The Sun.
London, England, 1825-05-21 00:00:00

FOR THE SUN.

THE QUARANTINE LAWS AND THE PLAGUE.
Ma. EDITOR,—Mr. BOYLE attributes the
Plague to the exhalations breathed into the at-
mosphere from noxious minerals; this, added to
uncleanliness, appears a probable reason; others
attribute it to swarms of minute insects ; its ori-
gin, however, is a mere matter of speculation,
and of no consequence to us; but what does ma.
terially concern us is, that the Plague is disse-
minated by means of the effluvia, or emission of
subtile . corpuscles from infected bodies, and
which taint the very air ; but the air, in that
state, cannot reach these shores, for the reason
assigned in a letter on this subject, which ap-
peared in the Herald of the 12th inst. It only
remains then to be proved, that these corpuscles
actually do taint the air. The scent of the rose,
for instance, is not caused by a dormant and in-
active principle in the flower; but by the emis-
sion of effluvia, which act upon our olfactory
nerves ; these are evidently conveyed through
the medium of the air ; for the effect is sensibly
felt at some distance from the object: the human
frame, likewise, is perpetually emitting an ef-
fluvium, by means of an invisible transpiration,
•which becomes, however, visible at a certain
temperament. This may be proved by 6st4oplalc,
or visible perspiration, which is the effluvia em-
bodied : and the existence of effluvia may be
proved thus : if a body be immersed 'in water,
a number of bubbles arise, which are the ef-
fluvia escaping. Now, when these effluvia are in-
jurious to the human frame, it is certain,
that by passing from the infected body into
the atmosphere; and thence, into any other body
which that atmosphere acts upon, they must cause
the same disease in the previously healthy body.
Hence, I conclude, that cotton and other goods,
being impregnated with a considerable proportion
of these corpuscles, the plague, is• thus imported
to England, and other countries, where it is not
indiginous. This is equally applicable to all
other infectious disorders. Against this, it is
urged, that there have been instances of people
escaping the infection, when actually at the place
where the plague was raging. That a few may
have escaped the contagion is possible; for the
epidermis, or outermost covering of the body, or
the culls, or true skin, might, in those subjects,
be so formed, as not to admit the infected corpus-
cles : or, when we consider, that a single grain of
sand will cover 125,000 pores, through which issue
perspiration, it cannot be deemed surprising that
they should, occasionally, be so far disordered, as
not to admit the infection : moreover, that they
are of different sizes, or differently formed, I
think, is quite certain; because, every one per-
spires insensibly, but all do not sensibly ; and this
I imagine to be caused by the size or formation
of the pores of the skin ; and hence, we may ac-
count for a few persons escaping infection, whilst
others must infallibly receive it.
Ramsgate, May 19, 1825. P. V. K.

P. S. Who, then, but a madman, can desire
an alteration in our excellent and salutary Qua-
rantine Laws. They are accused, too., of being
ridiculous. If a man, whilst hunting, was in the art
of leaping over a hedge, on the other side of which
there was a precipice, and he was prevented by
some one telling him of the danger,_ would he
turn round and call the friendly adviser a ridicu-
lous fellow for his kindness ?