infected, as well as Moors, who actually had buboes on them; I took
no other precaution than that of separation, carefully avoiding to
touch the hand, or inhale the breath; and, notwithstanding what may
have been said, I am decidedly of opinion that the plague, at least
this peculiar species of it, is not produced by any infectious
principle in the atmosphere, but caught solely by touching infected
substances, or inhaling the breath of those who are diseased; and
that it must not be confounded with the common plague of Egypt, or
Constantinople, being a malady of a much more desperate and
destructive kind. It has been said, by persons who have discussed
the nature and character of the plague, that the cultivation of a
country, the draining of the lands, and other agricultural
improvements, tend to eradicate or diminish it; but, at the same
time, we have seen countries depopulated where there was no morass,
or stagnate water for many days' journey, nor even a tree to impede
the current of air, or a town, nor any thing but encampments of
Arabs, who procured water from wells of a great depth, and
180 inhabited plains so extensive and uniform, that they resemble the
sea, and are so similar in appearance after, as well as before
sun-rise, that if the eye could abstract itself from the spot
immediately surrounding the spectator, it could not be ascertained
whether it were sea or land.

I shall now subjoin a few cases for the further elucidation of this
distemper, hoping that the medical reader will pardon any
inaccuracy originating from my not being a professional man.

Case I.--One afternoon, I went into the kitchen, and saw the cook
making the bread; he appeared in good health and spirits; I
afterwards went into the adjoining parlour, and took up a book to
read; in half an hour the same man came to the door of the room,
with his eyes starting from his head, and his bed-clothes, &c. in
his hands, saying, "open the gate for me, for I am (_m'dorb_)
smitten." I was astonished at the sudden transition, and desired
him to go out, and I would follow and shut the gate. The next
morning he sent his wife out on an errand, and got out of bed, and
came to the gate half-dressed, saying that he was quite recovered,
and desired I would let him in. I did not, however, thin