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80

OF INFECTION.

Infection is often spread through cities by gaols, hospitals, Ac,These are frequently situated in the very middle of populous towns;and when infectious diseases break out in them, it is impossible foi(lie inhabitants to escape. Did magistrates pay any regard to thehealth of the people, this evil Blight be easily remedied.

Many are the causes which tend to diffuse infection through popu-lou cities. The whole atmosphere of a large town is one contami-nated mass, abounding with various kinds of infection, and must bepernicious to health. The best advice that we can give to such asare obliged to live in large cities, is to chuse an open situation ; toavoid narrow, dirty, crowded streets; to keep their own house andoffices clean; and to be as much abroad in the open air as their timewill permit.

It would tend greatly to prevent the spreading of infectious dis-eases, were proper nurses every where employed to take care of thesick. This might often save a family, or even a whole town, frombeing infected by one person. We do not mean that people shouldabandon their friends or relations in distress, but only to put them ontheir guard against being too much in company with those who areafflicted with diseases of an infectious nature.

Such as wait upon the sick in infectious diseases run very greathazard. They should stuff their noses with tobacco, or some otherstrong smelling herb, as rue, tansy, or the like. They ought like-wise to keep the patient very clean ; to sprinkle the room where helies with vinegar, or other strong acids ; frequently to admit a streamof fresh air into it, and to avoid the smell of his breath as much asfhey can. They ought never to go into company without bavin;;changed their clothes and washed their hands; otherwise, if the disease be infectious, they will in all probability carry the contagionalong with them.

There is reason to believe that infection is often conveyed fromone place to another by the carelessness of the faculty themselvesMany physicians affect a familiar way of sitting upon the patient'sbedside, and holding his arm for a considerable time. If the patienthas the small pox, or any other infectious disease, there is no doubtbut the doctor's hands, clothes, &c. will carry away some of the infection; and if he goes directly to visit another patient without washinghis hands, changing his clothes, or being exposed to the open air,which is not seldom the case, is it any wonder that he should carrythe disease along with him ? Physicians not only endanger others,but also themselves, by this practice. And indeed they "sometimessuffer for want of care.

However trifling it may appear to inconsiderate persons, we willventure to affirm, that a due attention to those things which tend todiffuse infection would be of great importance in preventing diseases.As most diseases are in some degree infectious, no one should conti-nue long with the sick, except the necessary attendants. I mean not,however, by this caution, to deter those whose duty or office leadsthem to wait upon the sick from such a laudable and upcessary eia-i/'o.vment.