18 Report from the Select Committee appointed to consldei 



and charged with avervrich mud, which it deposits. After seve- 

 ral months, when the Nile falls, the water, in a comparative pure 

 state, is carried off the land by canals, which at a prescribed sea- 

 son are opened for that purpose. As the sun gains power, the 

 moisture of the mud which has been left is absorbed, until the mud 

 becomes quite drv and brittle; the absorption is so great that the 

 ground is over all its surface broken bv large fissures, sometimes 

 three or four feet in depth, and which render the passage for 

 horses extremelv dangerous. 



ChnrlesDahtonNevinson, M.D. — Is of opinion that the plague 

 of 1665 did not originate in this countrv, and that no degree of 

 cleanliness would prevent its being extended to the individuals of 

 the country, if they were sufficiently exposed to the contagion. 

 Considers all regulations which prevent the communication of 

 persons infected with the plague with others, as useful, of what- 

 ever kind, whether performing.quarantine on ship board ; in float- 

 ing lazarettos, or in lazarettos on shore. The plague not appear- 

 ing in the lazarettos is no more a proof that it is not contagious, 

 than that typhus is not contagious because it does not extend in 

 the hospitals in this metropolis, where every precaution is used 

 by ventilation and cleanliness to prevent its propagation. In St. 

 George's hospital he never knew an instance of its communica- 

 tion for nearly twenty-six years, and has certainly seen some of 

 the worst states of typhus in that hospital. 



Richard Powell, M.D. — Thinks the plague is contagious. 

 Deduces this opinion from the recorded facts upon the subject, 

 which establish it to his mind as strongly as any fact with which 

 we are acquainted. 



Edward Ash, M.D. — Has travelled a good deal, and en- 

 deavoured to collect all the information he could upon the subject 

 of the plague in travelling on the continent. Is of opinion, that 

 the plague is decidedly contagious ; that it is propagated from 

 body to body ; and from infected articles of merchandize, goods 

 or clothes, to human bodies. This opinion is formed upon seve- 

 ral facts. One was the immunity from plague which was pre- 

 served in the Foundling House at Moscow, which was free from 

 the disease while the population of the town was perishing around, 

 by drawing a cordon of troops around the building, vvhich was 

 com})!etely insulated, and making the most strict quarantine re- 

 gulations ; by means of which none of the inmates of the hospi- 

 tal perished. Another principal fact was, the effect of shutting 

 up or wholly insulating the Frank quarter, during the prevalence 

 of the plague in Constantinople, Aleppo, Smyrna, and all the 

 other towns vvhich are ex])oscd to ravages of the disease ; a mea- 

 sure the success of which in preventing the spread of plague, ren- 

 ders it impossible to suppose that the jilague should be commu- 

 nicated 



