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A Short Discourse Concerning Pestilential Contagion, and the Methods to Be Used to Prevent It

Chapter 1: A SHORT DISCOURSE CONCERNING Pestilential Contagion, AND THE METHODS To be used to Prevent it.
By Richard Mead
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The work analyzes the nature and transmission of pestilential contagion, attributing spread to three main causes: the air, infected people, and goods moved from affected areas. It links outbreaks to hot, moist, and stagnant atmospheric conditions and to putrefactive exhalations, and argues that commerce can carry infections into milder climates where they may be less severe. Drawing on historical episodes, it outlines practical preventative measures, advocates quarantine, isolation of infected houses, and environmental sanitation, and proposes revised suppression practices intended to reduce transmission and protect public safety.

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Title: A Short Discourse Concerning Pestilential Contagion, and the Methods to Be Used to Prevent It

Author: Richard Mead

Release date: June 4, 2017 [eBook #54843]
Most recently updated: October 23, 2024

Language: English

Credits: Produced by readbueno and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
produced from images generously made available by The
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SHORT DISCOURSE CONCERNING PESTILENTIAL CONTAGION, AND THE METHODS TO BE USED TO PREVENT IT ***

This cover was produced by the Transcriber
and is in the public domain.

A SHORT
DISCOURSE
CONCERNING
Pestilential Contagion,
AND THE
METHODS
To be used to Prevent it.

By RICHARD MEAD, M.D.
Fellow of the College of Physicians
and of the Royal Society.
LONDON:
Printed for Sam. Buckley in Amen-Corner, and
Ralph Smith at the Royal-Exchange, 1720.
TO THE
Right Honourable
James Craggs, Esq;
ONE OF
His Majesties principal
Secretaries of State.

SIR,

I Most humbly offer to You my Thoughts concerning the Prevention of the Plague, which I have put together by your Command. As soon as you was pleased to signify to me, in his Majestie's Absence; that their Excellencies the Lords Justices thought it necessary for the Publick Safety, upon the Account of the Sickness now in France, that proper Directions should be drawn up to defend our selves from such a Calamity; I most readily undertook the Task, though upon short Warning, and with little Leisure: I have therefore rather put down the principal Heads of Caution, than a Set of Directions in Form.

The first, which relate to the performing Quarentines, &c. You, who are perfectly versed in the History of Europe, will see are agreable to what is practised in other Countries, with some new Regulations. The next, concerning the suppressing Infection here, are very different from the Methods taken in former Times among Us, and from what they commonly Do Abroad: But, I persuade my self, will be found agreable to Reason.

I most heartily wish, that the wise Measures, the Government has already taken, and will continue to take, with Regard to the former of these, may make the Rules about the latter unnecessary: However it is fit, we should be always provided with proper Means of Defence against so terrible an Enemy.

May this short Essay be received as one Instance, among many others, of the Care, you always shew for Your Country; and as a Testimony of the great Esteem and Respect, with which I have the Honour to be,

SIR,
Your most obedient,
Most humble Servant,

Novemb. 25. 1720.

R. Mead.