If it be difficult to explain the particular manner how the _Stomach_ comes to be thus affected, We must not therefore deny Matter of Fact; and may however probably Conjecture, that the last _Breath_ of one Dying of a Malignant Distemper, proves thus pernicious, in that Those fermenting active Particles, which, as we just now observ’d, the Blood discharges upon the Glands of the _Mouth_, _Stomach_, _Lungs_, &c. impregnating the Air in its Passage thro’ these; when the same happens to be immediately inspired by a sound Person, it may easily taint the _Salival_ Juices in the Mouth, which are very Glutinous, and of a fermenting Nature, and therefore susceptible enough of _Contagious Effluvia_, but especially of such as proceed from the same Liquor infected in the Sick Party. Now the _Spittle_ is continually swallow’d down into the Stomach, and so will quickly impress its _Labes_, or ill Quality, on so tender and sensible a Part; that is, will lodge these Corrosive _Salts_, (for such We may suppose the Particles of Infection) in the Secretory Ducts; whereupon the Glands being obstructed, little _Tumors_ are by the Afflux of their Fluid rais’d here and there, which breaking become small _Ulcers_, and produce that dismal Train of Symptoms which we have already related. And here it may not be amiss to take notice, that all Authors do agree, One great Cause of _Pestilential_ Distempers, especially in Armies and Camps, to be dead Bodies lying expos’d and rotting in the open Air; The Reason of which is plain from what we have been advancing; For Battels being generally fought in the Summer Time, it is no wonder, if the Heat acting upon the unbury’d _Carcasses_, and _Fermenting_ the Juices, draws forth those active Particles, which in great quantities filling the Atmosphere, when they are inspired and let into the Stomach, do affect It after the manner already described. To illustrate this Matter, I shall relate a remarkable Story told Me by the learned Dr. _Baynard_. The Body of a Malefactor was Hung up in Chains in the Country; after a few Months, in very hot Weather it was Sport and Pastime to some Boys, Playing thereabouts to Swing the Carcass up and down; One more bold than the Rest struck It with his Fist upon the naked Belly, which being outwardly parch’d and dry, and from the falling down of the Humours Swell’d and Tense, was easily burst by the Blow; out gush’d a Water so Corrosive and Fiery, that running down the poor Lad’s Arm, it caus’d a Violent _Excoriation_, and a very hard Matter it was to preserve It from being truly mortified. What this _Serum_ could do upon the outward Skin, the more Volatile Parts of It would, without all doubt, Effect upon the more tender and sensible Membranes of the _Stomach_, if a considerable number of them were fixt there. The Fluids of Humane Bodies being Ranker and more abounding in active Salts than those of other Creatures, which are not continually repaired and nourish’d by the Juices of Animals.