556 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



cial effect in concurring with and exciting the power of mias- 

 ma and contagion. The circumstances which operate especial- 

 ly in times of famine, are, 1 . The corruption of the common 

 grain. It is not well got in, it is spoiled, and less pains are 

 taken by the farmer to separate the corrupted part from the 

 sound, so that the grain comes to the market in a more cor- 

 rupted condition. 2. The corruption of animal food. It has 

 been observed by Senac, that the air or the moist exhalations 

 which produce miasmata increase extremely the putrefaction of 

 animal food]; and*the poor in times of scarcity are often obliged 

 to make use of corrupted food which they would at other times 

 reject. 3. Want of animal food; not only the corruption, but 

 the want of animal food makes the bodies of men more sen- 

 sible of contagion ; m all cases, weakness, and therefore the want 

 of aliment also renders the bodies of men more susceptible of 

 contagions. 4. As the poor are obliged to spend their whole funds 

 upon the scanty aliment, they are less able to procure a change 

 of raiment, which gives rise to the corruption of the effluvia, 

 the great cause of contagion, and the want of clothes and fuel 

 occasions more exposure to cold. 5. In such cases, great num- 

 bers commonly resort to great cities, where by begging or other- 

 wise they can procure a living, whereby the more noxious ef- 

 fluvia are more certainly generated ; and this circumstance, in 

 a great measure, gives occasion to the putrid, malignant, and 

 petechial fevers which so constantly arise in these cities. These 

 are the circumstances then which may generate or favour the 

 application of contagions ; but I cannot find any reason to sup- 

 pose that any different disease is produced by famine from what 

 is produced on other occasions. 



" So much for the epidemics, which we suppose to arise from 

 the state of the diet. I will not say what accidental poisons 

 may be infused into our waters or other aliments, whether they 

 may not be affected at times by exhalations from apertures in 

 the earth, &c. ; but these instances are so very rare that they 

 cannot be considered as a general cause. I proceed therefore 

 to inquire after those epidemics which arise from the state 

 of the air, to which they have been imputed by all physi- 

 cians. 



