Nor ought this further Caution to be omitted, That when the _Contagion_ has ceased in any Place by the approach of Winter, it will not be safe to open a free Trade with It too soon: Because there are Instances of the _Distemper's_ being stopt by the Winter Cold, and yet the Seeds of it not destroyed, but only kept unactive, till the Warmth of the following Spring has given them new Life and Force. Thus in the great Plague at _Genoa_ near 60 Years ago, which continued part of two Years; the first Summer about 10,000 dyed; the Winter following hardly any; but the Summer after no less than 60,000. So likewise the last _Plague_ at _London_ began the Autumn before the Year 1665, and was stopt during the Winter by a hard Frost of near three Month's Continuance; so that there remained no further Appearance of it till the ensuing Spring[12]. Now if Goods brought from such a Place should retain any of the latent Contagion, there will be Danger of their producing the same Mischief in the Place, to which they are brought, as they would have caused in that, from whence they came. But above all it is necessary, that the _Clandestine Importing_ of Goods be punished with the utmost Rigour; from which wicked Practice I should at this Time apprehend more Danger of bringing the _Disease_ from _France_, than by any other Way whatsoever. These are, I think, the most material Points, to which Regard is to be had in defending ourselves against _Contagion_ from other Countries. The particular Manner of putting these Directions in Execution, as the _Visiting_ of _Ships_, _Regulation_ of _Lazarettos_, &c. I leave to proper Officers, who ought sometimes to be assisted herein by able Physicians. The next Consideration is, What to do in Case, through a Miscarriage in the publick Care, by the Neglect of Officers, or otherwise, such a Calamity should be suffered to befall us. There is no _Evil_ in the World, in which the great Rule of _Resisting the Beginning_, more properly takes Place, than in the present Case; and yet it has unfortunately happened, that the common Steps formerly taken have had a direct Tendency to hinder the putting _this Maxim_ in Practice. As the _Plague_ always breaks out in some particular Place, it is certain, that the Directions of the _Civil Magistrate_ ought to be such, as to make it as much for the Interest of Families to discover their Misfortune, as it is, when a House is on _Fire_, to call in the Assistance of the Neighbourhood: Whereas on the contrary, the Methods taken by the Publick, on such Occasions, have always had the Appearance of a severe _Discipline_ and even _Punishment_, rather than of a _Compassionate Care_: Which must naturally make the _Infected_ conceal the Disease as long as was possible.