affected was almost always disposed to rub against the Dressings soaked in Matter, (for I understand the Mother took but very little Care to change them often.) Now it is not at all probable, that the malignant _Effluvia_, which continually pass off from the _Cancerous Mass_, and the putrefied Matter, can dispose a Person at any little Distance to be affected with the like _Disease_, for then the other Child would have became a Sufferer; but it may happen in some extraordinary Cases, where the corrupted Fluid has attained an exalted Pitch of Malignity, to communicate some of its more active Particles to the Blood and Spirit; and so causing a very great Disorder in their Motions produce a violent Fever, and Confusion of the whole Oeconomy, so as to occasion a Person’s Death. But see a remarkable Case in _Tulpius_, _Lib._ 4. _Obs._ 8. That there are several cutaneous _Diseases_ that may be propagated by Contagion, if a Person lies with another, is by all allowed of; and that the lying with a Person that has a _Cancer_ may be attended by such a _Disease_, from the Proofs we have brought, I suppose will be agreed to be equally as certain. But this cannot happen unless the matter be very malignant, and be suffered, by the Negligence of the Patient, to come to an immediate Contact, with a Part of the Body of the other Person; for then, without doubt, it may contuminate the Fluids, and incline them to assume a Viscidity, to which the _Effluvia_ will immediately adhere, because they are best qualifyed for a Union with those Substances that are viscous. To this we may add, that in those Persons that are nearly related, the Malignity may be more easily communicable because of their Analogy to each other; for consonant hereto, _Diemerbroeck_ says in his Treatise of _the Plague_, that _Kindred more easily receive the Infection from one another_. But see more in that Author’s excellent Book where you have likewise some curious Thoughts relating to Contagion. [Sidenote: Vide _Diemerbroeck_ de _Pest_. Page 58.] PROBLEM III. _Whether if the extirpating a_ Cancerous Breast _happens to be successful, it ought to be look’d upon as a Consequence of Performing the Operation better than our Predecessors._