Disinfecting Poivers of iiicr eased Temperatures. 23 



variety of shades, as to render its discrimination extremely dif- 

 ficult and uncertain. But a still stronger objection to typhus, 

 as a source of evidence on this subject, is, that by no inconsi- 

 derable number of writers it is denied to be contagious at all. 

 On this topic a controversy has been carried on, into which 

 I decline to enter. My own conviction, founded on very ex- 

 tensive observation of the disease during more than twenty 

 years of private practice, and still more as physician to the Man- 

 chester Infirmary, Dispensary, and Fever-wards, is that, tmder 

 certain circumstances, typhus is decidedly contagious; althoutrh, 

 by strict attention to cleanliness and to free ventilation, the 

 effluvia issuing from the sick may be so diluted and carried offj, 

 as to be rendered almost harmless. 



My determination to reject the contagion of typhus as a 

 subject of experiment was, however, changed, by learnino- 

 from Mr. Johnson, the resident clerk of the Fever-wards in 

 this town, that there was at that time in the house a singu- 

 larly well-marked case of the disease. The physician also, 

 to whose charge the patient (a female, get. 19) had devolved, 

 assured me that he had not, during the last two or three 

 years, met with a case which he could more confidently pro- 

 nounce to be contagious typhus. Its severity was proved by its 

 terminating fatally, notwithstanding the most assiduous atten- 

 tions, on the fourteenth day of the disease. During the nio-ht, 

 between the tenth and eleventh days of the malady, a flannel 

 jacket, made without sleeves, was placed in contact with the 

 body of the patient. On the following day, it was replaced by 

 another; and that, on the day after, by a third ; each of which 

 was worn by her for several hours. The first waistcoat, after 

 being submitted to a temperature of 204.° or 205° Fahr., for an 

 hour and three-quarters, was kept beneath, and within twelve 

 inches from, the nostrils of a person engaged in writing durino- 

 two hours. The second, after being heated in a simitar man*^ 

 ner, was worn next the body of the same individual for two 

 liours. The third, after exposure to heat, was kept in an 

 air-tiglit tin canister for twenty-six days, with the view of 

 giving activity to any contagious matter, which might possibly 

 have escapetl decomposition. It was then placed within twelve 

 inches of the face of the same person for four hours ; a o-entle 

 current of air being contrived to blow upon him, from the 

 flannel during the whole time. No injurious effects were ex- 

 perienced. 



The negative results thus obtained are only, I am well 

 aware, entitled to that proportional share of weight, which 

 would have been due to tliem, if they had formed a part of a 

 numerous seriesof experiments. For the reception of contagion, 



even 



