n

'avn-g^i ^&

BOSTON
MEDICAL LIBRARY

IN THE Francis A.Countway

Library of Medicine

BOSTON
ft

QR,

AN
Account
againft

Hiftorical

O F T H E Plague in London in 1S65

With precautionary Dire&ions
the like Contagion.

By
And

Nate
To

Hodges, M.

D.

Fellow of the College of Phyficians, refided-in the City all that Time;
wliich
is

who

added,

An

A
On
the different Caufes of

Diseases,
Contagious
:

Pestilential and how they become

REMARKS
On
the Infection now in France, and the moft probable Means to prevent its Spreading here;

WITH

By
Cfte

John Quincy, iVL D. Cljicn mtmx toitf) Uz&e aowttons*

3
:

LONDON

Printed for

E. Bell, ctfffie Crofs Keys

and

Uibti

in CbrnhiUr,
bdrd'fireet,
1

and
72
1

J. Qsborn,

p^ho,

Oxford- Amis in Lorn-

'4?

v n
-

Qr\\T

!>]

THE

may
the

he needlefs to acquaint

Reader

with

any

Mo-

tives for the Publication of

the following

Sheets at this

Time
have
of
late

The

Alarm

we

hem

juflly

under

from a

mod
ble

terrible

Defir oyer
again

in

a neighbouring

l\jngdom y very naturally

Precautions
here
this
;

calls

for

all pcffi-

its

Invafion

and

Progrefs

infomuch that the meanejl

Helps
as

to

End

ought to be contributed^
jerviceabie

they

may

prove

in

fome
Exi-

iv

The

PREFACE.
and I cannot but
that
the

Exigencies or other \

he
to

fomewhat

pleafed,

my

Intentions

this Purpofe,
tion,

from

following

Tranflathai

have fo far proved acceptable^

of
it

Two Imprejjions

have been tafen off

in a very fhort Time.

THE
Hodges
late

following
contains
by

Treatife
belt

of

Dr*

the
a

Account of the
here
\

Vi (it at ion

Plague

in

EnStyle

gland,

of any hitherto
'may

extant

although

fome

Readers

obferve,

that his

and
hurt

Perfpicuity
by

have

been

very

much
thoje

the

Enthufiafiick Strain
;

of

Times wherein he wrote

fuch an

Influence

had

the

Spirit

of
:

Delfijicn,

even
,

over

Matters of

Science

However

the mosi

affected Peculiarities

and Luxuriancies
that

of

that
flatter

kind are fo

much avoided,
with

I
the

my

felf

having

made

Tranflation

much more

pleafant and intelli-

gible than the Original,

even

to

Learned

Reader*

THE

The P R E

A C E.
Treatife,

v
and
con-

THE
the
sion,

Revival of

this

common

Inclination to be informed,
Subject,

cerning this

on the prefent Occa-

have,

perceive,

drawn out many

Things into Light , which have had a long

Repofe
in

Duft

and

Oblivion

but
to

the

Authors of fuch Difcoveries feem

have
of

had

more Regard

to

the Gratification

particular Refentments, than to any laudable

Purpofes to ferve the Publick

and have

taken more Pains in their Prefaces to thrufi

themfelves into Confederation, by
a very
by
ill

Treatment

of their Betters,
againfl
the

than

any

real Jffiflances

common Daneafily

ger

But an ordinary Reader may

the

dijiinguifb

froward

Petulances

of an

invidious Temper,
diction
;

and the Itch of Contra-

from

true Merit,

and

the generous

Communication of ufeful Knowledge.

wiuo-

iii-

I!

GZ&

THE
Ji

:L

HE

Subjlance of the following

^Jp S||l P^g ^J &<?<?# partly extracted /nw Papers wrote fome Tears Sj fr -^^-^- ^ wiB ^/^ 'another view *#^ ^g

fa

^arf/y ^#/- together fince our prefent apprehenfions of a Peftilence

from abroad

The

Enumeration offo many Caufes of a Peftilence, or like Change s^as have no immediate Relation to
theprejent Cafejnay to feme perhaps fe em Superfluous; but

my

defign hereby hath been -only the

better to inculcate a right under flanding of a

Contagion, which

is

the laji

Conference , and

highefl degree of Aggravation^ they are capable

of rifing to\

and gradually

to lead Perfons, not

well accuflomed to fuch

Matter s^ from the more

obvious , to the more fecret means of bringing

fuch terrible Changes into our Constitutions.

What

iv

The
What

PREFACE.
fuch precautionary Means,

relates to

for our Security } agaivjl the In feci ion now

abroad^ as concerns the Magtftrate, I have pre-

fumed

to fay

hut very

little

to

becaufe that

has been under the direction

of much abler

'Judges ; yet what I have ventured to fuggefi

concerning 4 Regulation in
tality',

the. Bills

of Morto^

I cannot forbear being fo partial

as to

wiflj it

may

ha duly confidered, by

Perfens

of mere Compafs and Penetration in fuch matters

;

and

it

has been

much my
of

concern not to
it

have had an opportunity

in a more private
.

Communicating
to Perfons,
it

manner

whofe
\

Authority might have given

greater weight

hecaudj b fides the advantages immediately proposed to be anfvered from

apprehcnfionS) I cannot
applicable to a great
as every
eafily
it

under our prefent

but conceive it to be
other ufeful

many

Ends^

curious and inauifaive Perfon

ma)

apprehends

Becaufe the Antid.otes and

mit

Me da cine s commofl;

m'cat ed
v

by

Dr. Hodges, are for the

part xbfolete y I have ventured to add fome

Formulae more fait Me

to the

modem

Practice)

and

The
and more

PREFACE.
:

v
all thefe

eafy to be

procured from the prefent

Stock of officinal Compofitions

But

I fubmit

to be

complied with, or altered, as

different Exigencies

may

require , or as better

fudges may think

fit.

1 find that fome general Directions on this

Subject are liable to mtfconfiruBions, ejpe daily
by

fuch who are willing

;

to

underft and things

in a wrong Senfe

by which
<?f

means Difputes

are raifed about the ufe

Alexipharmicks,

Fumigations, Fires, and

which have
little

other general Topics,

other ^Foundation,
;

than

a,

wilful mifapprehenfion

for

it

cannot be imaor

gine d^ that thefe are either

good
they

bad

in

all

C ir cum (lances

but

that

require

the
as

Conduct and Direction of

able fudges,

particular Occasions or Symptoms

demand

cr

forbid them.

But of
rities,

all

the Excurfions

and Particula-

in which

fome

are

fond of indulging

themfelveS) I cannot think any jo extravagant

and blame able,

as Hypothefes,

and drawing Con-

fequences of PraUice fro?n fuppofititious Principles

:

The Theory of Medicine abhors any fuch

delufory

iv

The

PREFACE.
and requires
the fiver itj

ielufory Foundations,

of Demonjlration from Facts, and the known

Properties of Matter
\

and more

ejpecially does

the Necefjities we are

now under
Enemy,

of
call

Arming
for Afeither

a^ainjl the mofl powerful

fiances of a more certain Nature ; yet

from the wantonnejfes of a light lmagination,and

4 falfe Philofophy
taken Notice
;

or

from

a Vanity to he
this

of, the

Puhlick has upon

fad

Qccafion been amufed with the Figments and

Conceits of Naturalifts,who
lies

from

the Cafu alto Plants^

and Difemperatures incident

and

other inanimate Productions of Nature,

to jupport very wild

have drawn Conclufions

Conjectures concerning a like Procedure in the

Dijeafes peculiar to

Mankind.

THE

OR,

AN
e?<

ACCOUNT,
j

SECTION
Of
the

L
the late

Rife

and Progrefi of

Plague.
HE
to

Plague which
give

we

are
of,

now
difits

an Account

covered the Beginnings of

future
Cruelties*

about
5

the
for

Clofe of the Year 1664.

at that

Seafon two or three Perfons died

fuddenly in one Family at Weftminfter, attended B

} :

2
tended
feftly

An

Hiftorical Account
as

with fuch Symptoms,

declared
their

mani-

Origin:

Hereupon

fbme timerous Neighbours, under Apprehenfions of a Contagion, removed into the

City of London ,
along

who

unfortunately carried
peftilential

with them the

that Difeafe,
in

Taint

whereby
denly
its

which was before

and
fpread

in its Infancy,

Family or two, fud-

got

Strength,
y

Abroad

fatal Poifons

and meerly for

fir it.

Want of
with
it,

confining

the

Perfons

feized
little

the whole City was in a

coverably infected.

Time
a
for

irre-

Not

unlike

what hapfmall

pened the Year following, when

Spark, from an

unknown Caufe,

Want
nor

of timely Care, increafed to fuch a Flame,

that neither the Tears of the People,

the Profufion
tinguiih
,

of their Thames,

could ex-

and which laid Waft the greater!

in

Part

of the City
therefore
great
as

three

Days Time
happens
to

And
no

there

be

Difference

between thefe
this

grievous Calamities,

two Mention of them

;

together

may

not be improper

and the

more
able
tion,

especially,

becaufe by a like irrefuta-

Fate from

Fever and

a Conflagra-

both the Inhabitants and their Houfes

were reduced to

A flies.

BUT

of the Plague

in

166$, &c.
was rumoured
People,
at in

UT

as foon

as

it

a-

mongfi:

the

common
the Plague

who

are

always

enough
that

aftonifhed

any Thing
the City^

new,
it
is

was

impoilible to
its

relate

what Accounts
and well were
fo

were fpread of
it,

Fatality,

had not the Prefages been

its

ominous

every one predicted

future Devaluations;

and

terrified

each

other

with
,

Refor

membrances
it

of

a former Peftilence

was

received

Notion

amongfr.

the

common

People,

that

the Plague
;

vifited

England once in

Twenty Years
return again.
well foever

as if after

a certain Interval,
ceffity, it muft.

by fome inevitable
juftify'd

Ne-

But although

this Conceit,
pari:

how

by

Experiences,

did not fo

much

obtain

with Perfons of more Judgment^ yet this

may

be affirmed,

that

it

greatly contri-

buted, amongft the Populace, both to pro-

pagate arid inflame the Contagion,

ftrong

by the
their

ImprefJions

it

made upon

Minds.

AND
not

thefe frightful Apprehenfions

increafed

were
of
5

a little

by the

Predictions

of Aftrologers,
Stars,

from the

Conjunct-ions

and

the Appearances

of

Comets

9U

4
for

An

Hiftorical Account
little

although but
inch Things

Regard was given

to

by Perfons of Thought,
ftiewed,

yet Experience daily

what

Influ-

ence they had- with the meaner Sort, whole

Spirits being manifeftly

funk by fuch Fears,

lefs

rendered

their

Constitutions

able to

refht the Contagion.

fiders it,

Whofoever duly con-

can never- imagine that this Peftiits

lence

had

Origin from any Conjunction

Jupiter

of

Saturn

and

Sagitariits

on the

Tenth of
Saturn

Offohef, or

from a Conjunction of
fame Sign on the

and Mars
for

in the

Twelfth of November, which was the com-

mon

Opinion

all

the

Good
is

that happens
affrgnable to

during the like Conjunctions

the lame Caufes.

THE
Comets,
211

like

Judgment

is

to be

made of

how
in

terrible foever

they

may be
are
a

their Aipecls,

and whether they

higher

produced

the

Regions from

Conglomeration of many Stars, and returnin^ at certain Periods : of whether they

are lower,

and the Production of fulphukindled

is

rebus

Exhalations,
\

in

our

own

Atmofphere

For there

nothing flrange

in the Accenfion

of heterogeneous Particles
each other, howfoever
terrible

into a Flame,

upon their rapid Occurfions

arid Collifions ae-ainft-

5 of the blague in \(6y^ &c. terrible the Tracks of fuch Light may be
circumftanced.

The

People therefore were

fright ned without

Reafon at fuch Things,

in the

and the Mifchief was much'. more

Predictions

of the

Star-Gazers,

than

in-

die Stars themfelves:

ever

Nothing could howfad

iHipreffions,

conquer

thefe

fo

powerful were they amongrl: the Populace,

who
their

anticipated their

unhappy Fate with

their

Fears,

and

precipitated

own

DeftruHon.

BUT
ment,
it

to
is

pafs

by Things of
that
in December ,

lefs

Movery

to-be noted,

hard
to

Frofl:

begun
the

which confew-

tinued

three Months,

and feemed greatly

and very
although even
in

deaden
during
it

Contagion,
Seafon
;

died

that

then

was not extinguished, for

I

the

Middle of Chifimas Holy-Days,

to
a

was called

Young-Man in a Fever, who after two Days Courfe of Alexlterial Medicines, had two Rifnigs about the Eignefs of a Nutmeg broke out, one on each Thigh upon Examination of which,- I foon dip

covered

the Malignity,

both from

their

black Hue,

and the Circle

it
I

round them,
\

and pronounced
.

to

be the Plague

in

which Opinion

was afterwards confirmed

by

6
fay

An Hiftorkal

Account

fubfequent Symptoms, although by God's

^letting the Patient recovered.

THIS
Diftemper,
it
,

Cafe did

infert,

to

ihew

that

this Seafon

not

wholly
it

deftroy the

although

greatly retrained

but upon the Froft

breaking, the Con-

tagion gained Ground,

and gradually got out

like

of
for

its

Confinements

Flame that

fbme Time feems fmother'd, and fud-

denly breaks out with aggravated Fury,

AS

foon as

the Magistracy,

to

whom
the

the publick Care

belonged,
increafed,

faw

how

Contagion

daily
it

and

had now
an
to fhut

extended

felf

to

feveral Pariihes,
iffued out

Order was immediately

up

all

the infeered Houfes,

that neither

Relations nor Acquaintance might unwarily

receive
infe!ed
it

from them,
from
carrying

and to keep the

it

about

with

them.

BUT
much

whether this Method proved of

is
-

Service or not,

to this

Day

doubtful, and
it
is

difputed

but however

my

Bu-

fmefs here to adhere

to Fats,

and
all

relate
poiftble

the Arguments on both Sides with

Impartiality,

IK

of

the (plague in

i66j &c.
y

IN
that

Order
a

w hereunto,

it is

to be obferv'd,

Law was made

having

for

marking the
with
a

Houfes of infected
Crofs,

Perfons
it

Red

with

this

Subfcription,

LORD HAVE MERCY UPON

And
that a
tinually,
cefTaries

US:

Guard mould attend there conboth to hand to the Sick the Ne-

reftrain

Food and Medicine, and to them from coming Abroad until

of

Forty

Days

after

their

Recovery.

