54 Literary and Phiiosophical Society, 



' On the subject of the propagation of infection in cotton- 

 mills, it may be necessary to observe, that although it has 

 been supposed that fever may be imported in the cotton, 

 and though this opinion does not seem improbable in 

 itself, yet no direct proof of fevers originating from this 

 source has ever been obtained. . . . 



' The great difference in the healthiness of different 

 cotton-mills, which it would be invidious to point out here, 

 but which may be easily learnt from the lists of fever 

 patients kept at the infirmary for the last five years, suffi- 

 ciently proves the benefits of care respecting the circum- 

 stances I have mentioned, and the danger of inatten- 

 tion. . . . 



' The practice of smoking tobacco has been sometimes 

 recommended as a preventive of infection ; whatever may 

 be the effect of the herb properly prepared, I am confident 

 that the acrid, irritating composition used by working 

 people is more likely to excite than to prevent disease ; 

 and I am persuaded that I have seen complaints in the 

 stomach and bowels repeatedly occasioned by its use. . . . 



* The obvious extension of the cares of the committee 

 to a superintendence of the morals of the poor, as inti- 

 mately connected with the preservation of the health, 

 comprehends a variety of most important objects which 

 cannot be obtained without application to the Legislature 

 of the country.' 



Dr. Haygarth, of Chester, communicated his opinions 

 to Dr. Percival. They were as follows : — 



January 6, 1796. 



* My dear Friend, — You desire me to communicate some 

 observations on the best means of stopping the progress of 

 the low fever at present very prevalent in Manchester and 

 its neighbourhood. 



