on the Ifland of Minorca. 445 
W hen houfes are built on the fbft Cantoon ftone, the 
lain tnat falls without foaks through it j and if there are 
no means of carrying it off; it remains in the ffone, be- 
comes putrid, gradually exhales, and thus becomes 
highly prejudicial to health. I might quote feveral in- 
flames of families d)ing in confequence of fuch putrid 
moiilure; but fliall reft fatisfied with one, becaufe it 
became an object of general obfervation. 
At a little diftance from, and to the Northward of the 
Line-wall, a lofty building was erefted for a houfe of 
entertainment. 1 he people who inhabited it became 
very unhealty; and in a few years fo much fo, that two 
or three whole families died in it. This houfe, I am told, 
is built on Cantoon ftone, the hollows filled with Can- 
toon rubbifh, and is furrounded by gardens continually 
watered, fome of which are higher than the floor of this 
building ; by w hich means the ftone became the receptacle 
of the wafte water. In order to remedy this inconveniency, 
the floor was taken up, and a flench arofe which the 
workmen could fcarcely bear, and changed the colour of 
every metallic fubftance about them. People were im- 
prefled with fo ftrong a prejudice againft the houfe, that 
it remains uninhabited and an ulelefs building. The 
fame has happened in other dwelling-houfes ; in which 
the fame flench, and other indications of putrefa&ion, 
were met with, as in the former cafe. 
I can yet, thank God, fay very little of the difeafe of 
this country, for we ftill continue very healthy. I have 
met with two inftances of how faft a hold tertians take 
N n n 2 of 
