40$ Burial Places in great "Towns. [Book V. 



Combuftion or refpiration are, however, not the only 

 means by which atmofpheric air is injured. Phofphorus 

 of every kind, liver of fulphur, oil of turpentine, 

 cements of wax, oils of mint, cinnamon, &c. nitrous 

 acid, and even nitrous aether, at once diminifh and de- 

 prave it. 



The air is alfo rendered unwholefome . by the ab- 

 forption of putrid * or inflammable vapours, the ex- 

 plofion of gunpowders by oil paints, by the volatile 

 fpirit of fal ammoniac, by fpirit of wine, by every 

 kincl of perfumery or artificial fcents, by the vapour of 

 new plaiftered walls, by 'all putrid fubftances, and ef- 

 pecially by ftagnate water j thcfe fubftances all diffufe 

 a quantity of mephitic air or vapour through the 

 furrounding atrnofphere, and fome of them confume 

 the pure or vital part. Even the vapour of pure wa- 

 ter in confiderable quantities is pernicious to animal 

 lifej Mufchenbroek obierved, that it threw a bird 

 into great anxiety; that the vapour of vinegar had a 

 fimilar effect ; that the vapour of fpirit of wine killed 

 a b}rd j and that feveral others were fatal to life f. 



From thefe fads it is manifefl that the burying of 

 the dead in populous towns is a wretched and danger, 

 rous mockery of police. I know a certain great town 

 where, in burial places in the very middle of the town, 

 the dead are buried not fix inches below the furface j 

 and in London, notwithstanding the ad: of parliament, 



* A quantity of corrupted fifti were once thought to ha\'e oc- 

 cafioned a violent epidemic fever at Venice. The fame effeft was 

 produced at Delft, by the corruption of vegetables. The Arabs, 

 when defiroas of injuring the Turks at 6a flora, break down the 

 banks of the river near that city, fo as to permit it to overflow a 

 great traft of land ; a violent fever is generally the cor.icquer.ee 

 of the putrid mud, &c. which is left behind after the water is 

 evaporated. Cav. on Air, 457. 



j- avallo on Air, p. 447, 



\vhac 



