To purify close insected Places, as GAOLS, HOSPITALS, Etc. communicated
to the Committee appointed to superintend the Goal, by
T DAY, SURGEON.

MAIDSTONE, January 25th. 1784.

TAKE of Rue, Wormwood, Sage Lavender, Mint, and Rosemary, each an handful, put them altogether
into a Gallon of the best Vinegar, and let it boil, and while boiling, let it be thrown to all Parts of the
Room (viz. Ceiling, Walls, Etc.) by a Garden Engine that has a Fan or Rose, that will divide the Liquor
into very small Streams. After which, the Room is to be well dried with a Brazier, while the Window next
the External Air is open and all the interior openings stop; then a little Camphire may be carried in the
Room, burning in a Fire-Shovel.

N.B. If the Room has the advantage of Fire Place, the Ingredients may be boiled there, and suffered to
continue boiling sometime, while the Steam is conveyed into the Room.

If the Room has no Fire Place, and is too close to burn charcoal, it my be kept boiling while it is playing on
the infected Places (if the Engine is made of Copper or Tin) by a large heated Iron placed under it.

It will be necessary while this is performing, that every Door, Window, or Aperture that has not an imme-
diate Communication with the external Air be close stopt, and as many Openings next the external Air be left
open, as can with conveniency be admitted, that as the rarified impure Air is forced out, as much of the pure
fresh Air may supply its Place as possible.

By the above Method, what Air is left impure after the Ratifaction of the boiling Vinegar, will be in a great
Measure corrected by the Showers of Vinegar falling through it. But as this Method will render such Rooms
as are at the Time inhabited, too wet to warrant such a Procedure, the following might be substituted,
Particularly where no Fire or Fire Place is allowed.

Let a wide shallow Tub (or what is more commodiously used, The Machine, a Description of which is here
annexed) that has its Bottom perforated full of small Holes, be placed on Supporters as near the Ceiling as is
convenient to pour in cold Vinegar, and another on the Floor, somewhat wider, immediately under the First
to receive the Liquor as it falls; which will serve repeatedly in different Parts of the Room, 'till it has past
through most of the confined Air.

Firing Gunpowder will tend much to purify infected Places, as the Explosion will force out a considerable
Column of Air, and make room for the Admission of fresh, provided there is a Communication with the
external Air as above recited; and the Smoke will be the Acid of Sulphur.

And as a considerable Portion of fixed Air is generated in the Bodies of Men, and thrown out by th Mouth
as [..] passing [..] through it occasionally, as the Vic [..] directed to be done,
by Fire either Flame or Smoke, phlogisticates Air, and renders it unfit for Respiration, great Care should be
taken after Fumigations of every Kind, to get rid of the Air thus impregnated with the inflammable Principle,
and to let is fresh before the return of the Men.The Closeness of the Wards in this Goal render the
latter Caution peculiarly necessary.

From a strict Observance of the above Method fumigating with various Substances, washing the Walls, Etc. with
boiling Lime, throwing quick Lime from time to time down the Newparies and along the Drains ; frequent change of Linen and other Clothing, nutritive Food, and constant Attention to Cleanli-
ness; the Men being washed daily with warn Suds, and the Clothes, Etc. dried every Week upon an Oath with
Sulphur;The Disorder so prevalent in this County Goal has been totally eradicated.

The few days past without fresh
Commitments, no more than two
Persons can be found to have taken
Infection since thread option of
then precautions.

The Pump Work and Hollow Tube, through which the Liquor is forced into the Cistern that has been
perforated with a burning Iron, takes to Pieces for conveniency of its being removed to different Places.

The Opening & shuting of the difference Cut & Inlets must be
strictly attended to.