WHEN the _sick Families_ are gone, all the Goods of the Houses, in which they were, should be _buried_ deep under Ground. This I prefer to _burning_ them: because, especially in a close Place, some infectious Particles may possibly be dispersed by the Smoak through the Neighbourhood; according to what _Mercurialis_ relates, that the _Plague_ in _Venice_ was augmented by burning a large Quantity of infected Goods in the City[83]. A learned Physician of my Acquaintance lately communicated to me the Relation of a Case, (given to him by an Apothecary, who was at the Place when the Thing happened) very proper to be here mentioned. The Story is this. At _Shipston_, a little Town upon the River _Stour_ in _Worcestershire_, a poor Vagabond was seen walking in the Streets with the _Small-Pox_ upon him. The People frightened took Care to have him carried to a little House, seated upon a Hill, at some Distance from the Town, providing him with Necessaries. In a few Days the Man died. They ordered him to be buried deep in the Ground, and the House with his Cloaths to be burnt. The Wind, being pretty high, blew the Smoak upon the Houses on one Side of the Town: In that Part, a few Days after, eight Persons were seized with the _Small-Pox_. So dangerous is _Heat_ in all Kinds of pestilential Distempers, and so diffusive of Contagion. And moreover the Houses themselves may likewise be demolished or pulled down, if that can conveniently be done; that is, if they are remote enough from others: otherwise it may suffice to have them thoroughly cleansed, and then plastered up. And after this, all possible Care ought still to be taken to remove whatever Causes are found to breed and promote _Contagion_. In order to this, the _Overseers_ of the Poor (who might be assisted herein by other Officers) should visit the Dwellings of all the meaner Sort of the Inhabitants; and where they find them _stifled up too close_ and _nasty_, should lessen their Number by sending some into better Lodgings, and should take Care, by all Manner of Provision and Encouragement, to make them more _cleanly_ and _sweet_. NO good Work carries its own Reward with it so much as this kind of _Charity_: and therefore, be the Expence what it will, it must never be thought unreasonable. For nothing approaches so near to the first Original of the _Plague_, as Air pent up, loaded with Damps, and corrupted with the Filthiness, that proceeds from _Animal Bodies_. OUR _common Prisons_ afford us an Instance of something like this, where very few escape what they call the _Goal Fever_, which is always attended with a Degree of _Malignity_ in Proportion to the _Closeness_ and _Stench_ of the Place: and it would certainly very well become the Wisdom of the Government, as well with regard to the Health of the _Town_, as in Compassion to the _Prisoners_, to take Care, that all _Houses of Confinement_ should be kept as airy and clean, as is consistent with the Use, to which they are designed.