[ 8 ] 
when made in Perfection ; this is no more than 
the Fumes of burning Brimftone catch’d and de- 
tain’d in Water : So that this Preparation, wanting 
the Acid, cannot be compared, in that refpeCt, 
with our Spirir, which has it in Perfection. 
X. What the Medicinal Virtues and Ufes of our vo- 
latile Acid of Sulphur may be, I humbly fubmit to 
you, and the learned Phyficians, to whom it belongs ; 
only beg Leave to obferve, that if what we find in 
numerous learned Phyfic-Books be juft, there are 
Hopes, that it may prove a noble Medicine in many 
Kinds of Fevers, the Small pox, and even in Plagues. 
In fome of thefe Books we read, that malignant 
Fevers are owing to a Superabundance of volatile 
alkaline Salts in the Body ; and, if that be the 
Cafe, one might hope to neutralize or deftroy fuch 
a Superabundancy of volatile alkaline Salts, by the 
prudent Ufe of this fine volatile Acid ; which is 
capable of being mixed with Water, Julaps, and 
mo ft Sorts of Drinks. 
XL I likewife find. That the Origin of all Pefti- 
lences and Plagues has been allign’d to the fol- 
lowing Caufes j viz- (i.) The Carcafes of Men, 
Horfes, or Cattle, kill’d or {lain, and putrefying 
above-ground by Heat and Moifture, and thus in- 
fecting the Air by their noxious, volatile, urinous 
alkaline Salts, that copioufty iffue from them in 
fuch a putrefying State. (2.) Dead Fifh, thrown 
out of the Sea, and putrefying on the Shore ; or 
Swarms of dead Infects, bred in Fens and Marfhes, 
drowned in the Ocean, and thrown on Shore by 
the Tides, and left to putrefy in hot moift Cli- 
mates. (3.) Woollen Goods, Silks, and Apparel, 
packed 
