662 
In answer to this, Dr. Uwins offers the 
foilowing facts. 
*¢ That fever,” says he, “* may be caused 
‘by direct communication with the sick, 
without the assistance of filth; and, there- 
fore, from a something secreted or ex- 
haled directly from the body of an indi- 
vidual labouring under fever, I think I 
have found evidence in my own person. 
The only time in which I recollect to have 
had genuine fever, I mean fever of more 
violence than those ephemeral affections 
to which one is-constantly subject, was in 
consequence of my attendance upon a 
youth in the neighbourhood of London, 
whose fauces and throat I judged it ne- 
cessary closely to inspect. While doing 
this, I experienced that peculiar taste or 
sensation which is not unfrequently dis- 
coverable immediately upon'the exhalation 
ef a sufficient dose of the febrile poison to 
create the disease; and in the space of 
twenty-four hours from this. feeling, I was 
down, as we express jt, in fever. Here 
was almost an undeniable evidence; and 
similar instances ate ‘hourly occurring, of 
the immediate unintervening influence of 
the miasma-engendered by febrile action; 
ef a somethiig occasioned “ by pulsating 
arteries or glarids.”” eee 
*< This fact I recollect to. have been fur= 
nished on a larger scale, and more forci- 
bly, in conseqyence of those, being the sub- 
ject of it who denied the existence, derided 
che power, and exposed themselves within 
what they regarded the imaginary sphere 
of contagion; a fact which I have else- 
where recorded, and shall here Tepeat., 
While I was pursuing my studies in Edin- 
burgh, the disputes and divisions between 
the eontagionists and anti-contagionists ran 
to very great. lengths, and many of those 
gentlemen who called in question ‘the pos= 
‘sibility ef the communication ef fever by: 
rnfection, in-the manner maintained by 
ethers, with a sceptical temerity, subjected 
themselves-to the effluvia- emitted from the 
bodies and lungs of patients labouring un- 
cer malignant fevers; and in consequence 
becatne themselves affected with the dis- 
erder, which in several instances proved’ 
fatal. This, one of our professors told us, 
ia commenting upon the circumstance, 
“‘ was carrying the joke of speculation a 
tittle too far.’ Now, in these instances, 
the effect in question-could not be attri- 
buted to. deficiency in cleanliness; or to 
any peculiar condition of the atmosphere, 
for those gentlemen who had the good 
fortune to. be satisfied with the previous. 
evidence in favour Gf contagion, the fever: 
did not affect.” re, i 
It must certainly be admitted, that 
Dr. Rush is mistaken, in considering the 
fever of the London poor as arising 
$rom dirt, unconnected with the secre= 
Retrospect of Domestic Literature.—dAgriculture. 
tions of.the living body. Pzivies are not 
found more unwholesome than drawing- 
rooms, if properly ventilated. But the 
confined seeretions of the living body, 
when diseased in any way, are always 
injurious, and when -accumulated, in- 
‘duce fever. Still we are not ih et 
this fever with those contagieis which 
render every person affected By them 
contagious also.. Dr. Uwins’ on case 
wants further explanation. weuty- 
four hours is an earlier period after ré- 
ceiving infection, than we have any 
correct instance of a person béing 
“« down with fever.” As to the fate of 
the non-contagionists at Edinburgh, we 
may suppose that the event occurred ix 
the mtrmary, the furniture of which 
night be impregnated with infectious 
eifluvia. But the question should be; 
whether the gentlemen thus infected 
proved contagious in their respective 
families ? _ ; DOOR Cae 
If we are right, it will fellow, that 
neither Dr. Rush nor Dr. Uwins is 
right. Dirt.of itself is not sufficient to 
induce fever without the contined se- 
cretions of living bodies, and the latter, 
though they may iuduce fever, will not 
render the subject. thas infected, cor- 
tagious in a well ventilated apartment. ° 
- We have dswelt:so long on this part 
of the pamphlet, because there is not a’ 
subject more important in- medicine’ or 
domestic economy, yet scarcely one’ 
which has. been attended to with less 
accuracy OF system. © me 
We shail not offer-any remarks on 
the fever which was epidemic at Ayles- 
bury, having seen Ro other account of 
it than what is given by the author. 
hie AGRICULTURE. | ‘ 
Tn this class we have two new Surveys 
from the Board of Agriculture. © 
= "Phe first, “ Of the County of Berwick,” 
-by Mr. Kerr, a farmer at Ayton, in 
Berwickshire, comprehends the report 
ofa very important district. ‘The upper,’ 
or hilly part of the county, it is true, is 
not -distinguished’ by any circumstance 
of pecuhar importance; but the-Merse,'. 
or lowlands of Berwickshire, may be ac- 
counted the pattern district of Scots’ 
husbandry, according to its most recent 
and improved system of alternate cul-' 
ture and pasturage. ‘The following’ are. 
_ the heads of the: different’ chapters :— 
Chap. I. Geographical State and Cir- 
cumstances. Ii. State of Property. 
Tlf. Buildings. - IV. Occupations. ~ - 
V,. Implements. VI. Taclosing. VI. 
oa ‘Arable 
