In order to obtain the most complete and satisfactory information, by performing the strictest quarantine, IToward determined to go to Smyrna, and there to take his passage to Venice in a ship with a foul bill. He was thus enabled to give a particular account of his reception and accommoda tion in the new lazaretto of this city, which is chiefly assigned to Turks and soldiers, and the crews of those ships which have the plague on board ; and this he thought the more necessary, as the rules and tariffs of the other lazarettos in Europe have been evidently formed from those established at Venice. The city of Venice has two lazarettos, appro priated to the expurgation of merchandise susceptible of infection, coming from suspected parts and for the accommo dation of passengers in perfmaning quarantine, as also for the reception of persons and effects infected in the unhappy times of pestilence. The old lazaretto is two miles, and the new about five miles, distant from the city, both on little islands, separated from all communication, not only by broad canals surrounding them, but also by high walls; they are of large extent, being about 400 geometrical paces in circumference. Of these Mr. Howard has given a particular description ; with an account of the regulations and mode of government to which they are subject, and a plan of the old lazaretto. At Trieste there are two lazarettos ; one new, but both clean, and a contrast to those which he had seen at Venice. Of the new one he has given a plan. It is surrounded, at the distance of abont twenty yards, by a double wall, within which are separate burying places for Roman Catholics, Greeks, and Protestants. Howard closes his account of the principal lazarettos in Europe, with the outlines of a proper lazaretto, and an engraved sketch of a plan for its construction. He has likewise subjoined, in minute detail, various pertinent remarks respecting quarantine and lazarettos in general.
Within the last few years, however, more enlightened views on the whole subject of the quarantine system have begun to prevail, and are gradually obtaining support. Eminent medical authorities, both in this country and on the Continent, have expressed the strongest opinions, as to its total inefficacy in preventing the introduction of disease ; while on the other hand the injury done by it to the interests of commerce, injury which cannot be adequately estimated, is earnestly and justly insisted upon by the merchants of all nations. It may be hoped, then, that these considerations may have their proper effect with those in authority, and that laws so oppressive and so injurious may shortly be abolished. A greater attention to sanitary regulations will
go for to prevent the generation of disease at home ; and then, even without quarantine laws, we need have little apprehension of contagion from abroad.
LEAD, (from the Saxon lad.) The colour of lead is of a bluish-white ; when tarnished, it becomes yellowish-white, then bluish, and at last bluish-black. Lustre when untar nishcd, 3 ; hardness, 5 ; and specific gravity, somewhere between 11 and 12. According to Brisson, it was 11-352 : and a specimen tried by Gellert, which was found at Frey burg, was estimated at 11.4-15. Next to gold, platina, and mercury, it is the heaviest metal, being upwards of eleven times heavier than an equal bulk of water. The heaviest is reckoned the best, It stains paper and the fingers. Next to tin, it is the most fusible of all the metals. It is soluble in most of the acids, though more readily so in the nitrous diluted than the others. By exposure to the moist atmos phere, it rusts or oxides. It is malleable and !inelastic, and its oxide is easily fusible into a transparent yellow glass Lead is most used in building, particularly for coverings, gutters, pipes, and in glass windows. For which uses, it is either east into sheets in a mould or milled ; which last, some have pretended, is the least serviceable, not only on account of its thinness, but also because it is so exceedingly stretched in milling and rendered so porous and spongy, that when it .comes to lie in the hot sun, it is apt to shrink and crack, and consequently will not keep out the water. Others have preferred the milled lead, or flatted metal, to the cast, because it is more equal, smooth, and solid.
The lead used by glaziers is first cast into slender rods, twelve or fourteen inches long, called canes ; and these, being afterwards drawn through their vice, come to have a groove on either side for the panes of glass; and this they call turned lead.
The method of paling or soldering lead for fitting on of embossed figures, &c., is by laying the part whereon the figure is to be paled, horizontally, and strewing on it some pulverized rosin : under this they place a chafing-dish of coals till such time as the rosin becomes reddish, and rises in pimples ; then the figure is applied, and some soft solder rubbed into the joinings ; when this is done, the figure will be paled on, and as firm as if it had been cast on. For other uses in building, see the article SHEET LEAD.