I CANNOT but take Notice, that the _Plague_ was stopp'd at _Marseilles_ a full Fortnight by the same Measures, and probably might have been wholly extinguished, had not new Force been given it by the unseasonable Confidence of the Inhabitants upon this Intermission: which, we are informed, was so great, that they would not believe the _Pestilence_ had been at all among them, and publickly upbraided the Physicians and Surgeons for frighting them causlesly[82]. At this Time, no doubt, they must have neglected the Cautions necessary for their Security so much, as to leave us no room to be surprized, that the Disease should after this break out again with too great Violence to be a second Time overcome.
BUT, besides these Examples in foreign Countries, we have one Instance of the same Nature nearer Home. When the _Plague_ was last here in _England_, upon its first Entrance into _Poole_ in _Dorsetshire_, the Magistrates immediately suppress'd it, by removing the _Sick_ into _Pest-Houses_, without the Town, as is well remember'd there to this Time. A very remarkable Occurrence has greatly contributed towards preserving all the Circumstances of this Transaction in Memory. They found some Difficulty in procuring any one to attend upon the _Sick_ after their Removal: which obliged the Town to engage a _young Woman_, then under Sentence of Death, in that Service, on a Promise to use their Interest for obtaining her Pardon. The young Woman escaped the Disease, but neglecting to solicite the Corporation for the Accomplishment of their Engagement with her, three or four Months after she was barbarously hanged by the _Mayor_ upon a Quarrel between them.
I WOULD have it here observed, that as the Advice I have been giving is founded upon this Principle, that the best Method for stopping Infection, is to separate the _Healthy_ from the _Diseased_; so in small Towns and Villages, where it is practicable, if the _Sound_ remove themselves into _Barracks_, or the like airy Habitations, it may probably be even more useful, than to remove the _Sick_. This Method has been found beneficial in _France_ after all others have failed. But the Success of this proves the Method of _Removing the Sick_, where this other cannot be practised, to be the most proper of any.