the arm of his healthy patient; but how have they done their work-this few who multiply, with "astounding rapidity," who must go on increasing in millions, nay in billions, as long as they exist-what do they do for their part of the process? Do they eat up any part of the poor patient, of whose body they have been given possession of? Do they finish up their operations within the forty-eight hours the patient is in agonising suffering? or is his system reconciled by this time, or his power of nerves or brain become insensible to their existence within him, that although he is prostrate from the sufferings he has undergone, yet he feels them not-although he survives, he knows them not? Have they assimilated their nature to his? or by their feeding upon this unfortunate victim, have they changed his nature, and assimilated it to themselves, so as to live in harmony as long as he exists? It must be a curious reply to satisfy this curious and most serious question.

A Strange Proposal.

To facilitate our ideas upon this extraordinary subject, let us suppose a man of eminence saying to his friend,You know there is such a disease as scrofula, which is very bad, and when its affliction comes, the consequences are very sad. Now, as I respect you very much, and as you enjoy the best of health, I would like to save you from ever getting a serious attack of this fearful disease, therefore, let me act upon the theory of an eminent physician, and inject into your blood a few germs of scrofula organism, so that you may be preserved against any dangerous attack of scrofula. Would any one so invited accept the kind suggestion, though made from

How to Prevent great Plagues.

83 the strongest feelings of friendship? Would any sane person consent to gratify a friend, however much respected, even should his faith in his friend's theory extend even to a mania? For a further exemplification of the absurdity of this principle, let us suppose that the eminent physician of Berlin, the very distinguished Dr. Koch-may his name be for ever honoured!-who discovered that Phthisis, or consumption, was caused by the living organism, "Baccilla," and that this dear man found out also that this creature could not only be prevented from eating up the lungs of the poor patient, but that the parasite could be entirely destroyed by taking, as a medicine, flour of sulphur: well, suppose that some one believing in the theory of Dr. Ferrán, and one of our own scientists should go forth with all the assurance possible, in perfect good faith, and proclaim to all persons in good health that they should be at once inoculated with the Baccilla, that they may take consumption in a mild form, so as to prevent their having a rapid consumption. What would such persons say? What would the world think of this enthusiast? Would he not be at once considered a lunatic, and his theory idiotic?

Proposal for the Prevention of Cholera.

Why cannot the ingenuity and fertile brain of our eminent men not produce a more natural method of preventing those great plagues? Is there no way of protecting the general health of humanity without poisoning the blood and filling the system with living organisms that are so destructive to life? I hesitate not to say, that there is a very simple and natural way of checking and effectually stamping out such disorders, and

that without increasing the liability to engender and spread any particular epidemic disease that may appear, by an attempt to produce a milder form of any particular disorder. I submit my prescription-if such it may be called-and if tried, I have every confidence that the result will be attended with success:

Let a district where cholera is raging, or its outbreak feared, be selected, and take a hundred or a thousand families, or, better still, the whole population, and let them be placed under the supervision of a staff of officers appointed by a Government board of health, to see that the following regulations are faithfully carried out, and instructions for which will be published in the form of an order or proclamation, and to be strictly enforced in every particular:-That all sewers, cesspools, waterclosets, horse, cow, and all such refuse, shall be under sanitary regulations, and that all dirty streets, courts, and alleys shall be kept clean. That all the inhabitants shall be incited to habits of cleanliness, and shall be compelled, if need be, to sponge their bodies once every day, and have a bath once a week at least. Public baths and wash-houses to be open, free. Every person, man, woman, and child, to wear a flannel garment next to their skin, to be changed for a clean one every week, and a fortnight should not be allowed to elapse without a change of this garment. Each person to take, three times a-week, a little milk and flour of sulphur, about as much as would lie on a threepenny piece, and a little less for children; this to be continued for a fortnight, at the end of the fortnight to be taken less frequently, as circumstances may suggest, the object being to keep the skin in a free and active state, not to cause too great

The Advantage of Regular Habits.

85

a perspiration, which must be avoided, but to bring about a comfortable softness of the skin, while a dry and harsh surface must be prevented. Particular attention should also be given to the food. No unripe fruit, or badly cooked or stale vegetables, should be taken. Pure or filtered water should be used, or, if there be a suspicion of its not being pure, it should be boiled as well as filtered, and every one should take a glass of water every morning. This cleanses the stomach and the whole of the system. The people, too, should be impressed with the necessity of regular habits; they should go every day, at a certain hour, to attend to the calls of nature, whether they feel inclined or not, and this will form a habit which will prove most advantageous to health, and will be a partial preventive of cholera, if not a total one; it will, at all events, help to prevent fatal results. In every house there should be kept, ready for use, some spirits of camphor, and whenever any one is attacked with pains in the stomach or bowels, four or six drops should be given on a piece of sugar, every quarter or half-hour, till a medical man can be got to attend the sufferer.*

Cheerfulness Necessary for Health.

I have seen wonderful effects from this treatment, and am sure if this is attended to, there need be no fear. A

*It is a very excellent practice to have always a little camphor about the person. I have carried for years in my waistcoat pocket a small tin box, perforated with holes, which can be bought at any druggist's for a penny; I keep it filled with camphor, and have given many a piece to individuals I have met who were complaining of pains in the stomach, etc. A bit half the size of a pea, taken twice or three times in an hour, has generally relieved the sufferer. It should only be taken when considered necessary.

cheerful state of mind should be kept up; no desponding conversation, but everything done to enliven and cheer the hearts of the people. The mind should be kept free from the fear of taking the disease; and above all, means be taken to prevent a panic of fear. Confidence should be created in the public mind by teaching the people to adhere strictly to the laws of health, to pay more attention as regards their clothing, diet, and cleanliness, and by doing so they may care very little about cholera and fever, etc. Providence, as has been said, helps those who help themselves, and if we do our part faithfully, there need be no fear for the rest.

Fifty years ago, as I remember well, cholera was raging in our country, people walked along the streets in terror; panic had seized them, and they died by hundreds, while those who were fortified by the sense of duty to themselves and their fellow-men, had no fear. They went about trying to relieve their neighbours, and escaped unscathed themselves. If a man is ill, and you tell him he will die, it is ten chances to one but you will kill him, or if he has a fear of taking any disorder, it is very likely his fears will produce it. I have seen this many a time, and as will be seen in these pages, when you cheer up a patient, you give him confidence and renewed vigour to live-and he survives. If the regulations I have given above be faithfully carried out, I need say nothing as to what the result will be. The district so conducted will show a perfect immunity from the disease, although surrounded by devastation and death. This treatment applies also to all classes of epidemics which cause such terror and fatality in a district, as none of these diseases can approach a healthy skin without