IV. Dr. MolineiixV Hiftorical Account of the 
late General Coughs and Colds 5 with fome Ob-' 
fer^ations on other Efidemk\ Dijiempers. 
AMong the many (ecret workings of Nature, none 
fecms more to deferve our Obiervation, than the 
rife and progrefs of Epidemick Diftempers : Since Health, 
one of our chiefeft Goods, is fo nearly concerned, as to 
engage us in the Enquiry, and the Intricacy of the 
Subjed may naturally ftir up our Curiofity to the ut- 
moft profecutioo of it. 
The Coughs and Colds that lately fo univerfally pre- 
vailed, give as a moft extraordinary Inftance, how lia- 
ble at certain times our Bodies are, however differing 
in Conftitution, Age, and way of Living, to be afFeded 
much in the fame manner by a fpreading Evil. 
The moft Inftrudlive and Ufeful Account that can be 
given of fuch a Diftemper, I take to be the fitting 
down all the particular Accidents, or Matter of Faft , 
that occurred in obftrving the way and courfe of its af- 
fefting Mens Bodies, rather than to raife wild and fruit- 
lefs Speculations in Reafoning about it, which being 
Conjedures in all likelihood muft fall Oiort of the tr urhj 
and if fo, muft neceOarily lead us into Error, rather 
than any way help us in profecuting our Enquiry. 
I lhall therefore confine my feif in the following Hi- 
flory as clofe as I can to ftrifl: Matter of Fail", paffing 
by all Hypothefes, and ftiall fet down nothing that was 
not confirmed to me by wary and repeated Obferva- 
tion. 
'Twas about the beginning of Novemher laft, idpj. 
after a conftant courfe of moderately warm Weather 
for theScafbn, upon fome Snow falling in the Moun- 
tains and Country about the Town, that of a fudden it 
grew 
