Book I — — CONTAGION 37

8So far, I have stated: 'That the contagion which affects &
distant object works by means of the same common principle
and by the same method as do other contagions; I have stated
by what sort of movement it is carried and how it penetrates
into the organism, and possesses such great force. I shall now
describe its peculiar and special nature, which makes it dif—
fer from other contagions. It seems, then, to differ from those
that infect by contaet only, in that it is composed of a strong
and viscous combination, whereas the former are not. Again,
those contagions that infect a distant object differ from those
that infect by fomes and by direct contaet only, in that they
have a more powerful combination and greater subtility, and
therefore they are more penetrating and have greater activity.
Perhaps, too, such contagions have an antipathy for the animal
organism, not only that antipathy which is called materia!, but
also a spiritual antipathy?? which can put to flight the spirits
and the heat that holds together the combined humors, and
hence can most easily carry in putrefactions. Dut of this I
shall speak presently.