Dr. de mertans’s Obfervatlons 
This method of treatment had fucceeded perfedlly 
v/ell the three firft years; infomuch, that the greater 
part of the lick, as well adults as infants, were commonly 
cured in the fpace of three weeks or a month, when the 
diltemper was not far advanced. It was in fpring and 
winter that the fcurvy ufed to be moll fatal. 
In autumn 1770, the foundling children, who re*- 
mained in town to the number of a thoufand^, were 
lodged, contrary to my advice, in the wing of the houfe 
finifhed but about a year fince. In a climate where the 
fummer is fo fhort, new walls made of bricks take a 
great time in drying, and this houfe was fituated on a 
foil which had been a bog a few years before. Notwith- 
ftanding all the poflible precautions that could be taken, a. 
(c) The greater part of the fucking children were atnurfe in the country. 
damp; 
Ce traitment m’avoit reufli les trois premieres annees, de forte que prefque 
tous ces malades, tant adultes qu’ enfans, guerilfoient ordinairement dans Fef^ 
pecedetrois femaines ou. unmois lorfque le mal n’etoit pas fort avarice. C’etoit 
en hiver et au printems que le fcorbut faifo:t le plus de ravages, 
En automne 1770 on logea, contre mon avis, tous les enfans trouves, qui 
etoient en ville au dela de miUefr), dans Faile de la maifon achevee depuis uix 
an. Dans, un climat ou Fete eft fi court, les murailles neuves, faites de-hriques, 
fechent difficilement, et cette maifon etoit lituee dans un terrein qui avoitete un 
marais quelques annees auparavant. On fentit pendant: tout Fhiver, malgre^ 
(?) La plus parts des petits a la maroellc etoient cn jiourricc a la ca«ipagn« 5 . 
tOUt' 