But
thefe
to

although the Lord Mayor

Officers readily

and

all

inferior

and

effectually

put

Orders
Purpofe,

in Execution,
for

yet

it

was

no

more and more increafedj and the Confternation of thole who were thus feparated from all Society, unlefs with the infected, was ine^preilible \
the Plague

and the difmal Apprehenfions

under,

it

laid

them

made them but an the devouring Enemy. And

was on
this

eafler

Prey to

this Seclufion
in-

Account much the more

tolerable, becaufe if a freih Perfon

in the

was feized was to

fame Houfe but a Day before anofinillied

ther had

the Quarantine,
j

it

be performed over again

which occafion'd fuch tedious Confinements of fick and well

as

together,

fometimes

caufed the

Lofs

of the whole,

B 4

BUT

An

Hijlorical

Account

BUT
J^ofs

of

what greatly contribued to the People thus ihut up, was the
(for they are

wicked Practices of Nurfes

not to be mention'd but in the moft bitter

Terms
nefs

Thefe Wretches, put of Greedi-

to plunder the Dead,

Patients,
in

would
it
^

ffrrangie

their

and charge

to

the

Di--

temper

their

Throats

others

would
well

fecretly convey

the peftiiential Taint from

Sores of the infe&ed to thofe

who were
thefe

and

nothing indeed

deterred

abantheir

doned Mifcreants
avaritious

from

profecuting
all

Purpofes

by
could

the
}

their Wickednefs

invent

Methods who, alto

though
accufe

they were

without WitnefTes
it is

them,

yet

not doubted

but

divine Vengeance will overtake fuch wicked

Barbarities

with

due
'

Punifhment

Nay,
?

fome were remarkably rtruck from Heaven, r t ^ in the Perpetratipn of their Crimes, and
one particularly amongrt. many, as fhe was
leaving the

Houfe of

a Family,
fell

all

dead,

loaded

with her Robberies,

down dead
:

under her Burden in the Streets

Cafe

And
very

the
re-

of a worthy

Citizen

was

markable,
his

who

being

fuppoied

dying

Kurie,
j

was

before-hand ftripped

by by

her

but Fvecovering again, he came a fecond

Time

of the Tlarue

in

\66^
thefe

Sec.
fo

9
many

Time
were

into the

World naked.
of
it
is

And

the

Artifices

barbarous

Wretches, that
will

to be hoped, Pofterity

take Warning
*,

how they

truft

them
Im-

again in like Cafes

and that 'their

pajft

punities will not be a

Means of bringing on

us again the like Judgment.

MOREOVER,
Houfes,
theirs,

this Shutting

up

infefted

made

the Neighbours

fly

from
and

who

otherwife might have been a

j

Help
verily

to

them on many Accounts

that
alive,

believe

many who were

their

loft

might have now been

tragical

Mark upon

had not the Doors drove pro?

per Ailiftances from them.

AND

this

is

confirmed by the

Examwhich

ples of other peftilential Contagions,

have been obferved not to ceafe, until the

Dqprs of the Sick were fet open, and they had the Privilege of going Abroad ^ of the
fame Authority
Nations, ty which
is

the Cuftom

of other

who have due Regard to that Liberis

neceilary for the Comforts both

of Body and Mind.

I

T
all

now remains
that
is

pf

we take Notice of any Weight on the other

that
Side
-

lo
Side
}

An

Hijlorical Account
it is

as therefore

not at

all

deemed
to fave
is

cruel to take off a mortify'd

Limb

the whole,

by a Parity of Reafon

the

Conduct of a Community
iiardihips
peflilential

juftifyable,

who,
in

out of a Regard to the Publick Good, put

upon particular Perfbns

Contagion therefore,

what can
?

be of more immediate Service than fecuring thofe that are well from the Infection

And

the more

efpecially in a Difeafe that

reaches not only the Body,

but taints the

the infe&ed

very Breath

for in this Cafe

Breath

poifons

upon

the

healthful,

and

even at the Point of Death

dirTufe

endeavour to

quered
arife

Venom them. From

that thofe Tricks

to others

which conthe
to

this delirious Pleafure

of

tranfplanting

Corruption
another
;

of a
not

peflilential

Tumour

Thing of that Woman, who by her Importunities drew her unhappy Husband into her Embraces, which ended his Life with hers.
to fay any

AGAIN,
this Cafe,
I

to take

away

all

Doubtings in

am

not ignorant of what

Mo,

ment

it

is,

to ihut

up the Houfes of all thofe

Cuftom
at

who
by

are infetted, according to

for

this

means

a Contagion

may

fir ft

be

ftifled,

which otherwife would go beyond

any

oftheflague
any Remedy
-

in

\66^
fired,

Sec.

1 1

and with equal Advantage

if too

might Gun-Powder be

much

Time

is

not wafted in Deliberation, before

thefe Things are put into Pra&ice.

BUT

if hereafter a

Pkgue fhould break

fhould think
it

out again,

(which God forbid) with SubI

miflion to Superiors,

not

improper to appoint proper Accommodations out of the City, for fiich as are yet un-

touched

in

infecied Families

and

fhould continue there for a

certain

who Time
-

the Sick in the mean while to be removed to

convenient Apartments provided on Purpofe
for
ib

them

For by this Means, that Practice

to

abhorrent

Religion

and Humanity,

even in the Opinion of a Mahometan, of ihutting

up the

iick

and well together, would

be avoided.

BUT

to return

The Infection had long

and continued through
or lefs Severity
;

doubtfully reign'd,

May and June, with more

another,

fometimes raging in one Part, and then in

as in a running fort

of Fight

as

often as the
great

Number of

Funerals decreafed,
its

Hopes were conceived of

all

Difappear-

ance

then on a fudden again their Increafe

into Deje&ion, as if the

threw

whole City WAS

An

Hiftorical

Account
;

was foon to be unpeopled

caule Perfons were

which Uncer^

tainty gave Advantage to the Diftemper

be-

more remifs

in their Pro-

viiions agaitcft it, during

fuch Fluctuation.

IT
what
left

muft not however be omitted, with

Precipitation the trembling Inhabitants

the City, and

how they

flocked in luch

Crowds out of Town,

gone out of
it felf,

as if London

had quite

like the
all
:

Hurry of a
chief

iudden Conflagration,

Doors and PafTages

are thronged for Efcape

And after the

or the People were fled,

and thereby the

Kouriihment of
in

this cruel

Enemy had
away,
it

been
it

great
ftill ;

Meafure

taken

yet

raged

and although

feemed once
it

to flay as Tarthians

in their Flight,

fbon
kill'd

returned

with redoubled Fury,

not unlike what
after

and

not by flow Paces, but almoft. immediately

upon Seizure
in Battle,

is

often feen

when

fome Skirmilhes of
the main Bofo

Wings, and feparate

dies

Parties,
}

come

to engage

did this Contaits

gion at
but at

fir ft

only fcatter about

Arrows,

laft

covered

the whole City with

Death.

THUS therefore in the Space of one Week

were eight Thouland Perfons cut
oil",

and

when

i of the ^Plague in 166^ 8cc. j when Things came to Extremity, all Helps were called in; fb it began now to be

fblely

the

Magiftratcs

Bufinefs,

how

to

put a Stop to this cruel Devaftation,

fave fome Part

and

of the City

the Grave
pointed a
to

firft

from then therefore was apat

lea ft

Monthly
in vain,

Faft for Publick Prayers

deprecate the Anger of

it

Heaven

nor

proved

or were their Supplica:,

tions altogether

fruit lefs

for if

we have
of the

any Regard to
Seafon^

the Temperature

whole Summer was refreihed with moderate Breezes, f ufficient to prevent

the

the Air's Stagnation

and Corruption,

and

to carry off the peftilential Steams;

Heat was

the likewife too mild to encourage

fuch Corruption and Fermentation, as helps

to taint the animal Fluids, and pervert therri

from their natural

State.

THE
what
dicine
;

Government however, to the Duty

Prayers,

of Publick
to

neglected not to add

Aiiiftances

might be had from Mehis Majefty,

in

which Purpofe
called

with
that

the divine Helps,

alio

all

was humane

and by his Royal Authority

College

commanded the

of Phyiicians or

London, jointly to write fornewhat mEnglijtt

that might be a general Directory in this

cak-

. ;

4
to

An

Hiftorical Account
:

calamitous Exigence

Nor was
for

it

fatis-

fa&ory
charge
that

that

honoured Society to
the Publick

dife

their Regards

in

fome were chofe out of their Number, and appointed particularly to attend the infecled on all Occalions
only,

but

two

alfo

out

of the Court of Aldermen

lee this

were required to
executed
-

hazardous Task
all

fo that encouraged with

this Province

pro-

per Means,
undertaken,

was

chear fully

and

all

poilible

Caution was
^

ufed fully to anfwer the Intention

but this

Task was too much

Faculty
it

for four Perfons,

and

wanted rather the Concurrence of the whole

}

we were however afhamed

to give

up, and ufed our utmoft Application there^

in

but

all

our Care and Pains were eluded,

for the Difeaie, like the tiydras Heads,

was
.

no fooner extinguinVd in one Family, but

it

broke out in many more with Aggravations

fo that in a little

Time we found our Task

too great, and defpaired of putting an entire

Stop to the Infection.

NOR
ing
Perfons,

was there

'at

this

Time wantand worthy

the Help of very great

who
in

voluntarily contributed their

this

ffi

fiances

dangerous

Work

a-

mongft the Number of which, the learned

Br,

of the (plague
2Sfath.

in

1665,

&c

Dr. Glljfon, Regius Profeflbr at Cambridge, Dr.

Paget,

Dr. Wharton,

Dr. Berwick,

Dr.

Brookes,

and many others

very
honourable
fell

who

are yet alive^

*,

deferve

Mention

but

eight or nine

in this

Work, who were

too

much loaded with the Spoils of the Enemy ; andamongft whom was Dr. Conyers,

whole Goodnefs and Humanity claim an honourable Remembrance with all who furvive him.

AFTER

then

all

Endeavours to
EffecTr,

reftrain

the Contagion proved of no

we applied
it

our lelves altogether to the Care of the difealed

}

and in the Profecution of which,

Boaffcing,
:

may

be affirmed without

no Hait

zards to our felves were avoided

incredible to think

But

is

how

the Plague raged

amongft the
it

common

People, infomuch that

-

came by fome
and
it

to be called the Poors Plague

left

yet although the more opulent had

the

Town,
little

was

a] molt,

left

uninha*left felt

bited, the

Commonalty that were

,

of

Want

for their Neceilities

were

relieved with

a Profulion of

good Things

from the Wealthy, and their Poverty was

fupported with Plenty
,

more manifeft

Caufe therefore

for inch a

De variation

a-

mongft thein

lhall aliign in

another Place.

IN

|6
I

An

Hiftorical Account

the

Months of AuguB and

its

September $

the Contagion chang'd

languid
Pace,
all,

former flow and

it

and having as

were got

Mafter of

made

a moft terrible Slaughor five

ter, fo that three, four,

Thouland
;

died in a

Week, and

once eight Thoufand

who
for

can exprefs

the Calamities
Britifij

of fuch

Times?

The whole

Nation wept
In

the Miferies

of her

Metropolis.
for

fome Houfes Carcafes lay waiting

rial,

Bulaft

and in others,
%

Perfons in

their

Agonies

in

One

Room might
off

be heard

dying Groans, in another the Ravings of a

Delirium,

and not far

Relations

and

Friends bewailing both their Lois, and the

diihial

Profped
\

of their own fudden De-

parture
all

Death was the fure Midwife to

Children, and Infants palled immediately

from the Womb to the Grave

who would

not melt with Grief, to fee the Stock for

a future Generation hang upon the Breafts

of a dead Mother
changed the
firfb

Or

the Marriage-Bed
a

Night into

Sepulchre,
in

and the unhappy Pair meet with Death

their
rlrft.

Embraces
and expire

Some of the
in the Streets
-

infect-

ed run about daggering like drunken Men$

and

fall

while
but
never

others

lie

half-dead

and

comatous,

17 of the Plague in \66yy 8cc. never to be waked but by the laft Trumpet

ibme

lie

vomiting as if they had drank Poifon

fall

and others
they are

dead

in the

Market, while

buying NecefTaries for the Sup-

port of Life.

Not much
Conflagration

unlike
^

it

was
the

the

following

where

Altars theVnfelves became fb

many
in

Victims,

and -the

fineft

Churches

the

whole

Heaven Supplications in Flames, while their Marble Pillars, wet with Tears, melted like Wax nor were Monuments fecure from the inexorable
carried ifp to
,

World

Flames,

where many of their venerable

;

Remains parTed a fecond Martyrdom

moft auguft Palaces were foon
laid

the

Wafre,

and the

Flames

feemed to be

in a fatal

Engagement to deftroy the great Ornament

of Commerce
j

and the Burning of

all

th.Q

Commodities of the World together, feemed a proper Epitome of this Conflagration

neither confederate Crowns, nor the
^

drawn
PhaHalls,

Swords of Kings, could

natick and

retrain
*,

its

Rebellious

Rage

large

lately Houfes, and the Sheds of the Poor,

were together reduced to Aihes

the Sim
env'ed

blum'd to

fee

himfelf

fet,

and

thofe Flames the Government of the Night,

which

had

rivalled

him

fo

many Days

'

as

'

An
I

Hiftorical
fay,

Account

as the City,

was afterwards burnt

in
like

without any
did this

Diftin&ion,

Manner
Age, or
very
to be in-

Plague

fpare no Order,
in

Sex

The

Divine was taken

the

Exercife of his prieftly

rolled amongrr. the Saints

Office,

Above

and fome

Phyficians, as
find

before

intimated,* could not

Ailiftance in
in
}

their

own

Antidotes, but

died

the

Adminiftration of

them

to

others

and although the Soldiery retreat-

ed from the Field of Death, and encamped out of the City, the Contagion followed,

and

vaYiquiih'd

them

many

in

their

old Age, others

its

in their

Prime, funk under

-

Cruelties

of the Female Sex moft died

and

and hardly any Children efcaped^

it

was not uncommon to

pafs
io

fee an

Inheritance

fucceilively to three or
-

four Heirs in

many Days

the

Number of

Sextons

were not
Bells

fufficient to

bury the Dead

the

feemed hoarie with continual

quite ceafed
j

tolling

until at lafb they

the bury-

ing Places would

not hold

the Dead, but

Pits

they

were thrown into large

in
it

dug

in

wafte Grounds,

Heaps, thirty or forty

together

and

often happened, that thofe

who
one
their

attended

the Funerals of their Friends

Evening, were carried

the

next

to

own

long

Home

Quis

of the Vtague
*

in

\66<$ y &c.
fundo

19

Quis

talia

Temper et a Lachrymis i'-

Even the Relation of

this Calamity melts

me

into Tears, although the worft

was not

yet certain, for the City was not yet drained

by her Funerals
at
all

nor the Difeafe as yet

relaxed.

ABOUT
the

the

Beginning
at the

of

September^

Difeafe was

Height}

in the

Courfe of which Month, more than twelve

Thoufand died
that

in a

Week
was

But at length,

nothing

might
it

go untried to divert
ordered
to
(for

the

Contagion,

by the
Court

Governours,
thofe

who were

left

fuperintend

calamitous

Affairs,

the
to

was
ther^

then

removed to Oxford)
for three

burn

Fires in

the Streets

Days togeof the

yet

while this was in Debate, the

diffident

Phyiicians concerned were

Succefs,
as

the Air in
therefore

it

lelf

was un-infuch
a

fecied

and

rendred

ihowy and expensive

and of no
quity,
Effeft
-

a Project fuperfluous,

and thefe Conjecfures

the Authority of Anti-

.we fupported

by

and

Hippocrates

himfelf}

notwith-

Itanding which,

the Fires were kindled in

all

20
all

An
the Streets.

Hijiorical Account

But

alas

the Controverfie
the three

was foon decided

for before

Days were quite expired, the Heavens both mourned fo many Funerals, and wept
for the
fatal Miftake, fo as

to extinguifh

even the Tires with

fhall

their

Showers.
other

not

determine
in

any
Cafe,

Perfon's

Conjefture
Fires

this

whether thefe

may more
or

properly be

deemed the
-

ominous
flagration,

Forerunners
the

of the enfuing Con7

enfuing Funerals

but

whether
lities

it

was from the fuffocating QuaFuel,

or the wet Conftituti-

of the

on

of Air that immediately followed, the

fatal

moft

Night enfued,

wherein more

than four Thoufand expired.

rity

May

Poite-

by

this Miftake be warned,

and not,

like

Empyricks, apply

Remedy where

they are ignorant of the Caufe.

THE
in

Reader

is

by the
Year

Way

to

be

advertifed,

that this

was luxuriant
Cherries

moft Fruits,

efpecially

and
with
con-

Grapes,
that the

which
for
this

were

at fo

low a Price,

common
that

People

furfeited

them

might very
Difpofition

much
more

tribute

to

of Body, as
eaiily

made the
take Place.

