elevated, and is a long narrow street ; as to the houses, many of 

 them are of stone, whereas in Constantinople tliey are chiefly 

 wood; and the streets are wider at Pera than they are at Constanti- 

 nople, generally speaking. Pera upon the whole is a more airy 

 place than Constantinople ; but does not think it a less likely situa- 

 tion for the production of any disorder peculiar to the climate, 

 than Constantinople. Knows that caravans proceed very fre- 

 quently for the conveyance of goods from Aleppo eastward, 



through 



