Appearance of it 'till the ensuing Spring[75]. Now if Goods brought from
such a Place should retain any of the latent _Contagion_, there will be
Danger of their producing the same Mischief in the Place, to which they
are brought, as they would have caused in that, from whence they came.

BUT above all, it is necessary, that the _Clandestine Importing_ of
Goods be punished with the utmost Rigour; from which wicked Practice I
should always apprehend more Danger of bringing the _Disease_ than by
any other Way whatsoever.

THESE are, I think, the most material Points, to which Regard is to be
had in defending ourselves again _Contagion_ from other Countries. The
particular Manner of putting these Directions in Execution, as the
_Visiting_ of _Ships_, _Regulation_ of _Lazaretto's_, &c. I leave to
proper Officers, who ought sometimes to be assisted herein by able
Physicians.

CHAP. II.

_Of Stopping the Progress of the_ Plague, _if it should enter our
Country._

THE next Consideration is, what to do in Case, through a Miscarriage in
the publick Care, by the Neglect of Officers, or otherwise, such a
Calamity should be suffered to befal us.

THERE is no _Evil_ in the World, in which the great Rule of _Resisting
the Beginning_, more properly takes Place, than in the present Case; and
yet it has unfortunately happened, that the common Steps formerly taken
have had a direct Tendency to hinder the putting _this Maxim_ in
Practice.

AS the _Plague_ always breaks out in some particular Place, it is
certain, that the Directions of the _Civil Magistrate_ ought to be such,
as to make it as much for the Interest of infected Families to discover
their Misfortune, as it is, when a House is on _Fire_, to call in the
Assistance of the Neighbourhood: Whereas, on the contrary, the Methods
taken by the Publick, on such Occasions, have always had the Appearance
of a severe _Discipline_, and even _Punishment_, rather than of a
_Compassionate Care_; which must naturally make the _Infected_ conceal
the Disease as long as was possible.

THE main Import of the _Orders_ issued out at these Times was[76]; As
soon as it was found, that any House was infected, to keep it shut up,
with a _large red Cross_, and these Words, _Lord, have Mercy upon us_,
painted on the Door; Watchmen attending Day and Night to prevent any
one's going in or out, except such _Physicians_, _Surgeons_,
_Apothecaries_, _Nurses_, _Searchers_, &c. as were allowed