Peftilencial

Taint

NOR

of the Plague in i66<$ y &cc.

NOR
niilcent

ought we hereto pafs by the beAiliftances

of the
^

Rich, and the

Care of the Magirtrates

being
of
all

for the

Markets

open

as ufual,

and a greater Plenty

a

Help to fupport the Sick j fo that there was the Reverfe of a Famine, which hath been
Provifions,

was

great

obierved to be fo fatal to pefKlential Contagions

is
*,

and

in this the

Goodnefs of Heaven
fuch
Profulion

always to be remembred, in alleviating

common Mifery by

of good Things from the Stores of Nature.

BUT
mediate

as

it

were
of

to

balance

this

im-

Help

Providence,

nothing

was otherwife wanting to

aggravate

the
no-

common

Deftrucrion

*,

and to which
and

thing more contributed than the Practice

of Chymifts and "Quacks,

of whofe
to

Audacity and Ignorance

be altogether
tigable
in
filent
^

it is

impoflible

they

were indefaand

fpreading their Antidotes-,

Strangers to
all

although equal
as

Learning
into

well

as

Phyfick,

they
or

thru ft
other
Title.

every
the

Hand fome Tram

Difguife
lure

under

of a
ever

pompous
abounded

No
fuch

Country

with

wicked

tl

An

Hiftorical Account
^

wicked Importers

for

all

Events

contra-

dialed their Pretenffons, and hardly a Per^

fon efcaped that trufted to their Delusions

Their Medicines were more

Plague, and added to the

fatal

than the

Numbers of the
Pefti-

Dead
Ruin,
ftire

But

thefe

Blowers of the
in

lential

Flames were caught

the

the

common

and by their Death in feme Meaexcufed

Neglett

of the Magi-

stracy, in fuffering their Practice.

Nee Lex

eft jufiior

ulla
ferire fua.

Quam
;

necis Artifices

Arte

ABOUT
and

this

Time
Affairs

Perfon of Digoing
to

ftinclion

great

Humanity,

France

upon fome

of State, heard
Matters of an

that

fome Frenchmen were

of

Anti-peflilential

Remedy, and took Care

it

to

fend fome Dofes

over here

By

Command of
ordered to try

the
it

Government we were

with due Caution, which

we
for

did,

with

Expectations of

uncommon
-

Succefs, but the Mountain brought forth Death

the

Medicine,

which was
never

Mineral

Preparation,
laft

threw the Patients into their

Sleep.

May

it

hereafter

be

injoined to try Experiments with

unknown
of

and foreign Medicines, upon the Lives even

of the blague
of the
nothing
to

in

1665, &c.
!

meaner!
is

Perfons

For

certainly

more abhorrent
a
univerfal
Intentions
j

to Reafon, thai?
in

impofe

Remedy,
are

Cafes

whole curative
Indications
different

different,

and fometimes oppofite of a

and the various

require

Peftilence

very

Methods of Remedy,

as ihall here-

after be further demonftrated.

TO
common

this

may

be

added,

that

many

Medicines

were publickly Sold,

which, by their
Difpofition

extraordinary
inflame

Heat and
could

to

the

Blood,

never be
stitution

fit

for every

Age, Sex, and Conand

therefore
in

indifferently,

many

Cafes they

undoubtedly

did

Harm.
Art7
yet
in

On

this Account, not only the Sacred

Publick

but the

Health

alfo

fufferedj

we who were
this

particularly

employed
ufed
all

Affair as Phyficians,

Solicireftrain

tations

with

the

Magiftracy

to

fuch Practices, in Order to flop the Ruin

they
it

aggravated.
a
fo

Hence

notwithftanding
a

was made

Queftion, whether in

Plague,
( not fb

where

many
their

Phyficians

retire,

much
Service
is

for

own

Prefervation,

as

the

of thofe

whom
to

they at-

tend )

it

not expedient for every one,

according

to his Abilities,

do

his

ut-

C 4

moft

24

'dn Hijiorical Account

moft in averting the the fame Manner as

are required, even

common Ruin?
in

In

Fire

all

Hands

of the Croud
it.

as well as

Workmen,

to extinguiffi

BUT

in this

Cafe

my own

Opinion

is

determined:

In the

Concerns

of Health,

a Perfon muft. proceed with

more Caution

and Deliberation than

in the fuppofed Cafe

of a Fire

for

there are Difficulties occur

in the Practice

of Medicine which are

and the

infine

fuperable but by the Learned

Texture of a humane Body

naged by
as clumfie

is

not to be ma-

Hands

as the Materials

of a Houfe
a Miflake,

in the former, if a Perfon

makes

it is

with great Difficulty repaircannot

ed

and therefore upon a ferious Confidera-

tion of the

whole

Affair,

make any

Doubt, but that

it is

much

better even to

want Phyiicians

in fuch Calamities, than to

have the Sick under the Care and Manage-

ment of the unlearned}

like thofe

for fuch Perfons,

who

fight blindfold,

what Parts to attack what Weapons to do it 7 befides which, they alfo are in Hazard of obftru&ing thefe Efforts of Nature, which would many Times
without Help, if not thus hindred, get
better of tjie Diftemper.

know not in the Enemy, nor with

the.

NOR

15 of the (Plague in 16^5, &c. KOR in this Account are we to negiett,

that the Contagion fpread
its
\

Cruelties infor the Ci-

to the neighbouring Countries

tizens,

which crowded

in

Multitudes into
the

the adjacent Towns, carried

along with them, where
it

Infe&ion

raged with equal

Fury
crept

lo

that the Plague,

Street

which

at

firft

from one

to

another,

now

whole Counties, leaving hardly any Place free from its Infult} arid the
reigned over

Towns upon
in the Air

the "Thames were more feverely

handled, not perhaps from a greater Moifture

from thence, but from the

rather

taints

ed Goods
it
:

were carried upon Moreover, fome Cities and Towns, of

that Air,

the moll: advantageous Situation for a whol-

fome
iiich

did

notwithstanding

feel

the

common
which

Ruin.

Such was the

Rife,

and

the Progrefs, of this cruel Beftroyer,

firfb

began at London.

BUT
now
the
as it

the

word Part of the Year being

Height of the Difeafe,
Degrees declined,
its firfc

over, and the

Plague by

leifurely

had gradually made

Malignity

Advances

and before the Number infe&ed decreafed,

its

began to

relax,

infomuch
were

that few

died, .and

thofe chiefly fuch as

An
were
ill

Hiftorical Account
7

managed

hereupon that Dread

which had, been upon the Minds of the

People wore
ufed
all
j

off*,

and the Sick chearfully

directed
for their

the

Means

Re-

covery

and even the Nurfes grew either

more
that

cautious, or
after

more

faithful
a

infomuch
of

fome Time

Dawn

Health

appeared, as fudden, and as unexpected, as

the
tion
CefTation
*,

of the following Conflagra-

wherein after blowing up of Houfes,

all

and ufmg
little

Means

for its

Extinction
as

to
it

Purpofe,

the Flames flopped

were of themfelves, for

Mifchief.

Want of

Fuel, or

out of Shame for having done fo

much

THE
Want of
ture
like
lefs

PefHlence did not however flop for

Subjects

to

act.

upon, (as

then

commonly rumoured) but from the Naof the

its

Diftemper,

its

Decreafe was
-

Beginning,

moderate
at, all

nor
as

is

it

to

be wondred

that

at

the

Rife of the Contagion

other Diflempers
at its Declenfion,

went into That, fo now

That degenerated
tions,

into others, as InflammaDyfenterles,

Head-achs, Quinfeys,
Jtfeafiesy

Small-

Tox y

Fevers,

and

Hetties

wherein

That

alfo

yet predominated, as hereafter

will be further ihewn.

ABOUT

of the (plague

in

\66^ &c.

17

ABOUT
is,

the Clofe of the Year, that

on the Beginning of November, People

a different

grew more healthful, and fuch

Face was put upon the

Publick,

that al-

though the Funerals were yet frequent, yet* many who had made moft Haft in retiring,

made the moft

December

to

return, and
,

came
as

into
in

the City without Fear

infomuch that

they crowded back

j

thick as

they

fled

The Houfes which before were full

of the Dead, were now again inhabited by the

Living ^ and the Shops which had been moft
Part of the Year ihut up, were again opened,

and the People again chearfully went about

their

wonted
even

Affairs
is

of Trade and Employ

almoft

and
thole

what
,

beyond
were

Belief,

Citizens

who

before

afraid

even of their Friends and Relations, would

without Fear venture into the Houfes and

Rooms where infe&ed

little

Perfons
their

had but a
Laft;

before breathed

Nay,

fuch Comforts did infpire the

People,

languishing

and fach Confidence, that

many

went into the Beds where Perfons had died

before they

were even cold, or

of the

cleanfed

from

the Stench

Difeafed^

they

had the Courage now to marry again, and

betake to the Means of repairing the
paft

Mar-

28
Mortality
;

An

Hi/iorkal Account

and even

Women

before deem-

ed barren, were faid to prove proliffickfo that although the Contagion had carried
off,

as

fome computed, about one

after a

hundred thouiand,
this fatal Year,

few Months their

-

Lofs was hardly difcernable

and thus ended

BUT the next Spring indeed appeared fome

Remains of the Contagion, which was eafily conquered by the Phyficians, and which, like the Termination of a common Intermittent, ended in a healthful Recovery:

Whereupon

the whole Malignity ceafing, the City returned to a perfect Health; not unlike

what happened

alfo

after

the

laft

Conarofe
better

flagration, whe:i a

new City fuddenly

out of the Aihes of the old,

able to

much

withitand the like Flames another

Time.

SECTION

A
lity

Table of the Funerals

I

N T H

E
orta-

everal Pariflies within the Bills

of the City of
For the Year

LON
1665.
nsrals Flag.

No. of Fun-erals Flag. 200 121 Albans Woodftreet St. Alhallows Barkin 5'4 33c St. Alhallows Breadftreet 16 35 St. Alhallows the Great 26 4S5 4 St. Alhallows Honey-lane 10 5 St. Alhallows the Lefs 239 175 St.Alhallows Lombardftreet 62 90 St. Alhallows Staining 185 1 12 St. Alhallows the Wall 500 356

ST.

George Botolph-lane Gregories by Pauls

Flelens

37-3

27 232

James Dukes-place James Garlickhith John Baptift Walbrook

lob

252
189 I38

John Evangelift John Zachary

9
85

St. St.
St.

Alphage

271
71
2 74

St. St.
St.

Andrew Hubbard. Andrew Underihaft Andrew Wardrobe Anne Alderfgate Anne Black-Friers
Antholins
Auftins

115 25 189

Katherine Coleman-ftreet 299 Katherine Cree-church 335

476 308 282 197 652 467

S 35

Lawrence Jewry Lawrence Pountney Leonard Eaftcheap Leonard Fofter-lane

94

214 42 335
103

Magnus
Margaret Lothbury Margaret Mofes Margaret New Fifliftreet Margaret Pattons

St.
St. St.

Bartholomew Exchange
Bennet Finch Bennet Grace-church Bennet Pauls Wharf Bennet Sherehog Botolph Billinfgate

St.

St.
St.

43 73 47
57 355
1

20
51

100 38 114

22
4i

172
1

St. St.

Mary Abchurch Mary Aldermanbury Mary Aldermary

49 99
I8l

83

50

Chrift Church Si". Chriftophers

St. St.
St.
St.

St. St.
St.

Clements Eaftcheap Dionys Back-church Dunitans in the Eaft Edmunds Lombardftreet Ethelborough

653 4<5 7 60 47 20 ?8 27 78 255 150

Mary-le-Bow Mary Bothaw

105

64

7c
'95
1

36
IOCS

Faiths

Fofters St. Gabriel

Fenchurch

04 69

7^
105
3S

Mary Colechurch Mary Hill Mary Mounthaw Mary Somerfet Mary Stainings Mary Woolchurch Mary Woolnoth

55
*7

94
56

342 47 65 75
21

No. of Funerals Hag. Martins Ludgate 196 128 St. Martins Orgars no 71 75 St. Martins Outwich 60 34 190 St. Martins Vintrey 4'7 349 118 St. Matthew Friday-ftreet 6 24 83 St. Maudlins Milk-ftreet 44 St. Maudlins Old Fifh-ftreet 176 121 54 St. Michael Baffifhaw 164 25 213 St. Michael Cornhil 104 52 201 St. Michael Crooked-lane 179 133 48 St. Michael Queenhith 122 1 40 St. Michael Quern iS 44 27 St. Michael Royal 152 116" 255 St. Michael Woodftreet 122 62 30 St. Mildred Bread-ftreet 26" 59 66 St. Mildred Poultrey 68 4^ 25 St. Nicholas Aeons 46 28 66 St. Nicholas Coleabby S 91 6"2 24 St. Nicholas Olaves 90 54 St. Olaves Hart-ftreet 237 io"o 109 St. Olaves Jewry 32 54 75 St. Olaves Silver-ftreet 132 25 36 St. Pancras Soper-lane l 30 $ 30 St. Peters Cheap 61 35 6 St. Peters Cornhil 136 76 tf 4 St. Peters Pauls Wharf 114 85 37 St. Peters Poor 79 47 252 St. Stephens Coleman-ftreet 5'6o 391 27 St. Stephens Walbrook 17 34 33 St. Swithins 5S 93 38 St. Thomas Apoitle 1 63 no
St.

>

144

; Martins Ironmonger-lane

11 Trinity Pariih

11

79

In the 97 Parishes within the Walls, Total of the Funerals 15207

St. St.
St.

Died of

the Plague

9887.
4235 34.46 459 2746" 47 S 3-7t
168

Andrew Holborn
Bartholomew the Great Bartholomew the Lefs

St.

Bridget Bridewel Precinct St. Botolph Alderfgate

|?958 3103I St. Botolph Aldgate,493 344I St. Botolph Bilhopfgate 1 93 1 39I St. Dunftans in the Weft 12111 1427I St. George Southwark 230! 179 St. Giles Cripplegate 997I 755I St. Olaves Southwark ;
I 1

4926" 4051 St. Saviours Southwark

St. Thomas Southwark1613 I26o Trinity Minories 4838 At the Pefthoufe '4793 2785

3464 2500 958 665

St.

Sepulchres

123
156"

159

In the 16
St.

PariJJjes without the Walls, Total of the Funerals

41

j 5

Died of the Plague 2

St. St.

Hackney
St. St.

Giles in the fields Parifh

445-713216

Lambeth
St.
St.
St.

James Clerkenwel Katherines Tower

232 132 1863 1377 956] 601

79? 537 26691949 Mary Whitechappel Magdalens Bermondfey 1943 1363 Rotherhith Mary Newington I1272I1004 Stepney
Parifti

Mary Wington

Leonards Shoreditch

Parifh

6"9'5 593 4766 3855 210 30.

Parilh

8*985583

In the izParijhes in the outer Parts, Total of the Funerals

St.
St.

28554

Died of the Plague 21420.

Clements Danes

|i95Q|i3i9lSt. Martins in the Fields

I

Paul Covent Garden

4081 261 pt.

Mary Savoy

14804128831st. Margarets Weftminfter I+710I3742 | 156 303I i98|Whereof at the Pefthoufe

|

Inthe 5 Parishes of the City and Liberties of'Weftminfter, Total

of the Funerals

12194; Diedof the Plague 8405.

Total of the Funerals

073,06.

Died of

the

Plague

68506.

Befides many, of which no Account was given by the Parifi-Clerks, and who were privately Buried*

"

C *9 3

SECTION
Of
tagion.

