1839.
PRINTED BY NEILL AND CO., OLD FISHMARKET, EDINBURGH.
PREFACE.
The Author trusts that the importance and the accuracy of the facts which have been detailed in the following Work may, in some measure, counterbalance the many defects which will doubtless present themselves to the reader.
The progress of the Work has been interrupted, on innumerable occasions, by the unceasing labours incident to the life of a country medical practitioner; and though many of the facts and arguments which have been used, have long obtained the author’s attentive consideration, their reduction to the present form has only now been accomplished during the short intervals which he has seized, after the fatigues of the day had been concluded.
The author relies with some confidence on that indulgence which he hopes will be extended to the work of one who contributes, for useful purposes, the results of his experience, derived from an intimate knowledge of the condition, habits, health and diseases of the various classes of the population of a considerable extent of country, of which his situation has put him in possession.
S. S. A.
Tranent, March 1839.
CONTENTS.
| PART I. | |
| Introduction | Page [1] |
| Chap. I. Prevalence of Doctrine of Atmospheric Contagion, Injury to Patient, Attendants, and Visitors | [7] |
| Chap. II. Medicine retarded—Forms of Contagion | [18] |
| Chap. III. Historical Sketch | [25] |
| Chap. IV. The Absence of Sufficient Evidence of the Existence of Atmospheric Contagion | [36] |
| Chap. V. Contagious Poisons—Non-Solution in the Air—Results of Experiments | [40] |
| Chap. VI. Contagious Poisons, compared with Yeast—Does that agent assume the Aeriform State? | [50] |
| PART II. | |
| Chap. I. The Negation of Atmospheric Contagion from the History and Actual Observation of Disease | [56] |
| Chap. II. The Evidence drawn from Disease attacking the Relatives, Attendants, and Visitors of the Sick, in favour of Atmospheric Contagion, considered—Facts explained | [67] |
| Chap. III. The argument drawn in favour of the Propagation of Disease by Atmospheric Contagion, from Disease appearing in previously Healthy Houses and Localities to which Persons sick, or lately so, have been removed | [86] |
| Chap. IV. There is no evidence that Atmospheric Contagion travels, or is communicated from one place to another | [89] |
| PART III. | |
| Chap. V. On Vitiated Air | [96] |
| Chap. VI. Air Vitiated by Admixture with Effluvia arising from the Decomposition of Vegetable Matter on the Surface of the Earth | [112] |
| Chap. VII. Malignant Fever | [126] |
| Chap. VIII. General Diseased Condition of the Body, the Product of Malaria | [132] |
| Chap. IX. Other causes of Pestilence—Famine—Unwholesome Food and Drink | [140] |
| Chap. X. Causes of Pestilence continued—Cold, Want of Clothing, and Shelter—Depression of Mind—Influence of Weather, Climate, Habits, &c. | [152] |
| Chap. XI. The Avoidance of Diseases marked with Palpable Contagious Poisons—The Limited Range of Action of Contagion | [165] |
| Chap. XII. The Prevention and Correction of Vitiated Air | [172] |
| Chap. XIII. The Prevention of Vitiated Air in connection with the Disposal of the Dead—Offals—Construction of Towns, Houses, Sewers, &c. | [190] |
| Chap. XIV. Prevention of Disease by an Active and Cheerful State of Mind, Sufficient Clothing, and Wholesome Diet | [206] |