,
who allowed themselves in so much Freedom of Thought, as not to pay that
strict Regard to the _Mahometan_ Doctrine of Fatality, as the Vulgar
among them do.

IF there has been no Sickness in the Ship, I see no reason why the Men
should perform _Quarantaine_. Instead of this, they may be washed, and
their Clothes aired in the _Lazaretto_, as Goods, for one Week.

BUT the greatest Danger is from such _Goods_, as are apt to retain
Infection, such as _Cotton_, _Hemp_ and _Flax_, _Paper_ or _Books_,
_Silk_ of all sorts, _Linen_, _Wool_, _Feathers_, _Hair_, and all kinds
of _Skins_. The _Lazaretto_ for these should be at a Distance from that
for the Men; and they must in convenient Warehouses be unpack'd, and
exposed, as much as may be, to the fresh Air for forty Days.

THIS may perhaps seem too long; but as we don't know how much time
precisely is necessary to purge the Interstices of spongy Substances
from _infectious Matter_ by fresh Air, the Caution cannot be too great
in this Point. Certainly the time here proposed, having been long
established by general Custom, ought not in the least to be retrenched;
unless there could be a way found out of trying when Bodies have ceased
to emit the noxious Fumes. Possibly this might be discovered by putting
tender _Animals_ near to them, particularly little _Birds_: because it
has been observed in Times of the _Plague_, that the Country has been
forsaken by the _Birds_; and those kept in Houses have many of them
died[71]. Now if it should be found, that _Birds_ let loose among Goods
at the beginning of their _Quarantaine_, are obnoxious to the
_Contagion_ in them, it may be known, in good measure, when such Goods
are become clean, by repeating the Trial till _Birds_ let fly among them
receive no hurt. But the Use of this Expedient can be known only by
Experience. In the mean time, I own I am fond of the _Thought_, in
compassion to poor Labourers, who must expose their Lives to danger, in
the attendance upon this Work: and tho' I am well aware that there are
_Plagues_ among Animals, which do not indifferently affect all kinds of
them, some being confined to a particular _Species_, (like the Disease
of the _Black Cattle_ here, a few Years since, which neither proved
infectious to other Brutes, nor to Men;) yet it has always been observed
that the true _Plague_ among Men has been destructive to all Creatures
of what kind soever.

A very remarkable Story, lately communicated to me