II.

the Caufe of a Pejlilence,

and a Con-

AS
and
Caufes

it

is

our Purpofe here to enquire Origin of the

its

into the

late Plague,

find
*,

out both
I

manifeft and
it

hidden

cannot judge

necefTary to go

into the ufual

Length of Writers, in a par-

ticular Recital of all thofe remote Regards

by Supernatural, Preternatural, and Natural ^ becaufe by fuch Means this Treatife would be drawn out
which they
diftinguiih

into almoft infinite needlefs Diftinctions.

THAT
ctions,
I

the Truth therefore

may

at

once be brought into an open Light, and

the Peftilence
think

appear in
it

its

genuine Affe-

proper to

premile this

one Thing, becaufe the whole depends upon

it, vh,.

That the

Peitilence

is

the moft noto-

rious

of all popular Difeafes,and depends upon

re-

fome Caufe equally common, and in every

fpecf adequate to its extenfive Effects
j

which

being granted,

it

naturally follows,

that all

particular Caufes,

which may

accidentally

intervene, ( the Recital of

which would be

very tedious) are refolvable into this one.

AMD

jo

An
for

Hiftorical Account

AND

what concerns that

this

Peftilence
as to its

now under Enquiry,

Origin, from
rity, that it firft

we have

the moft irrefrigable Autho-

came

into this Ifland

by

Contagion, and was imported

to us
}

from
and if

Holland, in Packs of Merchandize

any one pleafes to trace

be
fatisfied

it

further, he
it

may
came

by common Fame,
Turkey
in

thither

from
is

Bails

of Cotton,

which
tial
is

a fbrange Prefer ver

of the Peftiien-

Steams.

For that Part of the World

fiich InfeHons, altho'

feldom free from

is

it

fometimes more fevere than others,

to

according

the

Bifpofkion

of Seafons
Regions
:

and Temperature of Air But

if

in thofe

any would

yet
its

more intimately
it

be acquainted

with
all
is

Origin,

concerns
in

him

to

know
of

the Changes

the Air
its

thefe Climates
Properties

fubjed to, and

various

Drynefs,

Moiffore,

Heat,

Cold,

0-c.

BUT
prolix

leaft

iliould

be thought

too
Cir-

in the

Enumeration of fuch
incur

cumstances,

and

the

Sufpicion

of

Atheifm, (a Charge too

jufr

upon the Faculty)

to fecond
Caufesy
it

by

afcribing

too

much

as the Schools pleafe to call

them,

may
be

of the Plague
be convenient for
to

in

\66 )
f

8tc.

31
a Part

m
any

to declare, that the

is

&etov

of a Peftilence
Faith, as

as

much
j

of

my

others

the

facred

Pages
that

clearly

and

demonstratively prove,

the
at his

Almighty,
Pleafure,

by
of

his

Authority,
the Sword,
^

and
or
a

may draw
Times

fhoot

the

Arrows
into

Death
pari,

and
fhews

Retrofpe&ion
convincing
}

many
Truth

Proofs
this

of this

terrible

and

in

Contagion before us,

the Footfteps of an over-ruling Power are

very legible,

efpecially fb
:

far as

concerns

his divine Permiflion

But the great God's Purpofes are Secrets too awful for Mortals
into,
as a

to pry

although
Parent,
it

we know that he
and chides for our
our Duty to kifs
this,

punifhes

Good,

which makes

the Rod, and fubmit.

leafl
I

But enough of

mould be thought
Province
:

to invade anoto

ther's

It

is

fufficient

the

Purpofe of a

Phyikian,
^

to affign natural

and obvious Cauies

difcoverable,
it

and where fuch are

is

unworthy of him and

the divine Art he profeiTes, as well as an

Affront to

good Senfe, to have Recourfe

to any other.

BUT
vent

this being

premifed only to pre-

Cenfure, our

Way

now

lies

open to

An

Hiftorical Account

a Difcovery of the Mature

lence.

of this
Sake,
I

Peftiftiall

Wherein,
with
^

for

Method
if it

begin

Defer iption of a

Peftilence

in general

and which

doth not exa&ly

agree

with the
yet
I

Accounts given
doubt not but
it

by the
will

Ancients,

be

found, by every impartial Confiderer, to be

as full

and

fatistory.

THE
an
fons
at

Peftilence
is

is

a Difeafe arifmg from

Aura that

poifonous,

very

fubtle,

deadly, and contagious, affe&ing

many
in

Per-

the fame

Time

together

one

Country,

chiefly arifing

from a Corruption
very
grievous

of the nitrous

Spirit in the Air, attended

with a

Fever,

and other

Symptoms*

EVERY
as

one of thefe

Particulars
j

are

clear

as the

Light at ISIoon-day
lb

and
be

thefe

Explications are

obvious

to

met with in the Writings of the Learned, that it would be loft Labour to infift upon any fuch Thing here we fhall therefore
*,

proceed to explain

only

what more im-

mediately ftands in need of it.

AND
Aura 7

firft

of

all

it

is

faid

from an

as diftinguifhing it

from fuch Poifon

-as

arid a
is
is

Contagion.

|j
for this
is

more
be

grofs and earthy

not to
is

confined

in

any Inclofure, but

fo rare, fubtle, volatile,

and

fine,

that

it

infinuates into,
ftices,

and

refides in

the very InterParticles

-

or

Pores

of the
is

aerial

whereas that which

Nature,
is

of a

more

fixed

confined within certain Limits,

and

is

incapable of fuch Progrefs.

is

faid

to be poifonous

alio,

from
Life,;

its

Similitude to

the Nature of a Poifbn,

deftructive

both

being

equally
Perfons

to

and killing

much

after the

fame
in

Manner,

fo that
-

they

feem to

differ

Degree only

for the deadly Quality

of a

Peftilence vaftly exceeds either

cal Minerals,

the arfeni-

the morl poifonous

Animals
j

6r Infe&s, or the killing Vegetables

My}
well
for

the PefKience feems to be a

Competition
as

of

all

the other Poifons together^

as 'in its fatal Efficacies to excel

them 5

in this there is manifeflly joined

both the

Height of Putrefaction and Malignity.

as in a

And
one

great

many the
it

Virulence of this
fo
in

Taint hath been difcoverable,

Youth

for Inftance

was fd remarkable^

that even in the Point of Death the whole

Body

changed green,

Which

lo

alarmed

the Mother,

that ihe immediately hafted

id

34
to

Of

the Caufe of a Tefiilence]

my

Hcufe, to know whether by Mithere

jftake

had not been fome

Poifon

given

him

whereas he had taken nothing

but mild and

green

common

Alextyharmich

this

Hue

therefore was a Demonftration of

Vitriol ick

the

poifonous

Nature

of the

pefiilential Taint.

T
it

is

faid to be very
its

iubtle

both on

Account of
fore

Original and Production, beits

hath efcaped from

native Seat;
it

and that wonderful Comminution which

cannot but undergo in
fb
its

Progrefs through
it is,

many

Climates, whereby
higheft

as it were,

fublimed to the
tility,

Degree of Volais

beyond that of any Meteor, which

nay,

the Production of grofs, corporeal, and heterogeneous Particles

,

than Lightning, and in

more aftive the Twinkling of an

it is

Eye

carries to a Diftance Putrefaction,

Mor-

tification,

and Death.

AS

for the

Manner whereby
it

it

kills, its

approaches are generally fo lecret, that Perfons feized with

feem to be

fallen into an

Ambulcade, or a Snare, of which there was

no Manner of Sufpicion
}

they are therefore

not to be credited or regarded,

who

affirm

the Progrefs of a Peftilence to be fenfible,

even

and a Contagion.
even to the
Smell
will

35
for

and Sightj and report

believe

(though

who

may

them

me)

the Infection to refemble the Fragrancy of

Flowers in May, or any other fweet Savour

or,

on the contrary, to ftrike the Nofe like

nay, fome
to dif-

the Stench of a rotten Carcafe^

pfetend to be fo fharp-iighted, as

cern Clouds in the Atmofphere big with peftilential

Poifons,

and

other fuch Conceits

of a diftempered Imagination, that are chiefly the Produces of Fear, which confhrues

every Thing for the worft

Although

in-

deed

muft confefs,

that

fometimes this

very fubtile Aura,

may

be fo mixed or loaded

with grofs and fulphureous Particles, as to

be perceptible to the Senfes*

FURTHER,
a Plague,

as to the fatal Influences

of
is

if the before recited

it,

Account

not fufficient to fhew

a

it

would not be

Task of any
of
its

Difficulty to produce

many
was

Inftances

Tyranny and Deftru&ion 2

by
the
j

Hence the Plague

called *?3"1

Hebrews

or

Perdition

as if it

was or:

dained On Purpofe to deftroy Mankind

is

It
-

alfo

called

Lues,

from

ai/,

to diflblve

moft certain
fatal

Way

of Deftruciion, and
is

whofe

Property in the Plague

moft

remarkable,

whereby

it

does not fo
2

much
pre-

Of the
deftroy,

Caufe of a fejlilence]
as

prepare the
lelf

Way,

immediately
certain

of

its

and of whofe

Ruin,

through whole Regions together, we have

too

many Teftimonies upon Record,

in the

Writings both of Ancients and Moderns.

GA

N, the
j

Peftilence

is

faid

to

be

contagious

becaufe fome are

come to that
ftrange
if the

Height of Boldnefs, (being blind with too

much
jectures

Light)
to

to

propagate
contrary,
as

Conlate

the

Plague was begun and continued by a foreign

Influence
it

but to remove this Controveriie 3

convenient
to

may be

explain the
its

Na-

ture of a Contagion, and

ditions

fuppofed Conbefore
I

of Exertion*
it

yet

enter

upon
the'

this,

will

be necefTary to difpatch
this Definition.

other

Members of
further

IT
affe&s

is

added,

that

the Plague

many Regions
in

together at the fame

it

Time,

Order to diftinguiih
that
is,

both from

irzdemick Difeafes,

fuch as are ap:,

propriate to one Place only

Sfcradick

and

alio

from
they

Difeafes,

which

although

rage amongft the Populace in this or that

Country or Climate
they
are yet to

indifferently, according

to the Influence of their procatar&ick Caufes,

be deemed particular, as
well

and a Contagion,
well as they are pernicious
:

37
But enough

of thefe Matters.

AT
to

length

then

it

becomes neceflary
enquire

change the Confideration, and

it

how

comes that the

Plague

hath

its

chief Origin from an Alteration or Corruption

of the nitrous

Spirits in the
!

Air

This
!

is

the great Difficulty

is

This

is

our Task

It

therefore to be

hoped that the Novelty

occafion

of the Opinion
to receive
it

will not
fir ft

any
until
it

one

at

Sight amifs,

by
to

due Examination
Trial
fure
^

he hath brought

but in Order to erecl this upon a

it
is

Foundation,

proper to premife

fome Confiderations.

AND

firft

of

all,

the

central nitrous

Spirit in the

Earth does everywhere tranfpire

and exhale towards the Surface, to recruit the

Confumptions of Nature, and for other Purpoles

hereafter
to

be

mentioned.

From
the

this faline Origin,

{training

through

Bowels of the Earth,

ftands

every

one underon,

Vegetation to

be
vital

carried

and
the the

that the Light and

Warmth of
it

Sun

is

impregnated

by
^

th ojgh

whole Region of Air

Intercourfes

and

the mutual
one another.

or

Operations upon

1 8

Of the

Caufe of a feftiknce,
Sun's

ther between the

faline Exhalations,

Rays,

and

thefe

by a Kind of Magnetifm
Multi-

between them,

is

too obvious in a

tude of Instances to want any Comment.

I
is

know
a

in

nothing indeed where

Intercourfe

there

greater

and

Sympathy:
of
it

and

considerable

Illuftration

may be made by
ment.
If any
is

the following
in

Experi-

one

the

Spring-time,

when the Sun

digs
fufion

approaching nearer to us,

In-

up

Piece of Earth, and after

and Filtration, evaporates

the

Li-

quor, he will find at the Bottom of the VefTel

a

more than at any other Time of the Year, from the fame
Sixth
Part of Salt

Quantity of Earth managed after the fame

Manner

the nitrous Salt for

many Reafons
*

not arifing in fb great a Quantity for the

Exigencies of Nature, at any other Times

whence

conceive
is

it

manifestly to prove,

that there
as before

fuch an Efflux of this Salt

fuggefted,
it

and a Kind of Subli-

mation

of

into the Air, and that this

faline Spirit

hath a Sort of Sympathy with the fuperior Heat. But that we may not

more Arguments than prove the Energy of this

life

are neceffary to
Principle, every

one

who

is

doubtful herein

may

obferve,

that

and a
rished

Contagion.

39

that not only Plants are produced and nou-

by

its

fubtle and

luxuriant Infinua-

tion into

their Fibres, but that alfo

from

the fame aerial Spirit the Life of Animals,

and even the humane Species,

is

prefer ved a
in

And

cannot fee

any

Difficulty

the

Opinion, that the befl Temperature of the

Blood and animal

Juices,

the

Renewal of

wafted Spirits, the Reftauration of Strength,

and the good and healthful ConfKtution of

the
Vtfcera,

Members, and whole Body,

is

maintained by the Ailiftance of this nitroaerial Spirit.

Nor

does any thing appear

more congruous to Reafon, than that from the fame Caufe does the Racy Spirit of
the Blood arife
;

and
is

it is it

not derivable from

fingle
-it

any
that
its

other

nor

my

Opinion,
derives

from the fame Principle

Colour:, but as there are no

Arguments
it
is

even objected to this Doctrine,

lefs

need-

to imploy

more Time

in

its

Vindi-

cation.

BUT
changed
with
(if it

further,
Spirit

it

nitro-aerial

may happen that this may various Ways be

*

in its

Properties
its

that

is,

either

Regard to

proliffick

Influences,

may

be fo expreffed) or, which

much
oftner

4P
oftner

Of the

Cauje of a feftilence,
in
its

happens,

accidental

and ad-

ventitious Impurities.

SOMETIMES
productive

this

univerfal

Principle
its

languishes and degenerates, and in

own

Womb

is

tainted

with fomethat

what
ral

pernicious to Vitality, and that natu-

balfamick
it
j

ConfHtution of Blood

fupports
Cafe, the

and

as often

as

this

is

the

whole
it

Orders
as

of living Beinss
declared againfr.
is

may
upon
it
is

look upon
:

War

them

But where any Alteration

made

it

by
it,

particular and fortuitous Caufes,

generally
as in

from too much Humidity

diluting

immoderate and
moift,
-

unfeafoii-

able Rains,

whence

crude,
7

and unone

wholfome Vapours exhale

for every

knows how* much Humidity is a Promoter of whence come Swarms of Infecls, Putrefaction which is a certain Forerunner of a PefK,

lence

It

alfp
Spirit,
is

fometimes

happens,

that

this vital

which
in

fo

much

delights

in

Drynefs,
a rainy

almoft.
^

quite

extinguiihed

which Exigency, what Miferies may not Mankind expecl, when a fmall Change is of fo fatal Confeby
Seafon

quence?

This

is

abundantly confirmed by

the Experience of Marfhy Countries, where

the Difeafes recurring every Year are very

fatal,

and a Contagion.
fatal,

4B
and damp

by means of the putrid

Exhalations.

FURTHERMORE,
ciple

this nitrous Prin-

may

be fometimes

changed
intenie
^

in
a

its

own
hafty

Repofitory

by

too

Heat
by fb
balfa-

from within,
a
-,

as well as

without
its

for

Sublimation
that
is,

Spirit

may be
its

deadned

being robbed of
is

mick Quality, (which

tion,

no Abfurdity to

fuppofe) and kindled into too rapid a

it

Moarife

may

receive a kind of Emfyreuma;

and from which Aduftion there

feveral Sorts of Diftemperature
ijpon Trees,
-

may

as Blafts
,

and Difeafes amongfr. Cattle

and at
kind.

lafl

end in a Peftilence amongrr. Man-

FOR
circulates

further Illuftration

hereof

it

may
Cafur-

be obferved,
verns may,

that the nitrous Spirit which

through the fubterraneous

inftead

of

Obtaining

a
it

ther Purification,

take along with

cor-

rupt and poifonous Vapours

or

from

arfenical

other Minerals

and loaded therewith,

Air
:

break

out

into the open

And

this

we have confirmed from common Obfervation in the Weftem Climes of Africa, that
lye

under

the Equator,

wherein

the very

Showers

41

Of

the Cauje

of a

(peftilence.

