Note 77 — Chapter XXIV

The Experience of all Countries and Times so strongly confirms these important Truths, that they cannot be too often repeated, too generally published, whenever and wherever this Disease rages. The Succession of cold Showers to violent Heats; too moist a Constitution of the Air; an Excess of animal Food; Uncleanliness and Contagion, are the frequent Causes of epidemical Fluxes. E. L. I have retained the preceding Note, abridged from this Gentleman, as it contains the Suffrage of another experienced Physician, against that Prejudice of ripe Fruits occasioning Fluxes, which is too popular among ourselves, and probably more so in the Country than in London. I have been also very credibly assured, that the Son of a learned Physician was perfectly cured of a very obstinate Purging, of a Year's Continuance (in Spite of all the usual officinal Remedies) by his devouring large Quantities of ripe Mulberries, for which he ardently longed, and drinking very freely of their expressed Juice. The Fact occurred after his Father's Decease, and was affirmed to me by a Gentleman intimately acquainted with them both. K.