ry, especially, fhould not enter the works with an empty ftomach, fhould previously fortify themselves by a glafs or two of wine, and counteract the fedative operation of the putrid miafms, by the ftimulus of hartfhorn, eau de luce, or camphorated vinegar, applied to the nofe. IX. We earnestly recommend a longer recefs from labour at noon, and a more early difmiffion from it in the evening, to all who work in the cotton-mills. But we deem this indulgence effential to the prefent health, and future capacity for labour, of thofe who are under the age of fourteen. For the active recreations of childhood and youth are neceffary to the growth, the vigor, and the right conformation of the human body. And we cannot excufe ourselves, on the prefent occafion, from fuggesting to you, who are the guardians of the public weal, this further very important confideration, that the rifing generation fhould not be debarred from all opportunities of inftruction, at the only feafon of life, in which they can be properly improved. We have the honour to be, with the highest refpect, GENTLEMEN, your most faithful, THOMAS PERCIVAL, M. D. MANCHESTER, P. S. Our refpectable colleagues, Dr. Mainwaring and Dr. Mitchell, are abfent from Manchefter at this time. nofe. But thefe volatile fubftances are to be fuffered, as much as poffible, to rife fpontaneously, and not to be drawn forcibly into the noftrils: For by fuch inhalation the noxious atoms, floating in the air, will be conveyed to the olfactory nerves, with additional energy; and, being lodged in the fchneiderian membrane, they may exert their baneful powers, when the action of the antidote fhall ceafe. To this caufe is to be afcribed that permanency of offensive smells, which makes us fenfible to their impreffion, fome time after our removal from their fource. And, when this impreffion is no longer perceived, in the ordinary courfe of refpiration, it may often be renewed by that effort which we denominate fnuffing. In this way, I apprehend, and not folely from abforption, the fact is to be explained which Mr. Howard has related, that his phial of vinegar, after ufing it in a few prisons, Manchester Michaelmas Seffions, 1784. The magiftrates of this county, affembled in their general quarter feffions at Manchefter, impreffed with the obligations they are under, have directed the clerk of the peace to give their public thanks to Dr. Percival, Dr. Cowling, Dr. Eafon, and Dr. Chorley; and to take care that their letter fhall be printed and diftributed, fo that every part of the community may receive the benefit of their falutary admonitions, a ftrict attention to which is most earnestly recommended by the court. By order of the court, JAMES TAYLOR, Deputy-clerk of the peace for the county of Lancaster. became became intolerably difagreeable to him. When a malignant contagion prevails in hofpitals, goals, or parish work-houses, it is to be feared that the preventives, I have recommended, will afford no adequate fecurity. They may, however, be of some avail; and it would furely be rashness and prefumption to neglect them altogether. But firmer grounds of confidence may reasonably influence the minds of thofe, who are led by official or profeffional duty to incur fuch dangers. "I have been frequently afked," fays the humane writer whom I have juft quoted, and with whofe words I fhall now close this commentary, "what precautions I "use to preserve myself from infection, in the prifons and hofpitals which I vifit. I here "anfwer, that next to the free goodness and mercy of the Author of my being, temperance " and cleanliness are my prefervatives. Trufting. "in Divine Providence, and believing myself in "the way of my duty, I vifit the most noxious "cells; and, while thus employed, I fear no " evil." * * Howard on Prifons, p. 431, 8vo. 1780, RESULT RESULT of fome OBSERVATIONS made by BENJAMIN RUSH, M. D. PROFESSOR of CHEMISTRY in the Univerfity of PHILADELPHIA, during his Attendance as PHYSICIAN GENERAL of the MILITARY HOSPITALS of the UNITED STATES, in the late WAR. Communicated by Mr. Thomas Henry, F. R. S. &c. Read October 5, 1785. To Mr. THOMAS HENRY. DEAR SIR, TH HE inclofed obfervations are at your fervice. Instead of dilating them with theories and cafes, which would add only to the number of books, but not to the ftock of facts, I fend them to you in as fhort a compass as poffible. They are not fo fit for the public eye as I could wish; but if you think them worthy of a place in your Tranfactions, you are welcome to them. Be affured, Dear Sir, of the great regard of Your friend and humble fervant, BENJAMIN RUSH. PHILADELPHIA, July 22, 1785. RESULT RESULT of OBSERVATIONS, &c. 1. The principal diseases were putrid fevers. Men, who came into the hofpitals with pleurifies, rheumatisms, &c. foon loft the types of their original difeafes, and fuffered, or died, with the putrid fever. 2. This putrid fever was often artificial, produced by the want of fufficient room and cleanlinefs. 3. It always prevailed moft, and with the worst fymptoms, in winter: a free air, which could only be obtained in fummer, always prevented or checked it. 4. Soldiers, billited in private houfes, efcaped it, and generally recovered fooneft from all their diseases. 5. Convalescents, and drunken foldiers, were moft expofed to putrid fevers. 6. The remedies that appeared to do most fervice in this disease, were tartar emetic in the beginning, gentle dofes of laxative falts, bark, wine, (two or three bottles a day in many cases) and fal volatile. 7. In all thofe cafes where the contagion was received, cold feldom failed to render it active. Whenever an hofpital was removed in winter, one half of the patients generally fickened in the way, or foon after their arrival at the place to which they were fent. 8. The |