§ Sir J. Jacksonbrought up the Report of the committee appointed to inquire whether the plague was or was not a contagious disease. In moving that it be laid on the table, the hon. baronet stated, that he differed from the opinion contained in the report, namely that the plague was a contagious disease, since the contrary appeared from the evidence of several medical gentlemen who had been examined. Dr. M'Cleod, a very intelligent medical man, said, that it would be impossible to bring the disorder to England, even if a large premium were offered for that purpose. Dr. Mitchell had also expressed a very strong opinion on the subject. A considerable time since, he had broached the opinion, that the disorder denominated plague was not in its nature, contagious; that the sick might be visited with safety, unless those who did so came into immediate contact with them. From the evidence of Mr. Green it appeared that the Turks constantly bought the clothes of persons who died of the plague, which they were in the habit of wearing; and yet many of them were not affected by the disease. This evidence having been given, he conceived that he was fully warranted in coming to an opinion different from that at which the committee had arrived. The consequence of the dread which existed lest the plague should be communicated from foreign countries occasioned ships to perform quarantine, or their crews to be placed in lazarettos, greatly to the inconvenience of mercantile men. Now, it was remarkable that not one instance of plague had occurred since the introduction of this system, which was a century ago. If the plague had never appeared on board ships which, during that period had been obliged to perform quarantine, the fair presumption was, that the danger apprehended was visionary, and that the quarantine system might very well be dispensed with.
§ Mr. Morrittcontended, that a part of the evidence given before the committee, 1134 went to prove distinctly that the plague was contagious. The report was signed by all the members of the committee, except the hon. baronet.
§ Sir Isaac Coffinprotested against, any alteration in the quarantine laws. Those who said the plague was not contagious, ought to recollect that it broke out in London in 1665, and swept away a vast number of inhabitants. Probably the infection would not have been destroyed to this day, if the city had not been burned to the ground in 1666.
§ The Report was ordered to be printed;