f these Rules refer more particularly to the City of _London_, with
small Alteration they may be applied to any other _Place_. It now
remains therefore only to lay down some Directions to hinder the
Distemper's spreading from _Town_ to _Town_. The best Method for which,
where it can be done, (for this is not practicable in very great Cities)
is to cast up a _Line_ about the _Town infected_, at a convenient
Distance; and by placing a _Guard_, to hinder People's passing from it
without due Regulation, to other Towns: but not absolutely to forbid any
to withdraw themselves, as was done in _France_, according to the usual
Practice abroad; which is an unnecessary Severity, not to call it a
Cruelty. I think it will be enough, if all, who desire to pass the
_Line_, be permitted to do it, upon Condition they first perform
_Quarantaine_ for about twenty Days in _Tents_, or other more convenient
_Habitations_. But the greatest care must be taken, that none pass
without conforming themselves to this Order; both by keeping diligent
_Watch_, and by _punishing_, with the utmost Severity, any that shall
either have done so, or attempt it. And the better to discover _such_,
it will be requisite to oblige all, who travel in any Part of the
Country, under the same Penalties, to carry with them _Certificates_
either of their coming from Places not _infected_, or of their passing
the _Line_ by Permission.

THIS I take to be a more effectual Method to keep the _Infection_ from
spreading, than the absolute refusing a Passage to People upon any
Terms. For when Men are in such imminent Danger of their Lives where
they are, many, no doubt, if not otherwise allowed to escape, will use
Endeavours to do it secretly, let the Hazard be ever so great. And it
can hardly be, but some will succeed in their Attempts; as we see it
has often happen'd in _France_, notwithstanding all their Care. But one
that gets off thus clandestinely, will be more likely to carry the
Distemper with him, than twenty, nay a hundred, that go away under the
preceding Restrictions: especially because the _Infection_ of the Place,
he flies from, will by this Management be rendered much more intense.
For confining People, and shutting them up together in great Numbers,
will make the Distemper rage with augmented Force, even to the
increasing it beyond what can be easily imagined: as appears from the
Account which the learned _Gassendus_[93] has given us of a memorable
_Plague_,