Contagious Disorders

crim. law, are diseases which are capable of being transmitted by mediate or immediate contact. It is indictable at common law unlawfully and injuriously to expose persons infected with the small-pox or other contagious disease in the public streets where persons are passing, or near the habitations of others, to their great danger. 1 Russ. Cr. 114. Lord Hale seems to doubt whether if a person infected with the plague, should go abroad with intent to infect another, and another should be infected and die, it would not be murder; and he thinks it clear that though there should be no such intent, yet 422. Vide 4 M. & S. 73, 272;;or Dane’s Ab. h. t.