30 



the complaint directly from another; but to call 

 this a proof that it is never taken spontaneously as 

 well, is like showing- that it often rains on Wednes- 

 day, and then calling 1 that a proof that it never 

 rains on Thursday. 



What I say is, that as in innumerable cases the 

 disease seems to be taken spontaneously, the onus 

 probandi rests with those who assert that it cannot 

 be so taken. 



Why one villag*e is attacked and the next escapes 

 no one in the present state of science can say, any 

 more than they can in the case of cholera, or any 

 other epidemic. Why will there be at any time 

 many cases of a common cold in one villag-e, and 

 none in the next ? From what differences in the 

 conditions of the atmosphere is it that colds will 

 take one form one season, another form another. 

 This last winter and spring- they have very much 

 taken the forms of ear-ache and swelled g-lands. 

 Why is all this ? The only answer is, we cannot 

 tell. But this is just the confession, human nature 

 in its ig-norance, pride, and vanity, hates to make. 

 So then come the idle theories, as for instance, in 

 former times that Jews poisoned the wells, which 

 accounted for the black death ; or that subterranean 

 vapours issuing- from clefts in the earth's surface, 

 caused epidemics ; whilst at the present time we all 

 talk about mysterious contagious emanations. 



