ppear to be generally _useless_, so the Steams of
_Poisonous Minerals_ ought to be reckoned _dangerous_: and therefore I
cannot but dissuade the use of all _Fumigations_ with _Mercury_ or
_Arsenic_. Much less would I advise, as some have done, the wearing
_Arsenic_ upon the _Pit_ of the _Stomach_ as an _Amulet_: since this
Practice has been often attended with very ill Consequences, and is not
grounded upon any good Authority, but probably derived from an Error in
mistaking the _Arabian_ Word _Darsini_, which signifies _Cinnamon_, for
the _Latin de Arsenico_, as I have formerly shewn[92].

THE next thing after the _Purifying of Houses_, is to consider by what
Means particular _Persons_ may best defend themselves against
_Contagion_: for the certain doing of which, it would be necessary to
put the _Humours_ of the _Body_ into such a State, as not to be
alterable by the _Matter of Infection_. But since this is no more to be
hoped for, than a _Specific Preservative_ from the _Small-Pox_; the most
that can be done, will be to keep the Body in such Order, that it may
suffer as little as possible. The _first Step_ towards which, is to
maintain a good State of Health, in which we are always least liable to
suffer by any external Injuries; and not to weaken the Body by
Evacuations. The _next_ is, to guard against all _Dejection of Spirits_,
and _immoderate Passions_: for these we daily observe do expose Persons
to the more common _Contagion_ of the _Small-Pox_. These Ends will be
best answered by living with Temperance upon a good generous Diet, and
by avoiding _Fastings_, _Watchings_, _extreme Weariness_, &c. _Another_
Defence is, to use whatever Means are proper to keep the _Blood_ from
_Inflaming_. This, if it does not secure from _contracting Infection_,
will at least make the _Effects_ of it less violent. The most proper
Means for this, according to the Advice of the _Arabian_ Physicians, is
the repeated Use of _acid Fruits_, as _Pomegranates_, _Sevil Oranges_,
_Lemons_, _Tart Apples_, &c. But above all, of _Wine Vinegar_ in small
Quantities, rendered grateful to the Stomach by the Infusion of some
such Ingredients as _Gentian Root_, _Galangal_, _Zedoary_, _Juniper
Berries_, &c. Which Medicines by correcting the _Vinegar_, and taking
off some ill Effects it might otherwise have upon the Stomach, will be
of good Use: but these, and all other hot _aromatic_ Drugs, though much
recommended by Authors, if used alone, are most li