Copy 1, Volume 2

A brief history of epidemic and pestilential diseases; with the principal phenomena of the physical world, which precede and accompany them, and observations deduced from the facts stated / [Noah Webster].

  • Webster, Noah, 1758-1843.
Date:
1800
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A brief history of epidemic and pestilential diseases; with the principal phenomena of the physical world, which precede and accompany them, and observations deduced from the facts stated / [Noah Webster]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    partly in fome combinations of this element with other aerial fubftances, which are not moved by wind ? This is fuggefted merely for confideration, for it appears, tome, improbable. Froft deftroys the pefLilential condition of the atmofphere, and this is fuppofed to a£t upon the deleterious fub- ftances arifing from the earth, or human body. Befides, a pefhlential atmofphere rifes but a few feet above the earth, which indicates that its pernicious qualities are ' denfe and gravitating fubftances. Indeed, two caufes feem to concur in the origin of peftilential fevers; an electrical condition of the atmofphere which renders the nervous fyftem extremely irritable, and the body of courfe prone to fever; and a collection of morbid matters arifing from living* and dead animals, and pu- trifying vegetables. Wind may remove the latter caufe, if acceflible, which, however, is never the cafe in large cities, but cannot affedt the influence of the former. Froft has accefs to all morbid caufes and renders them inert; it alfo reduces the » • * ’ • • ■% ftimulus adting on the human body and renders it * I mention the morbid matters from living bodies among the caufes of peflilence. I am perfuaded that perfpiration in cities furnifhes more poifon than ftreets and alleys. It fills all clofe rooms, efpecially bed-rooms, and in clofe-built fireets it infers the very atmofphere ; and a more violent poifon does not exill than perfpirable matter in a condenfed and fermenting Hate. This can only be defiroyed by a liberal ufe of water. - * i n o Ids