DERS indeed of this Kind are necessary to be observed at all Times,
especially in populous Cities; and therefore I am sorry to take Notice,
that in these of _London_ and _Westminster_ there is no good _Police_
established in these Respects: for want of which the Citizens and
Gentry are every Day annoyed more ways than one.

IF these early _Precautions_, we have mentioned, prove successful, there
will be no need of any Methods for _Correcting the Air_, _Purifying
Houses_, or of _Rules for preserving particular Persons from Infection_:
to all which, if the _Plague_ get head, so that the _Sick_ are too many
to be removed (as they will be when the Disease has raged for a
considerable Time) Regard must be had.

AS to the _first_: _Fire_ has been almost universally recommended for
this Purpose, both by the Ancients and Moderns; who have advised to make
frequent and numerous _Fires_ in the Towns infected. This _Precept_, I
think, is almost entirely founded upon a Tradition, that _Hippocrates_
put a stop to a _Plague_ in _Greece_ by this means. But it is to be
observed, that there is no mention made of any Thing like it in the
Works of _Hippocrates_. The best Authority we have for it, is the
Testimony of _Galen_, though it is also mentioned by other Authors.
_Galen_, recommending _Theriaca_ against the _Pestilence_, has thought
fit, it seems, to compare it to _Fire_; and, upon this Conceit, relates,
that _Hippocrates_ cured a _Plague_, which came from _AEthiopia_ into
_Greece_, by purifying the Air with _Fires_; into which were thrown
sweet-scented Herbs, and Flowers, together with Ointments of the finest
Flavour. It is remarkable, that among the _Epistles_ ascribed to
_Hippocrates_, which, though not genuine, yet are older than _Galen_,
there is a _Decree_ said to be made by the _Athenians_ in Honour of this
Father of Physicians, which, making mention of the Service he had done
his Country in a _Plague_, says only, that he sent his Scholars into
several Parts, with proper Instructions to cure the Disease. By which it
should seem, that this Story of the _Fires_ was hardly or not at all
known at the Time, when these _Letters_ were compiled. And _Soranus_ may
yet more confirm us, that it was framed long after the Death of
_Hippocrates_: for _Soranus_ only says in general, that _Hippocrates_
foretold the coming of the _Pestilence_, and took care of the Cities of
_Greece_; without any mention of having used this particular Expedien