n among the inhabitants of close dirty
houses, who breathe bad air, take little exercise, eat unwholesome
food, and wear dirty clothes. There the infection is generally
hatched, which spreads far and wide, to the destruction of many. Hence
cleanliness may be considered as an object of public attention. It is
not sufficient that I be clean myself, while the want of it in my
neighbour affects my health as well as his own.

1726. Avoid Dirt.

If dirty people cannot be removed as a common nuisance, they ought at
least to be avoided as infectious. All who regard their health should
keep at a distance, even from their habitations. In places where
great numbers of people are collected, cleanliness becomes of the
utmost importance.

1727. Tainted Air.

It is well known that infectious diseases are caused by tainted air.
Everything, therefore, which tends to pollute the air, or spread the
infection, ought with the utmost care to be avoided.

1728. Clean Streets Necessary.

For this reason, in great towns, no filth of any kind should be
permitted to lie upon the streets. We are sorry to say that the
importance of general cleanliness in this respect does by no means
seem to be sufficiently understood.

1729. Imitate the Dutch.

It were well if the lower classes of the inhabitants of Great Britain
would imitate their neighbours the Dutch in their assiduity in
cleansing their streets, houses, &c.

1730. No Excuse.

Water, indeed, is easily obtained in Holland; but the situation of
most towns in Great Britain is more favourable to cleanliness.

1731. Good Impression.

Nothing can be more agreeable to the senses, more to the honour of the
inhabitants, or conducive to their health, than a clean town; nor does
anything impress a stranger sooner with a disrespectful idea of any
people than its opposite.

1732. Cleanliness in Religion.

It is remarkable that, in most eastern countries, cleanliness makes a
great part of their religion. The Mahometan, as well as the Jewish
religion, enjoins various bathings, washings, and purifications. No
doubt these were designed to represent inward purity; but they are at
the same time calculated for the preservation of health.

1733. Not Only Ceremonial.

However whimsical these washings may appear to some, few things would
seem more to prevent diseases than a proper attention to many of them.