AND IN EPIDEMICS. 61 



250, Decius being emperor, a pestilence began, which cut 

 off, in the next fifteen years, half the human race. Eu- 

 sebius relates that the air was so impure, as to " cast a 

 mould like turbid dew, of a cadaverous hue, on every ob- 

 ject." Cadenus likened it to the gore or blood of the dead. 



In 1813, at Malta, on the 14th of March, " the light 

 showers that fell in some parts of the island, brought 

 down a reddish earth with them. The same phenomena 

 were observed at Palermo on the same day. In April, 

 the plague commenced its ravages in Malta. (Maclean.) 



Boyle makes the observation that, at Naples, in 1660, 

 there was a pestilence, during which, curious mould spots 

 appeared on garments. So, in the plague of 746, spots, 

 in the form of crosses, were observed on clothes. 



At Brussels, in 1502, a pestilence drove the people from 

 the city. On their return, they observed that, in that 

 single season, a cryptogamous vegetation had covered the 

 roofs of the houses. (Webster.) 



At New York, in 1795, Bailey describes the destructive 

 influence of that sickly season on cabbages, different kinds 

 of fruit, &c. " It was remarkable that cherries did not 

 come to perfection, and very soon showed a disposition to 

 decay. The apples began to fall nearly a month before 

 the usual time. Those which came to maturity could not 

 be kept so long as it is common for them to be preserved. 1 ' 



Webster also speaks of that year, (1795,) as peculiarly 

 fungiferous. To use his own words, " the air of New 

 York produced astonishing effects in the way of mould." 

 Garments were spotted in a single night, the pavements 

 became mouldy, and wooden furniture and utensils were 

 spotted. Even desks, carefully closed, were invaded by 

 mildew. 



The year 1798 was remarkable for its prolonged heat 

 6 