Showers feem to be endued with a Stiptick or Cauftick Power, fo as to taint the Cloaths
and Skin of the Travellers, and burn, as
it

were, upon

them

peftilential Characters.

From which Difpofition, it cannot be a Wonder to any, that the Plague ihould
reign after Earthquakes
-

becaufe

a poifointo

nous Spirit at fuch Times breaks out

the Air^
as alfo

that Kitre thus loaded

with an impure Mixture,

too that which
is

and fometimes
it

deadly,

mould of

felf,
its

like the Occurfion

of an Acid, force out

is

Way

wherever there
its

behind in
lignity
*,

PafTage

Room, and leave many Marks of MaConies,

fo that fubterraneous Animals, fuch

as Moles,

Mice,

Serpents,

Foxes,

&c.

as confcious

of approaching Mifchief^
and
a
lie

leave their Burrows,

open

in the

Air

which

is

alfo
:

certain Sign
alfo a

of a
fiidden

Peftilence at

Hand
Air,

Hence
to

Death of Fifhj
Birds of the

and a Departure
fecure

of the

their Safe-

ty in that which

is

more wholefome.
remains

AFTER
to
receives a

thefe Obfervations,

it

mew how

the nitrous Spirit frequently

iike

Change

to that

which may
it is

be termed Corruption,
garly

although

vulfelf,

accounted

incorruptible

in

it

and

and a Contagion.
and
is

45
Things

ferviceable in Preferving other

from Putrefa&ion.

FOR
Pifficulty,

the Solution
it
is

of this

uncommon
that

to be
is

taken Notice,

Corruption here
as

not in that Senfe ftri&ly

when it is the Produce of Humidity, but fomewhat more congruous to the peculiar Nature of a nitrous Spirit ^ which
although
putrifie,
its
it

cannot, like fome other Bodies,

if
it

yet

can be
lb

changed from
as
it

Nature and Figure,

not

to be

reducible into

them

again,

does not

feem improperly faid that fuch a Change

is

equivalent to Corruption,

its

Vitality or

EiTence being deftroyed,

ture being
obtained.

and a
this
I

new Texihall fur-

And

ther endeavour to illuftrate by a

twofold

Argument.

FIRST,
ed, but that

It

is

not at

all

to be
is

doubt-

what Art, which

the Ima-

tator of Nature, can do,

may

be done by
j

the Efficiency of a more powerful Agent

and the

mo:ft

expert Chymifts do fhew a

-,

certain -Corruption of Salt

nor would

it

be any great Labour to difcover here the

Method how

it

is

done,

were

it

not

Crime to expofe the Secrets of Nature on

trilling

44
not
this

Of the
fuificient

Caufe of a
But
if

tpeftilence,

trifling Occafions.

my

Authority

is

to
I

fupport an ArTertion

of
the

Weight,

truft

no one

will reject

Conviction
therefore
I

that
fhall

arifes

from Effe&s,

and

reftrain

the Proof hereof

as
pofftble.

to

as
it

ihort
is

Compafs

As
as it

then

eirablifhed

by the concurrent
that Fire,
of

Authority of Antiquity,
is

an

Element capable
Malignity
its
^

Degeneration,

and feemingly of Corruption, may increale

a
peftilential

by Means of

its

great Subtilty,
iwift

prodigious Increafe,
Qualities too,

and

Propagation

which

a Peftilence very

much

partakes of:
Fire,

That
phiare

which they conceited of

feems to

me

to be applicable in a

lofophical

Senle

to

that

much more Spirit we

fpeaking of, and which fo nearly refembles

it.
1

am
as

indeed a Stranger to any Thing

in the Univerfe that

grefs

makes
and

fo fwift a Pro-

Peftilence,

therefore

the
Scri^

Infectious Mlafmata are

in the facred
fly in

ptures

fly led

Arrows

that

the

Bark

and

howfoever certain are

their

Strokes,

and tho' by Means of their Finenefs they

penetrate into

the very Marrow, they yet

ihun by their Subtilty our Conceptions.

AS

and a Contagion.

45
Contagion

AS
fands,

to

the fpreading

of
fo

from one to another, and

there
fvvift
is

on to Thou-

nothing

can be poflibly

more
it

in

the Progrefs of Fire^

and

exceeds even Antimony in the Retention

its

of

Properties,

though that
:

lofes

them
in-

not in a

thoufand Infufions

But the
to

jftantaneous Progrefs

of this

Enemy

Man-

kind

by the Rapidity of Light, which is not greater. But more of this we pafs by till we come profeffedly
is

beft illuftrated

to fpeak of a Contagion.

SECONDLY, The
the

particular Nature

of
the

peftilential Miafmata,

may be known
upon
-,

from
faline

their

peculiar
in

Influence

Particles

nothing als

humane Body for with more Efficacy and Enera

gy upon
is
is

a faline Body,

than another par

taking of the fame Quality

and nothing

more plain than that

by
it

this nitrous Spirit

of more Efficacy than

immediately
corroded

the

Alkaheft

it

felf, as

the fibrous Parts of the Blood

are

and

diflolved

and therefore after dangerous Hemorrhages,

very
little

Coagulation can be obtained in

Blood, unlefs

the extravafated
ing expofecl
to

by

its

be-

the

Cold}

but

as often

46
as

Of

the

e Cauf of a

fpeftiknce,

that

does

happen,

do not we

immeand
and

diately find a Fixation of the Fluids,

a certain Congelation of the Juices,

which

greatly

retards

their

rapid Motions,

fbmetimes brings even

It's

a total Stagnation!

furthermore of confiderable Importance

Attendants

to our prefent Argument, that Spafms, the

conftant

of

Plague,

have

their Origin

from an acrid

vellicating Salt

in the nervous Fluid.

TO

there

it

may

likewife be

addedj
to

that a Peftllence has

a great Similitude
its

a fcorbutick Habit, having

Origin from
}

a faline Conftitution
great Likenefs
stances
tion,

of Blood
is

and the

there

in

many Circumand Propagaa Peftilence

is

of

their Generation

infomuch.

that
it

after

with others ceafed,

Infeffc

will yet
j

continue

to

fcorbutick Conftitutions
:

as hereafter

will further appear

From

the fame Caufe

likewife does a peftilential Contagion reign

mofi: in

Maritime Countries, and near the

;

Sea-Coafts
iition

becaufe fuch

a faline
}

Dilpo-

does

there

moft abound

and the

Truth of

this,

the Maritime Parts of our

fad

own Country do by much teftifie*

Experience

to<5

LAST-

and a Contagion.

47
to this

LASTLY,
valid,

If

Arguments taken

Purpofe from the

Method of Cure were from thence it may be gathered,

for in our cu-

that a faline Spirit hath a great Share in

giving Rife to a PefKlence}

rative Regards for this Diftemper,

a skilful

and upright Phyfician

Care at
firfl

bends
its

his

whole

to prevent

Attack,

which

he does by the Ufe of oleaginous Subftances,

by that Means expecting to cover over the Stomach as it were with a Plafter, to
it

guard

againft.

iharp and corrofive Effluvia

is

the fame Intention

dicines, in

alfo

purfued by

Mewhen

endeavouring to defend againfl

it

the poifonous Taint, or throw

received
retich
:

out

by

'Alexifaarmicks

and
is

Diafho~

For every one

who

but toleravery well

bly converfant

in fuch Practice,
faline Particles

knows that the

oif
this

are

thrown
than

Way much
}

more

effectually

by any other

and a further Denionftratiis alio,

on of this Matter

that

the Sweat

of infected Perfons, as in the late Sickneis,

gives extream

pungent Pains by
j

its

Acri-

mony
fiich
it

in its

Exit

and that the more brackifh

Sweat comes out, the more ferviceable

j

proves

whereas when

it

happened to be
foft

48
foft

Of
and

the Caufe of a fyeflilence,

was a fure Forerunner of worfe Symptoms, and even of Death.

infipid, it

FURTHERMORE,
Intention^
ferve
all

as

to

curative

Diligence

was ufed to preinternal

and
a

reflore
^

the

Ferments
various

from

Contagion
faline

and this was chiefly

of

done by

Preparations

Kinds, >vhich gave greater Energy to the

natural Spirits,
fo as

to

alter

and renew

them by Means of that Similitude of Texture

and

Conftitution

naturally

between

them*

AGAIN, what
efcablifh

was excreted did

^

greatly'

this

our Hypothecs

what was

thrown up by hard Vomiting 'difcovered nothing more than a rancid Brackiihnefs, that
vellicated the
its

Stomach
and

into Convulfions

by

acrimonious

corrofive

Qualities

and the frothy and fermentative Nature of

what was
feline

ejected
:

by
this

Stool,

fully
fhall
:

ihowed

its

Mixture

But we

come more'

iully to talk

of

hereafter

To
:,

con-

clude therefore this Controverfie

although
at
firft

the Hypothecs here laid

down may
it

Appearance feem new, yet

far differ cients

does

not

fo

from the Sentiments of the AnSubject,

as

upon the fame

confirm

and

:;

and a Contagion.
and explain what they have faid
:

49
It

comes

down

to

us for

the Opinion

of fome of

them, that a Putrefaction of Choler in ah

humane Body

gives Rile

to a

Peftilence

an* of
rupted,

others,
as

that

Fire

may

be fo cor-

to

occafion

the

fame^
judge

what

therefore the former conceived

of Cholei-j

and

the

latter

of Fire,

we

more
Spi-

juftly afcribed here to a vitiated faline

rit.

But
this

leaft

we fhould
if it

too long

dwell

upon
this

recite all

was needful to the Caufes enumerated by Authors of Argument,

it

Malady,

would be
fo

difficult to find

any one which does not coincide with this

our Hyfothefis
that

whofoever pleafes

to be at this Pains, muft either affent with

us,

or

rejecl:

it

but

he that does not

like our Opinion^

would do well to ihew

a better.

the above defcribed PefHlence, as inin

deed

many
Thirft,

others,

Perfons

frequently

died, without any preceeding

Symptoms of
Fever
I

Horror,

or

concomitant

For the Confirmation of which,

an Inftance or

ihall give

two out of

a great

many

A Woman, who
perfectly
well,

was the only one

left alive

of the Family, and yet to her Thinking

perceived upon her
Breaft

the

jo

Of

the

Caufe of a

<Peflilence, Ihe
in

the peftiientiai Spots,

which

looking,

upon to

be the fatal

Tokens^

very

fhort Space died, without feeling any other

Diforder, or any other Forerunner of DeaJjh.

Youth alfo of a good Constitution, alter he had found himfeif on a hidden marked with the Tokens of the Contagion,
believed at
fir ft

they were not the genuine

fo

Marks, becaufe he found himfeif

and yet he was* dead
in
lefs

well,

than four

Hours

after,

as

his

Phyfician had before

prognofticated.

BUT
killed

how

fuddenly foever the Sicknefs

fome People,
the
Brain,

whether by fuddenly
Heart, Lungs, or

feizing

any

other principal
fection, or

Part,"

with

deadly InSpirits

poilbning

the vital

at
dif-

once, lb that no
cerned,

Appearance could be
Fever, yet

even of a lurking

for
it

the
lelf

moft Part,

fome Fever

did iliew

AND
that

it

cannot

be

thought

ft range,

moft

who took

the Contagion ihould

have a

Fever, to thole

who

confider the

Nature of

a nitrous Spirit, efpecially

when
Caufe

degenerated, and that from the moft flight

and a Contagion.
Caufe
it

will take

Fire,

and excite

$i Heat
on.

and the Fever accompanying

Siekneis was of the
worffc

this prefent

Kind, both

Account of
imitating
Tertian^

its

State and Periods, fometimes

Quotidian,

and

at

others

fometimes

feeming

to

retreat^

and at others attacking again with redoubled

Fury

There was never a

total CelTation^

but fometimes a Remiilion for an

Hour
by

or

two, although every Exacerbation was worfe

than the former

but this

pafs

hefe$

having Occaiion hereafter to enlarge further

thereupon.

AT

length

therefore,
a

to difcharge

my

Promife in

giving

fhort

Account of a
is

Contagion, as of a Difeafe that

nicable that
it

commumoil:

Way

only,

and

killing

feizes, it is to be

taken Notice, that the

is

Infection

of the peftilential Poifon

not

only tranferrable from one Subject to another, either

tact,

by mediate or immediate Conthe

and exciting
all

bu:

ertion,

Symptoms j the Conditions likewife of its Exare as confpicuous as the Noon-day

fame
Corruption
trifling,

Sun
the

wherefore thofe Arguments to prove

peftilential

not

to

arife

from Contagion, are

and not worth

Notice, as altogether difconfonant to Rea*

fori

Cauje of a Pe/Mence, fdn and Experience j and after I have" enu-

fi

Of the

merated the
Exertion,
I

Conditions

of a

contagious

doubt not but to make this

one.

Matter clear to every

FOUR

Things

chiefly are neceffary to

a Contagion:

FIRST, That

there

ii

an Efflux of the

contagious Seminium,

SECONDLY,
nient

That there

is

a conve-

Medium

for the

contagious Particles
by.

to

move through, and be conveyed

THIRDLY, A
via,

Fitnefs in the

Sub/eft
Efflu-

to receive and cherifh. the contagious

And,
due Stay of this
diftinftly.

EOVRTHLY, A
minium
j

Se-

of

all

which

THE
taken
in

Quantity
for

of NecefTaries

daily

Refreshment does

evidently
is

demonftrate, that

infenfible Perfpiration
all

much
a

larger
:

than

other

Evacuations

together
yet

But where
greater

a Peftilence invades,

much

Waft,

is

made

that

Way

than in a

Time of Health, by

the

interline

and a Contagion.
interline Collu&ation
Jite
is

5 2

Principles in

and Struggle of oppothe animal Fluids } this

that Perfons taken with

confirmed by the Obfervation of Sancto-

rius7

who

tells us,

peftilential

-Contagion,
lighter,

immediately
Effluvia
all
;

be-

come much
Rapidity

the

of their

Bodies breaking through on

^

Sides with

for fuch

is

the Energy of the

peftilential Taint, that it

tilizes

immediately

fiib-

more
a
like fo

thick

Subftances,

and gives
cut
their

them fuch

Sharpnefs, as to

Way
and

many Needles,
carry

or

Wedges,

very

often

along

with them

thofe natural
Prefervative

Spirits

to

mould be a the whole Frame Hence

which
:

fometimes follow Swoonings

that are fatal, and

arid

Faintings

which

are certain Indicati-

ons of that

Waft of

Spirits that

hath been

made by the

pestilential Poiion.

HENCE
a diffufed
of,

moreover

it

appears, of

what

Nature this Contagion may be

and which
to

by the great Plenty that tranfpires from

infecfed
is

an

Perfon*,

Steam
vaft

a-

lone, as it

iuificient
it is

communicate the
of
Dinot

Infection, fo

alfo capable
^

latation

and DirTufion

much

unlike

the

Snuff of a

Candle,

which not only

a

emits a great deal of Smoak, but carries

54
a

Of the

Caufe of a ^efttlence^
along

considerable Stench

with

it

into

very diftant Parts.

