INTRODUCTION Page 1 CHAP. I. Prevalence of Doctrine of Atmospheric Contagion, Injury to Patient, Attendants, and Visitors 7 CHAP. II. Medicine retarded—Forms of Contagion 18 CHAP. III. Historical Sketch 25 CHAP. IV. The Absence of Sufficient Evidence of the Existence of Atmospheric Contagion 36 CHAP. V. Contagious Poisons—Non-Solution in the Air—Results of Experiments 40 CHAP. VI. Contagious Poisons, compared with Yeast—Does that agent assume the Aeriform State? 50 PART II. CHAP. I. The Negation of Atmospheric Contagion from the History and Actual Observation of Disease 56 CHAP. II. The Evidence drawn from Disease attacking the Relatives, Attendants, and Visitors of the Sick, in favour of Atmospheric Contagion, considered—Facts explained 67 CHAP. III. The argument drawn in favour of the Propagation of Disease by Atmospheric Contagion, from Disease appearing in previously Healthy Houses and Localities to which Persons sick, or lately so, have been removed 86 CHAP. IV. There is no evidence that Atmospheric Contagion travels, or is communicated from one place to another 89 PART III. CHAP. V. On Vitiated Air 96 CHAP. VI. Air Vitiated by Admixture with Effluvia arising from the Decomposition of Vegetable Matter on the Surface of the Earth 112 CHAP. VII. Malignant Fever 126 CHAP. VIII. General Diseased Condition of the Body, the Product of Malaria 132 CHAP. IX. Other causes of Pestilence—Famine—Unwholesome Food and Drink 140 CHAP. X. Causes of Pestilence continued—Cold, Want of Clothing, and Shelter—Depression of Mind—Influence of Weather, Climate, Habits, &c. 152 CHAP. XI. The Avoidance of Diseases marked with Palpable Contagious Poisons—The Limited Range of Action of Contagion 165 CHAP. XII. The Prevention and Correction of Vitiated Air 172 CHAP. XIII. The Prevention of Vitiated Air in connection with the Disposal of the Dead—Offals—Construction of Towns, Houses, Sewers, &c. 190 CHAP. XIV. Prevention of Disease by an Active and Cheerful State of Mind, Sufficient Clothing, and Wholesome Diet 206