168 MICROBES AND HEALTH. 



worn. In 1754 the Grand Duke of Tuscany, being im- 

 bued with the truthfulness of the contagious doctrine of 

 phthisis, addressed the College of Physicians of Florence 

 on this subject, but the latter, not being able to view the 

 question in the same light, made a negative report on it. 

 In spite of this action an ordinance was passed by the 

 government making it compulsory on all medical prac- 

 titioners to report, under the penalty of a fine of 100 

 scudi, every case of 'true confirmed phthisis' to the 

 Health Tribunal in Florence, and to the governor, com- 

 missioners and magistrates having criminal jurisdiction 

 in the other provinces. In every case of this kind the 

 magistrate ordered an exact inventory of all articles in 

 the patient's room, or used by him, so that a thorough 

 disinfection could be made in case of death. After the 

 consumptive's death those who had taken care of him, 

 and those who had charge of his clothes, were com- 

 pelled to report themselves to the proper authority. 

 The owners of houses inhabited by phthisical patients 

 were not allowed to eject them, because such action 

 might render them homeless and wanderers, and facili- 

 tate the spread of the disease. The heirs of consump- 

 tives were forbidden to sell anything that had been 

 used in their illness for a month after their death. 

 Patients were enjoined to expectorate only in special 

 vessels of glass or glazed earthenware, which were to 

 be emptied and cleaned frequently. These laws were 

 strictly enforced for thirty-nine years until 1783 

 when, on account of a want of support on the part of 

 the medical profession, they were repealed by the Grand 