SECO NDLT
for

A-

-fit

Medium

is

very
^

conducive to the Propagation of the Plague

according to the Difpofition

of that,
is

in being

'more or

lefs

open or confined,

the Infection
ted
:

(boner or flower

communicathat

Nor
Air
is

is

there
fit

any Doubt, but

the

this

Medium^

and

whofe
filled

Pores, aitho' very minute, are readily

with

it

and therein the noxious

Effluvia

lodge (ecurely, unlefs expelled by any

ternal Force.

ex-

THE

Air

is

moreover the more conand Conveyance of this on account of that

it

venient Recepticie
peftilential Poiibn,

ni-

trous Spirit with

it

which

abounds

hence

more

eafily receives

the poifonous Aura,

it

and faithfully p refer ves

(unlefs

as in

proper

Confervatory, and on this Account the pernio 'ous Qualities,

firit

derlroyed by

feme uncommon Power) (boner reach any

Subject,

to

act.

upon,

and
:

float

about in
a Kb

Readme fs
the
deftroyed

for Deft rucl ion

Sometimes
of

peftile.;tial

Mdfmdta may be broke and

the
Occurfion
others,

by

with-

and a
without

Contagion.

55^

any Perception of either

having

been in this Medium*

HENCE
red

it

is

ftrongly

conjectu-

how

the

peftilenti.al

^Semimum comes
the Poroiities of

to be hid fo fecretly in

the Air,

fo as to be

conveyed from one

unperRegions.
ftill,

Country to

another, and to travel

diffcant

ceived into very

as this

Further,
fo

Medium

is

more

it is

much
clofe,

the more capable to receive the pefKlential

Infetlion
j

whereupon Places that are

confined, and dark, as Prifons,

and Houfes
to Conta-

in Vallies, are

much more
is

liable

gion,

than

Situations

upon

Eminencies,
agitated

where the Air

frequently

by

Winds
fo

for the
fix

malignant

Effluvia

cannot

well

in
,

an

Air

fo

tumultuoufly

hurried about

and they are like wife rena

dred

lefs

hurtful by

continual

Mixture

of

frefli

Air with them.

THIRD LT, A
the Subject
is

fuitable Difpofition

of

very neceffary for the

-

Re-

ception of the pefHlential Taint

Difpofition refpeds either

and this
in

fome Fitnefs

the

Pores

of the Body, or a long Accu-

mulation of diftempered

Humours.

The
^w

more open the Pores

are,

and the wider,

6
fo

Of

the Caufe of a Teftilence,

by

much

the

more

ealily

will
;

the In-

fection

penetrate into the

are,

Body

and the

more conftringed they

curity
is

the better Se-

there

againft

it,

infomuch that
it enter.

hardly by any other Means can

A
arifes

Turgefcency of bad Humours greatly

the Plague's Admiflion into any

facilitates

Perfon, whether fuch a morbid Conftitution

from the Suppreflion of ufual Eva-

cuations, or
Non-naturals
%

from an erroneous Ufe of the

and
xnoft

of

all,

Load of
Surfeit,
peftiits

bad Humours from an Excefs or a

leaves fo
lential

great a Similitude to the

Poifon, as greatly

to encourage

Admrffion.

But befides theie Difpofitions

it
is

of the Subject ,
the Plague
tary,

much

to the Purpofe
*,

to fuggefl this following Obfervation

is

That
Taint ?

fometimes fo

much
feminal

heredi-

and influenced by a

that in a
it felf in

common Contagion it mall exert fome much after the fame Manner
as in their Parents
^

upon Children,

as in the

Smalt-Pox, and other Affections of like

ture.

Na-

FOURTHLY,
fhoulcl

It is

neceffary that there

be

continual

Lodgment of the
Steams

pefrllential Poifon

for if the noxious

were

and a Contagion.
were blown away

57
but

as loon as received, there

would be but
thole
ter,

little

Mifchief done-,

which meet with any glutinous Matand a certain Lent or from the Vifcidity
lie

of the Humours, with which they

tangled,
until

en-

they

are

carried

through
be-

the
gin

larger

VefTels

with the
taint
all

Blood,

to
j

fufe

and

the

animal

Juices

and thus the pefKferous Miafmata

to fubvert
all

having got Poifefilon, are able

the

whole
execute

Machine,

and bring

into

Confufion,
to
as

without requiring any long Stay

their

pernicious

Effects

for

foon

as

they

once

find

a vifcid

and

tenacious Subftance, they eagerly join with

it,

and

are

with

great

Difficulty
it

to
is

be extricated.
generally
Inftances

Yet notwithstanding
I

thus,

have fometimes

found

of a longer
before

Stay of the pefHits

lential Poifon

Exertion,

where
for

the

Symptoms of
a
fit

Infection

have not ap-

peared until

Time of Maturity
:,

Eruption into Action

and for the Confir-

mation of which,
be produced were
it

feveral Inliances

might
I

controverted

have
after

known many go
Intercourfes

into the

Country

with

the

infected,

and keep
the

well for a

Month

or two,

when

Eneout

my

that

has lay hid fo long,

ruflied

of

58
of

Of

the Cauje of a Tejlilence,

its Fafhielles,

and by
its

its

Fury

lufficient*
j

ly compenfated
this Eruption

foregoing Delays

and

fooner might very probably

have been hindred, partly by the Vifcidity

of the Humours entangling the pefKlentiai Miafmata, and partly from an over-powerful
balfamick Quality, natural to a good Blood,

and to a Plenty and Vigour of animal Spirit

but as
I

would not be tedious upon Things

fo very obvious, this Ural] fuffice concerning

.a

Contagion.

BESIDES
there
tion,

the Caufes already recited,

may
viz,,
*,

be others alfo worth Confiderathe eating corrupted,

it is

or rotten

Flefh

and

not at

all

foreign to our

Purpofe here to

take Notice^

that on the

Year before
there was
Cattel,

the

late peftilential Sicknefs,

a great Mortality
a very

amongfi: the

from

wet Autumn, whereby

amongfc the ordi:,

their Carcafes were fold

nary People at
great deal

mean Price of putrid Humours in

a very

and a
all

likethis,

lihood produced from

in the Opinion of

thence

And

many, was the Source of

*

our

lafc

Calamities

and many

knowing

Perfons afcribe
gin*,

the Pefiilence

to this Ori-

as the

morbid Difpofition which fuch

ilibjeft

a Feeding murl needs

the

People.,

could

and a Contagion,
could not

59

but facilitate both the Infection

fatal Deftroyer.

and Progrefs of that

TO

this

do not deny,

but

that the

common People, who

ter

fed upon fuch a Diet

even to Gluttony, might treafure up Mat-

enough for

fb

deadly

an Irnpreilion,

and with which the Plague might naturally

enough go into a Co-operation

Proviiion, although very
liable

but fuch

thereby

to excite
:,

much corrupt, and Symptoms like to

thole in a Peitilence

yet they were not in

Plenty enough to fupply the whole Market

and therefore a Caufe fo

ticular, could not be

private and par-

fuppofed to extend to

fo univerfai an Eifel.

HEN-CE
removing

it

is

further manifeft,

that

a corrupt Diet can do no more in giving a

peftilential Irnpreilion,

than a good one can

in

it

:,

and therefore, not to dwell

it
is

too long upon this Matter,

nion that fuch a

my
may

Opiraife

Way

of Living

the

Humours

to a Degree of Putrefation 2

as brings Fevers very malignant,

and caufes
Peiti-

epidemical Difeaies,
lence.

but not a true

AND

60

Of the

Cauje of a (peflilence,

AND
Species,

the Conjecture that a Sicknefs

is

a=-

mongft Cattle

transferrable to the

humane
on

hath not
}

yet

appeared
to

any
this a

good Foundation
Difficulty,

but

remove
but

no

one

doubts

that

Plague

amongft

Cattle,

from fome comof the

aerial

mon

Caufe,

as a Corruption
differs

Nitre,

and which

from a Plague

among!!
be
that a

Men

but
to

in

Degree,

may

alfb
\

tranfmitted
is,

the

humane

Species

a feebler

Degree of Poifon,
taint

and

milder Aura,

may
is

the Herbage,
to deftroy
^

than that

which

fufficient

the firmer Constitution of Animals

beiides

which, from the Diverfity in the Pores of

Brutes,

and their

different

Constitutions,

and the Fortitude in the

I

Spirit

of a Man,
that the
a

cannot

be induced

to believe

Peftilence

amongft Cattle

from

private

Caufe,

can ever obtain any Dominion over

IVfanM&d..

Thefe Stories therefore have no

that
a
certain Leech,
a great

Weight wkh me,

upon opening an Horfe, that with

many

others

had

died of fome

common
it

Diitemper, in Order to know what

was,

and finding certain

his Inwards,

peftilential

Tokens

upon

both the Mafter

died

and the Fa

mily

foou

of the Infection

which
yet

and a Contagion.
expired with them.

61

yet went no further than that Family, but

DURING
try,

the late

Plague likewife at

London, a Citizen

travelling into the

Countire

found his Horfe

fall

of a fudden to

and

down,

whereupon he opened

his

Mouth

to find out if poilible the Caufe

of

fo fudden a

Change

when the good Man,

Upon Receipt of the Horfe's Breath upon him, immediately grew fick, and died in two

Days Time.

BUT
tainly

thefe

and the like Inftances cer-

tend to prove

no more than that

there

may

be Constitutions and malignant

Steams,

which,

by agitating the Mafs of

excite putrid and irregular

Humours, may
Orgafiiis,

wherein

the juices

and Animal

Fluids, according to the Quantity and Pre-

valency
Variety

of the

Diftemperature,
infufed Taint,

and the

of the

with the

Diverfity of Putrefaction,

goes into Corru-.

ption

but

the forementioned Transplan-

tation of the Plague

does

not happen but

where there

is

a fuitable Predifpofition of
it,

Humours
general.

to admit

as

its

Caule

is

not

MORE-

6%

Of

the Caufe of a ^Pe Hence, ft

MOREOVER,
perature
Air,

although

the Intem-

of the Year,

fudden Change

of
Di-

SupprelTion of' ufual Evacuation,

minution of Perforation, Drunkennefs,' Venery, and Paffions of the Mind,

especially
a-

Anger and Fear,

are juitly

reckoned

moneft the remote Caufes of a PefHience;

yet they regard rather the Invasion of
it,

than

its

Origin:,

but of this we.

Shall

fay

more

hereafter.
it
is

As

to the abovementioned

Paiiions,

almoir incredible
Infection,

how fome,
would from

at the

Height of the

a very flight Caufe kindle into the utmoft

Rage, and
Scolds,
tions.

rave at

one another like meer

until

Death parted their Conten-

]SI

the

OR Way

does Fear or Sorrow

for the
infection,

lefs*

prepare

by deadning
Suffocating the

the Fancy and

Memory, by

Spirits, Suppreiling

the natural Heat, break-

ing the Constitution, and Promoting Malignity

:

We
be

have manifold Infhmces of this

5

kind in Readinefs
Should
prolix

but
in

if,

as

fome do, we
of

the Enumeration

Things that

want not Proof, the Reader

tired

would be quite

with needleis

Stories.

BUT

and a Contagion.

6$

now it may be convenient to add few Remarks concerning the Tranflation

an hot Country
the
to a
}

BUT

of a Peftilence from
cold one
Effects

for according to

different

of Heat and Cold,

the one atte-

nuating and rarefying, the other condenfing

and confh'pating, the

peftilential

Venom

is

ftrangely altered, infomuch that in a

fo obvious, there does not require

Thing
to.

much

be faid

Every Thing of

this

kind proas being

it

digioufly fpreads in hot Climates,

more
is

fubtile

than even the Air

in the

felf^

though the fame

neffes it

Northern Countries
Faft-*

more retrained,
is

and confined in
*

cannot efcape from

and from hence

the Reaibn

very obvious

why

there

is

fo

much

Difference

between the

Difeafes of
te-

different Climates,

which would be too

dious for us here to go into/

TO
nefs
j

come

nearer therefore

to our Buii-

the fame Affections

that in an hot

Country heat the Blood

fo as in a great

and other Juices,

Meafure to put them into

the contrary
Properties to
%

Fufion,

when

tranflated into

Extream may
the

give contrary
e

fame Fluids, and

be

contra

and this

might

demonftrated

by

innumerable
Expe--

64
it.

Of the

Caufe of a Teftilence,

Experiments, were there any Doubt about

being then granted, that this Plague

firft

was

brought from

Africa, or Afia, to
Britain,

Holland^

and from thence into

eaflly conjecture,
it

every

one

may

how much Alin

teration

muft undergo

fuch a Travel,
into a moift
its

from a hot and dry Climate,

and cold one, not fo much
ture,
as

in

own Nadiffe-

from the Vehicle of

it,

Air which

conveyed

and thereby producing

rent Degrees of Infection,

and Series

of

Symptoms
mofr.

But this Variation

in

would be

difcernable

the

Complication of

the peftilential Seminium, with the particular Difeafes

of each Country,
as
it

and thofe

which
This
tice,

are
in

were peculiar to them

is

our Cafe

very well worth

No-

for in Holland,

where the Scurvy exliable

treamly reigns, and therefore, for Reafons

before given,
Infection,
it

moil

to
as

a peftilential a

obtained only
as

more

ag-

gravated

Scurvy,

fhall hereafter

be fur-

ther remarked.

for

that

Opinion
animated

of

the

famous
I

Kir c her,
confefs
I

about

Worms,
at

muft

never could

come

any fuch
Dil-

and a Contagion.

6j

Bifcovery with the Help of the beft GlaffeSj

nor ever found the fame difcovered by any

other;

but

perhaps

in our

cloudy Ifland
the fe-

we
fo

are

not fo marp-fighted as in
-

rene Air of Italy

great
a

and with Submifilon to

it

Name,

feems to

me

very

difconfonant to Reafon, that fuch a pefcilential

Scmimum, which

is

both of a nitrous

and poilbnous
living Creature;

Nature,

mould produce

AS

in

putrid Fevers, fo in a PefKlence,

is

Malignity
frightens
far is it

Deitroyer

of Infers, and
fo
in-

them away as it were alive, from giving Birth to them ^

deed
cers,

in

fome malignant Ulcers and Can-> and in the Blood of fome People;

fome times animalcula are found fome Fault

the

but this
EfFeft

is

rather to be looked upon as the

in

of

nutritious
;

Juice,

than

the Produce of any Poifon

and therefore

they are not to be accounted amongft the Caufes of a Pefdlence.

SECTION

SECTION
Of the
by the

III.

primary Seat of a Peftilence

where$

Way,

is

confidered the

and their humane Body from Poifon*

the Spirits,

Nature of Infection in an

IN

Order to put an

End

to

the

Con-

troverfies about the Seat of a Peftilence^

which have from Antiquity even to this Day been warmly maintained, many Authors
putting the Heart for the Principle

of Life and Death,

others the
will be necelTary here

fome the Brain, and

It

Stomach, Lungs, or Liver:

to difcover the im-

mediate Refidence of the pefKlential Semi-

mum

Since therefore the above-mentioned

Aura,
fubtile

according

to

Hyfothefis,

is

very

and lphituous, for that Reafon there

muft neceffarily be lome conformable Property in the Matter which

it
^

is fit

to receive

as therefore

there

is

not in the whole

humane Machine any

fite,

Subjeci

more appoani-

and capable of
Spirits,

its

Union, than the

mal
this
fbns,

we muft
I

fix its

Refidence there.

But becaufe
Opinion

am
lies

fenfible

open

to,

what Objections with fome Per-

who may

not

conceive

how

an immediate

Of
nicable

the primary Sedt, Sec.

is

67
commu*
of

mediate Infection of the Spirits

to the
it

Fifcera,

and

all

Parts

the Body,
this

will

be neceiTary to go thro'

Matter in a very particular Manner, by

-

enquiring

FIRST, What
ing

are the Spirits concern?

which we

are here fpeaking

SECONDLY, What
of
Spirits

is

that Difpofition
1

which makes them fit to receive the pehulential ImprefHon? And,

*

THIRDLY^
with Diforders?

