Volume 1

Observations on the nature and cure of hospital and jayl-fevers. In a letter to Doctor Mead / [Sir John Pringle].

  • John Pringle
Date:
1750
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the nature and cure of hospital and jayl-fevers. In a letter to Doctor Mead / [Sir John Pringle]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    [ 1° ] fome fymptoms that fhall be hereafter deferr¬ ed, we may conclude it belongs to this clafs of difeafes; whereof the firfl and moft exqui- fite, is the true plague, which YOU havefhewn to arife from a high degree of putrefadion of animal fubflances in a fultry climate The degree of contagion and malignity of thefe fevers depends on two circumfiances $ Firfl, the long continuance of putrefadion in the fame place: and, Secondly, the de¬ gree and quantity of it. We have an in- ftance of the firfl kind in jayls and dungeons, which are perhaps left foul for ages, and where by reafon of the long fucceffion of animal filth and naflinefs, the putrid ferment is exalted to fo high a degree, that the very breath or cloaths of malefadors will fpread the infedion. The fecond is mofl apparent in hofpitals, which tho’ of no long flanding, yet by the great quantity of putrid exhalation, will produce the fame effed. Of this we had many ,inflances during the war, but I fliall only mention one of the mofl memo¬ rable which happened in the campaign in Germany. When the dyfenterie being epi¬ demic in the camp, and the hofpitals crowded * Vid. Dr. Mead’s difeourfe on the plague./ with
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