After what

Manner

the

vitiated Spirits can affeft the

whole Body

TO
tile

this

Purpofe we mufr.
are

know, that
and fub-

the Spirits

the moft

thin

Particles of

the

Aliment

and

other

juices, raifed to the utmoft Perfection

and
the

Volatility

by

the

innate

Heat,

and

nitro -aerial Spirit,

tions

to ferve in the Operaall

of the Mind, and

the Purpofes of

the animal

O Economy
whence the
^

THE
generated

Matter
is

Spirits

are!

the Chyle

and their Reftaura-

tion, Confirmation,

and Vigour, are from the

Re*

68
flration,

Of

the primary Seat

;

Recruits of Food

as is their

Languor,

Pro*-

and utter
it
;

Extinction,

from the
they
and

Want of
firft

fo that

howfbever they were

original,

generated in the

owe
althey

their Confer vatiori and Vitality to the JSIou^

riihment continually

brought

in-,

though

in a State

of perfect

Health

are never changed

tinually act

by

that,

yet they con-

upon that
a

after various

Ways,

bringing

it

from a crude, recrementiciou s

noble Juice, or rich
its ideal

State, into

fpiritua-1
:

Balfam, retaining

Character

And

hence
is

comes about, that although there a daily Waft of Spirits, yet there is no
it is

Want, becaufe Nature

Things are
in

continually, while
:,

Health, making more

after
a

in-

fomuch that

due Conftitution of

Spirits is obtained,

they of themfelves are

the main Efficients in making more, as one

Light

is

kindled by
felf
is

another,

and

as

the
hi

Blood

it

the chief Inftrument

Sanguification, or

making more Blood.

IT

is

Matter indeed of much more

Difficulty to determine,

how
}

Particles

from
very

a grofs Origin, Volatility and

certain, that

mould be
Finenefs

raifed to fb great

but this

is

when they

are elaborated in

the mofl perfect Manner, they exceed even the

of a

T-eftilence.

6y
j

the Light and A&ivity of the Sun-Beams

and the brighter and more active they are,

the better do
in the
is

they
as

perform their Offices

O Economy,

from their Efficiency

and Vigour

procured a
in

State of Health

both

Body and Mind.

of no great

IT

is

Moment
is

to

enquire^
for

what Quantity of
Body,
fo 'that

Spirit

neceffary

the Confer vat ion and Support of an

humane
par-

we do but know they

that

take of the

Source from whence they are

generated, infomuch

they

are

more

or

lefs perfect,

according to the greater or

leifer

Degree of Purity in their productive

Juices=

BUT
ticular
ces

muft here acknowledge

my

felf

diffident in that

Opinion of the Spirits be-

ing prepared of a d liferent Nature for parParts, for according

to the Influen-

of the Mind, and the Contiguity, Rectior Confent of the VefTels,

tude,

they are

by a voluntary Ab determined the

into this
is

fame

or

that

Limb

or

Part

Which

manifeft enough in the Prick of a Needie,

or a venomous Bite, from the great Afflu-

ence of Spirits to that Part

fore

have there-

no Notion of

a continued

Emanation
of

fq
pf
Spirits,

Of

the primary Seat

fucli Occafions

but that on

they
af-

are called,

by the Senfation upon the

fected Part,

from the nervous Origin where

they are elaborated.

SECOND LY
Purity
*

It

fometimes

happens

that the Spirits degenerate from their native

as alfo at others,

that they prove

to their utmoft
lie

abortive,

in

not arriving

Maturity, whereby they

more open to

foreign Imprefiions of Dirtemperature.

BUT
generated,
feci in

when
is

the

Juices,

or

common

Promptuary from whence

kind,

the Spirits are

not uniform, genuine, and perit is

impoffible
it

that

Spirits

ihould be
Perfection
-

made from
for

in

any tolerable
pretend

one

may

as well

to walk a Brick, or draw clear a foul Spring, as

Spirits

Water from
-

expect

pure and natural

7

from a corrupt and vitiated Chyle

is

although even when the Chyle

Order, there

in right

may

various

Errors happen
-

in the Generation

of Spirits

as

from too
in

great

an

Heat agitating the Blood

preternatural Manner, or from an imperfect

or unequal Separation of Particles, or from

too

much Cold caufmg

^

an Intermixture of

Crudities

and again, although the Spirits

are

of a (Peftikncc.
are duly elaborated, yet they
irregular

7
may

run into

Motions, and be the

:

Occafion of

many

Difbrders

But what

is

moft to the
alfo

Purpofe, they

may fbmetimes

receive

a Taint from external Impreffions.

AND
is

this

Aptitude, or

Propenfity of

the Spirits to receive

rnanifeft
;

a pefKlential Taint,
fiery,

from their

or rather faline

Nature

and on Account of that Subtiity

the contagious Aura y than

which they acquire thereby, do they more

naturally attraft

Bodies

more

grofs

and

heavy

For

as

thefe Spirits, as before obferved, are nitrous,

and inflammable, by their Similitude to a

peftilential

Aura, they

not only
attract
it,

are fitted

to

receive,
it

but even

and proof
a

voke

into

Union
Affinity

as the Snuff

Canoff,

dle juft
will,

blown out,

if

it

is

not too far

by an

of Qualities, be
one
at'

fbon

rekindled by another lighted

Diftance
,

feme

and

how much

foever the poiEffluvia

ibnous Qualities of the peftilential

may

be

deftruHve to the animal Spirits,

is

yet there

nothing
is

more
very

certain,

than

that their Taint

eafily

impreffed

upon them.
1
1

F 4

AFTER.

7%

Of

the primary Seat

AFTER
received

the peftilential

Poifon

is

thus

by the

Spirits, it is impofiible to

e^prefs
cruel

the fatal Confequences,

and

the

Havock that is made in the whole O Economy for the lame Inftruments which before were aery, lucid, and like the Rays of
,

the Sun, immediately become vapid, dark,

and

ufelefs,

neither able to invigorate

the the

Constitution,

nor

defend

it

againft

Contagion.

THIRD LT,
thefe Matters,

Having

briefly pa.(Ted over

what
and
in

Step?:

we fhew by the humane Frame comes to

it

remains that

be difordered by this peftilentiai Invaflon*,

Order to

this,

know not

more

fatal Circumfrance in

Nature, than to have

the very Guards and tutelary Prefervers of

Life
turn,
as
it

were, Deierters and Beis

trayers.
fest,

For there
the
Parts,

nothing more mani-

than that
feveral

whole Compage, and

its

run into

Decay

as foon
^

as the peftilential

Taint takes Place

firfl

for

immediately
Hannibal was
againfc the

upon the

Seizure,

the

whole Effort of Nature,

at

as at
is

Rome when
recollected

their Gates,
as

Enemy,

fenfible

that

all

is

at Stake., but being unequal to the Conflict,

they

of a
ing the

<Peftilence.

7\
Hence
Bloody
princia Cor-

they retreat, and are taken Prifoners, leav-

whole Body

defencelefs.
all

the Infeftion runs through

the

whereby the Heart and Lungs are

pal Sufferers.

Hence follows fuch

ruption

of the nutritive fluids, that the

is

whole nervous Syftem

ing

difturbed, the burn-

Heat of the

Pancreas produces the in oft

\

extream Sicknefs
the vital
clofes

and hence follows fuch and

a Depravation of the whole Machine, that

all

Faculties

ceafe

to aft,

Death

the fatal Scene.

BUT
affefted
lity

do not
the

at

all

fee

how

fuch a be
firft

noble Part as

Heart,
particular

ihould

by
the

any

fpecirlck

Qua-

in

Poifon
\

of
if

a
it
it,
^

Plague,

more

than
f ill,

any other
as

as

was fo fpightto attack the

for the

ibme would of Life

fir ft

have
at once

principles

feems

at

to

be affefted

Heart chiefly from

the Multiplicity of VefTels,

and the great

Crowd

of Circulation that

Way,

giving

Opportunity for the

rive thither
-

Venom
more

fooner to arihall

concerning
to fay

which we
under

have

Occaiion

that

Head of Symptoms.
>

UPON

74

Of

the primary Seat

UPON

the flrong,

prefumptive Proofs

therefore that the peftilemtial Poifon chiefly

relides in the Spirits,

we cannot but much

admire at the Weaknefs of thole,

peel to
detect its

who

ex-

Nature

and Caufe from

what they can

For
felf

on the DifTe&ion of morbid Bodies, and fuch like Circumftanees

find

a very noted Perfon,

and one of ex-

quifite Skill in

Anatomy, although he himin

at

laft

fell

the general Calamity,

affirmed, that the Seat of the laft Peftilence

was

in

the extream Angles of the Vlcxm

Choroldes,

towards the
a

Cerebellum, becaufe
-

he

had found

fmall Veiicle there to

others

have obferved the Lungs

have

been
^

marked with
and

the Tokens

of Infection

o-

thers report the Heart to have been tumefied,

burnt

as

it

were

to

a Coal

whereas
fo

it is

plain, that thefe Parts are only

many

Fields of Battle, where the Spirits

it

and the Infeclion contend

with each other;

confiders

Nor

will

any one,

who

rightly

thefe Things, wonder,

that fuch

Marks of
by

Devaftation ihould every where be left

fo cruel an

Enemy.
although
it

THEREFORE,

mould
Tokens

be granted that the moft obvious and open

of a
Tokens of a
and an

Tefl'ilence.

75
a fpiritual

Peftilence are

from

invifible Caufe,

and whofe Effe&s

laid

may

perhaps
I

fometimes be

open to

Sight, yet

have no Intention to difcourage

anatomical DiiTeftions as a needlefs Trouble,

for

by fuch Light, Medicine

the

is

recovered

from

Reproach
are

of Conjecture}

but

when Bodies
of,

opened which have been

be

deftroyed by fuch fubtile A gents as here fpoke

there

is

no Confidence

to

given
-

from thence to the Nature of the Difeafe

and thofe
the

who have
Ufe,

been moft knowing in

Nature,

and Diforders of the

direcl:

Spirits,

very well can

how
avoid

to re-

cover thofe Diforders,

Ineonyeniencies

and

future

by

immediate Application

thereunto.

AND
fragable

Laftly,

to conclude this Do&rine

this
irre-

concerning the Spirits Infection,

Argument may be produced from

j

the Intention of Cure

rienced by

for
a

have expeInjftances,

more
are

than

thoufand

that

the more Cardiack

fubtle

and jllexifharmick
the

Medicines

and fpirituous,

more

certainly

do they encounter the pewith Succefs

ftilential

Foifon

whereas,

on the contrary, thole Medicines which are

coarfer

76
or no Good.

Of

the Complication

courier and flower

of Exertion,

do

little

But this we refer to

the cu-

rative Part hereafter

in another Seftion.

SECTION
Of
the

IV.
Pejlilence

Complication
DijlemperS)

of a

with

other
the

and particularly with

Scurvy.

S the PefHlence

is

the mofr. powerful

fo
it

of

all

other Diftempers,

alfo

claims a particular Privilege of joining with

all

others:,
its

fo that it

does not more ex-

cel in

own

Contrariety and Antipathy

it

to Nature,

than

arTerts

a Prerogative

over

all

thofe various Evils

is

which

the

humane Frame them into its

cruel

fubje&ed to,
in

and draws
its

Affiirance

exercifing

Power over Mankind.

AfTertion

THIS
by
a

might

be

fupported
if
it

Multitude of hitances,

were

not for taking

der's

up too much of the Reawhich Reafon we mall onthat amongft. all thofe Diare

Time

for

ly take Notice,

stempers which
their Forces

thus inclined to
moll:

join

with this

powerful Ene r

my, ibme feem

to have

more

particular

of a *P eft Hence, Sec.

lar Fitnefs for fiich

77
com-

a Union, from a

mon

Affinity

in

the Nature of their In-

fection,

and the Energy of their Poiibn.

of the Firft of this Clafs
in a very familiar
firft

ONE
tial

is

the

venereal Difeafe,

with which the peftilen-

Venom

does

Manner

unite

it felf.

At the
laft

breaking out init xvas

deed of the

Sicknefs

given out

by common Fame, that thole who were previoufly

as the

infected

with

any

foul Diftemper,

Pox in particular, would be Secured thereby againft the pestilential Taint ^ but

wicked and impious was the Confequence

of

fuch

a Suggestion

for

many

were
lafci-

hereby encouraged to Seek the moft

vious and frlthy Prostitutions, on purpofe to

be fecur'd by one previous Infection againft

another:

But befides the poifonous Quato this nafty Difeafe,

Spirit

lity peculiar

befides

that
it,

Expence of
and befides

in

the procuring

a loft Force

of the Con-

stitution thereby,

the greateft Aggravation

to this Misfortune was, that the very Taint

which was to defend

it

againft another,

had
at-

in

its

Nature to be
it
^

more
bitter

forcibly

tracted

by

fo that

the rafh Adventurer

was foon brought to a

for his Experiment,

Repentance
under

by finking immediately

78
tmder the
Stroke
}

Of the
and
it

Complication

peftilential

Contagion at

its firft

was common to

find the

venereal Buboes,

by

a very eafy Tranfitioiij

changed into

peftilential Carbuncles,

except

in a few Instances

where Nature found out

united

an

uncommon

Artifice againft thefe

Powers, by endeavouring
their joint Malignities

an Ejedment of

by Salivation, where;

by fometimes the Patient was brought in ;6 fome Chance for his Life 3 both the Poifons
being in a great Meafure caft o.f together
that

Way.
here
it

BUT

may

not be

improper

to adnionilh

the

young Phyficians not to

unlefs
a

be too forward Imitators of Nature in fuch

a Circumfiance
;

they will run the

certain

fame

Hazard with
his
railed
a

Empirick,
the Sick

who crouded
that,

Powders upon
untimely

an
great

Spitting,

and

brought

many

into

dangerous

which by a regular Practice might have been, though with Difficulty j

Condition,
faved.

YET
clear
fufpeft,

to

fet

this

whole
is

Affair

in

Light,

there

great

Reafon to

that in

many

Cafes Mercury
in

had
like

for

fome Time remained

the Body, which,*

of a ipeftilence,
like

&c.

79
by
into a
aiTifted

a Snake in the Grafs, being raifed

the Peftilential Infe&ion, iiew up Salivation^ for the febrile Heat,

with Medicines

alfo

of an hot

Nature,

throw up the Mercury^ which had long lain which mould quiet like a Sublimation }
be a Caution,
ans, but thofe

not only

to

young Phyficiin Practice,

of more {landing

not to be fo bufie
cines,

with mercurial Medias

to Children as well
as

grown Perapt to

fons,
leaft,

they

are

too

much

be

befides

the Inconveniencies

already

mentioned,

they

caufe

malignant Ulcers,
as
it
is

and Rotennefs upon the Bones,

too

commonly obferved
Patients.

to be done in irregular

Practice, to the irreparable

Detriment of the

am

not however ignorant that {bmetimes

the Peftilential
lival

Venom may

tumifie

the lk-

Glands without any other Aiiiftance,

as
in

and occafion Ulcers in the Mouth

Mercury
}

with

for

it

is

common Cafe

many

malignant Fevers.

BUT
Peftilential

it is

fo

clear a

Matter that the

inti-

and venereal Poifons may

together

mately

join

by

their

Affinity

with one another,

to the great Detriment

of

; ;

8o
of Mankind,
to confirm
all

Of
it-,

the Complication

as to

want no further Proofe

does their Opinion at
place

nor

obviate

ours,

who

the venereal
a Pefti-

Poilbn in Humidity,
lence in Drynefs,

and that of

as long as the

Symptoms
faline

and AiFe&ions

of both diicover one comthat

is,

mon
they
ther,

Principle,
if this

fomewhat
not

but yet
are

iliould

be

granted,
toge-

naturally

enough

joined

by

their

own

Malignity, and Deftru&ion

to

humane Nature.

BUT

the Affinity between a Peftilence

is

and a Scurvy

not a flight,

and a fup-

pofititious Conjecture,

but ftrengthened and

confirmed by a plain Union between them,

whereby they attack

and both confefs
a faline Principle
}

like confederate Troops

the
as

fame
is

Origin,

viz..

moft remarkably
whether"

obvious

iii

their eager Coalition,

we

confide r the forementioned Traniplanta-

tion of the like Plague land y

from Turly to Holfir ft

where their Alliance was

reflect

formed

Or whether we
joined

upon them both

as

Diftempers equally epidemical, which

make

iiich cruel
:,

when Havock among the

like

human
catch

Species

as

neighbouring Flames
a

together

from

Affinity

of

Farts, and burn

with united Fury.

FOR

tof

T eft Hence,
is

Sec.

FOR
a

although there

a great

Defeis

rence in Salts of different Kinds, yet there

common

Property amongfl them

all,

that

when joined together they cannot hardly by any Means poihble be afterwards feparated, for which Reafon, when thefe two Enemies
of Mankind were
Evil was at
firft

joined,

the complicated

cuftomariiy diftinguifhed

by

the

cutlandifr Scurvy,

which by
its

confederate

Power had increaied

a Degree.

Malignity to fb great

But to give fome apparent Facts,

which irrefragably prove the natural Union

between thefe two Origins of Mifchief,it
be proper to recite
to

may fome Symptoms common

them both, and firil:. of all thofe Spots which were their certain Gharacteriflicks*

THE
and
very

Spots of thofe in the Plague were

as to cover all the

fometimes fo numerous,

Body, of which we

fhall fay

more

hereafter

if we confider the

Appearances and Conin both,

;

ditions

of the Spots
great

we

ihall find

Agreement
contracted,

the peftilential

Spots fometimes break out broad, at ether

Times more
ner as
their
it

juft.

in the
-

fame Man*
and
as to

happens

in the Scurvy

Duration, fometimes they are longer

j

out, than at others, in both

now

alfo,

they

fuddenly

82
turn
in,

Of

the

Complication

fuddenly appear, and then again as fuddenly

and fometimes remain out for two or

-,

three Days together

all

and their Likenefs in

Eefpe&s is frequently lb great, that amongft the ignorant Nurfes and Empiricks,
fometimes the
fatal
'Tokens

of a Peftilence

have been miitaken only for Scurvy Spots:

As

to their Colour in a Plague, as well as in

a Scurvy ,
frefli

they are fometimes

florid,

refembling
li-

Flea-Bites, and at others dusky and

vid

and

met with them

and
in

in a certain

Youth
over
al-

refembling Violet Flowers painted

all

the Body

fome

have ieen them

moin quite black, which are with great

Diffi-

culty to be diiiinguilhed from the true peftilential Tokens.

T H E Pv E

are other

Symptoms

alio that

denote the Agreement herein, fuch as large

Stools of a faline and fetid Nature, and are with great Difficulty retrained

which

by the

moil powerful Medicines

continues,
it

but if fuch a Flux

threatens irretrievable Injuries,

as Corrofion, Inflammation,

and lometimes

e-

ven Sphacelation of the Bowels, with intolerable Gripings, and fometimes Lofs of Blood

Furthermore, the Agreement that there

is

be-

tween the Ulcers and Tumours of both,

evi-

dently demoiiirrate the Affinity of both their

Ori-

of a

tPeftilence,

&c.
more
fully

83
appear

Origins, as will hereafter

in that Part about their Cure.

THE

PehHlence like wife iliews

its Affini-

ty with the Scurvy, by leaving behind

it

fcorbutick Habit, even where a Perfon was

not given to
not indeed at
orders,

it

in the leafl before

and

it is

all

ftrange, that after fach Dis-

and Corruption of the animal

Juices,

and luch an Exhalation or Suffocation of fubtile

and ipirituous Particles, an Habit fhould

generous

be confirmed, that can be removed but by the

fiioft

Remedies, and the moft pow-

erful Aatifcorbutich.

remains now briefly to enquire, whe-

ther a Peftiience coming upon another Difeafe, in

any Inftances proves of Service^ and

this

mall difpatch in two HifTories of Cafes,

one in a Confumption, and the other in the

Ki?is-EviL

Girl of fifteen Years of

Age was

fo

ema-

ciated,

that fhe had left

little

befldes Skin

and Bones, and taking no Nourimment for

14 Days
together,
fhe

was given over

as

gone

but being called to the fame Houfe to

fee her

Mother, and two others who had the

and recovered, the fame Diflemper

Infeciion,

feiz-

84
whom
juft

Of the
alfo
I

Complication, 8ccl

feized, that Creature almoft half-dead before,

then attended

but me,

who

before lay as expiring, feemed animated

feverifh Heat,

by the

began to move her

Limbs, and with the Help of Alexiyharmick

Medicines, although before fpeechlefs, began
to complain of painful Swellings about her

but thofe Buboes, which

fiippofe

would

o-

therwife have broke out, for want of Matter

to raife them, were diilipated by Tranfpiration

fb that

me

recovered, and in about two

loft

Weeks alfo manifeftly

her former Diftem-

per, and gathered Fleih and Strength.

ANOTHER
or

Maid of about 16 Years

fcrofhulous

Age

L.had

been fo

from her

Childhood, as to have many indurated Glands

remain after
to diifipate

all

poiTible

Means had been ufed

at laft

them.

She

was feized
Buboes

with the Contagion, and

rofe

peftilential

upon the ftrwnous Glands, which fuppu^

rated, and Jet out a great Quantity of Filth

and upon her Recovery from thence, her former Diftemper was quite loft.

SOME gouty Perfons likewife, and others

accuftomed
to

very obftinate

Complaints,

were, by a lucky Conjunction with this Infection, quite reftored

:

and indeed moft

who
were

were rightly

h managed
(
of
it,

)
and perin

in the Plague,

fectly recovered

were afterwards,

mawas

ny Refpe&s, better
fore
}

in their

Health than be-

fo that this terrible

fatal, fo it alfo

Enemy,
for the

as it

commonly
a

fometimes proved

Remedy.

And

thus

much

Compli-

cation of the Peftilence with other Diftempers.

We fhall now

proceed to

its

Symptoms.

SECTION
Of
the manifefi

V.

Signs

of the

Ute

Teflilence.

T is

altogether foreign to
all

my

Defign here,

to enumerate

the

Appearances that

belong to a peftilential Conftitution, becaufe a

great deal

may be

afcribed to Phantafie

and

Conjeclure^ as the Influence of Comets, and

the Conjunctions of Planets, with
like

others of

Nature

For

what

ftrange Notions
this

have been broached concerning

Contagion,

which was

imported to us from Abroad?

Are

the Tails of Coniets always

armed with
the

peftilential

Arrows

Or

is

the Air

more impure and unhealthful?

Famine before the
ver us
laft

Had we any Sicknefs? Or had we

we
before

portentious fwarms of lnfe<fts like Clouds o?

j

No,
all

juft the

contrary, as

Gbferved

Things from

Nature were
pro-

26

Of

the manifeft Signs

this

promising and ferene, and

Deftroyer in-

vaded us on a fhdden from ftrange Countries

it is

therefore of

more Advantage
all its

to our

De-

flgn here, to take

concomitant Signs

from

its

manifeft Effects.

AND indeed there

Collection, or an

are not

many
is

peculiar
chiefly a

to a peftilential Fever, as that

Epitome of all other Fevers

together, which in fucha Confederacy are not

therefore

without a tedious

Work
\

to be enuthere-

merated
fore
ly

in all their Affections

I fhall

fatisfie

my

felf

with defcribing fuch on-

which are moil obvious to common Obfer-

vation, and are fons

;

met with

in

moil infected Perfake,

I

and

thefe, for

Method

fhall di-

ftributeinto

two

Gaffes.

FIRST, The
S

manifeft Signs of Infection.

E CO

ND L

r,

The Appearances

after

Infection.

-BUT

hereunto

think

it

neceiTary to pre-

mife, that a Peftilence puts on fometimes one,

and at ethers, another Appearance, and fometimes even contrary

Conftiturion or
one's,

according

to the

Age

of the Patient, the Sea-

fon of the

Year,

prefent or

preceding Diftempcrs,

of the
different

late

Tefl'tlence.

87

ftempers, a faulty

Way

of Living, and the

Means of Communication, both with

Refpeft to Virulence and Degree.

THE
Horror,

Symptoms of
Vomiting,

the

fir ft

Clafs are

Delirium,

Dizzinefs,

Head-ach, and Stupefaction.

F
a great

the fecond, a Fever, Watching, Pal-

pitation of the Heart, Bleeding at Nofe, and

Heat about the

Signs

Precordia.

THE
call

more peculiar

to a Peftilence,

are thofe Puftules which the

BlainS) Buboes,

common
of
ail

People

Carbuncles,
Tokens-^

Spots,

and

thofe

Marks

called

which

diftinctiy.

do not know indeed throughout the whole

(as before
it

Compafs of Nature
frequently hinted) any
peftilential Poifon,

hath been

Thing

fo fubtileas the

and what

will

penetrate

the

Body with
long after

fo
it

much
is

Swiftnefs and Secrecy,

infomuch that
till

not perceived fometimes

its

Entrance
its

what therefore
Attack, and

is

commonly

faid of

fenfible

that the Infected feel

its fir ft

Infult as

from a

fudden Blow,

is

more the

Effect of a deluded

Imagination and Conjecture, than any folid

Judg*

88
Judgment}

Of

the manifeft Signs

as the Populace are apt

enough

to frame ftrange Conceits out of their

own

Heads, and what

hath' long obtained

amongft

them

is

very

difficult to erace.

WHEN
tioned

therefore fuch

a kind of Peo-

ple hath received the Notion, as was

common

in the late Sicknefs, concerning the foremen-

Manner of Infe&ion,
and take

it

is

no great

Wonder
this

that others like wife in general

it

go

in-

to the Error,

for granted that

its

unmerciful Deftroyer makes

Seizure

In this violent
it as for a

Way, and

therefrom wait for

fudden Stroke.

ALTHOUGH
preffion,

am not

infenfible, that
its
fir ft

fome may have thus perceived

upon taking
for

Im-

in ungrateful

and

filthy

Smells

the

peftilential

Seminium^

(as

before obferved)

when

it

incorporates
fat,

with

other Bodies that are grofs,

and

vifcid,

may

ftrike the

Organs of Senfation very maniEntrance.

feftly at its

fir ft

AFTER

the peftilential Miafmata have

thus feized a Perfon, and the Spirits are over-

come, the whole Mais of Blood, and other

nhnal Juices, partake of the Diforder
,

a-

from and
a

whence proceed Struggles not

to be born,

of the
a

late <Pe Hence. ft

89

Train of Symptoms, of which quaking or

is

ihuddering

the chief,

all

of a fudden, with-

out any manifeft Caufe.

THIS
whofe

Symptome owes

its

Origin to the

Conflict of Nature with the infufed Malignity,

Efforts

of Refiftance excite a Senfe of

peflilential
as

Cold from the

the fame

Seminium
put
;

after

Manner

Nitre

upon the
it is al-

Tongue

excites the fame Senfation

io to be fufpe&ed that this

Rigor may be ow-

ing to a Quality in the poifonous Effluvia of

extinguishing the native Heat
:

And

the Spaf-

modick Affections of the Nerves proceed from

fait, fharp,

malignant, and heterogeneous Par-

ticles

rufhing into the fenfible Fibres,

and
and

vellicating

them

into involuntary Motions

Twjtchings.

THE

greateil Part indeed of the Infe&ed

perceived this Horror,

but

fome of them
,

more vehemently than others

immediate 1m predion upon
is

-but

of the

the Spirit there

no

Room
I

to doubt, nor of a confequent

^

Deal-

generation of the whole Mafs of Blood

though

am

fenfible that the Subtilty

of the
later,

peflilential

Taint took Place fooner or

according to the different Degrees of Strength

and Texture

in the

Body

to refill

it,

IT

po
I

Of the manifefi

Signs

is

certain

that the fine and exquifite

Contexture of the nervous Syftem,and the A-

greement and Confent of one Part with another, as well as the extraordinary Perfe&ion

of the Animal Spirits,

fenfibie

f^t as

Guards over fuch

Parts, could not but be affe&ed with

the Apprehenfions of Mifchief, and make and

tremble s and ufe their Efforts to throw offthe

Danger; and indeed

take

it

further to be

probable, that the peftilential Poifon might

be fhook by fuch Means out of the Nerves into

r the Miii cles, and there caufe Tention,

Trem-

bling, Vellication,
all

Yawning, Stretching, and

thofe other Concomitants of putrid and

malignant Fevers.

THE
was

Duration alfo of this Shuddering

Degree, for
it

as uncertain as its

went
-

off

fometimes foener, and

at others later

ibmetill

times in half an Hour, and at others, not

four Or five
jecture

Hours

which

difference

con-

owing

to the Quantity
as to the

and Intenfenefs

of the Malignity,

greater or lefler

Struggles of Nature to

refill: it.

S foon as this Horror could be faid to

terminate, for the molt

oufncfs

commonly

Naufe-

and Pleaching fucceeded, from whence

there

of the late Teftilence.

that even the Mention of

9
}

there was fuch an exceffive Loathing of Food,

it

was irkfome

certain and infallible Sign of Seizure,

BESIDES
ing,

the Naufeoufnefs and Loath-

fome were followed by grievous Vomiby the poifonous Quality of

and fubverting the

tings, occafloned

the pellilence

irritating

Stomach,

for that, by

Means of it's nervous

exquilite Senfe,

Coats, being

endewed with an

endeavours to throw off any Thing offenfive

and corrofive with the utmoft

prevent the
fible,

Efforts,
if

and
pof-

faline, peftilential
}

Venom,

from taking Place

is

infomuch, that no-

thing

more

certain, than that the

Stomach,
is

by

this fine

Contrivance of Nature,

ready

alfo to

throw off any other Thing difagreeit,

able to

as well

ss the Poifon

we

are here

fpeaking

of.

SOME

endure hereby fuch a vehement

and continued Irritation, that cannot beaf-

fwaged by any Remedies, how often foever

repeated, and fornetimes the Reaching conti-

nues after the Strength of the Patient

fpent to throw any

is

too far

Symptoms

Thing up, whereby the aggravate, and the peftilential

deeper 1

Venom
tution.

takes

Root

in

the Confli-

AF.

c^2

Of the
the

manifefi Signs

AFTER
mours
that in
3t
its

Load of Huthe Stomach are thrown up, a very

principal
follows,

frothy Bile, fermenting like Yeft,

Colour

is

greenifh,

and fometimes
the
the

o fetid, that

a Perfon
his

cannot endure

Room

without holding

Nofe; fuch

is

prodigious Putrefaction and Malignity in fome

of thefe Cafes.

BUT

where the Ufe of Medicines, other-

wife efFe&ual to ftop the moll obftinate Vomiting, proves ineffectual, and there follows
a great Third; and Heat,
it

gives ftrong Su-.

fpicion of Carbuncles

in the

Stomachy and
it

immediate Death,

fo

that the infedted as

were vomit up
lieve

their Souls,

which

(if we be;

Helmoni) have their Reiidence there

but

this will be further

fpoke of in the Prog-

nofticks.

BUT
Health of

before

proceed any further, the

my

Country, and the Concern of

Pofterity, oblige

me
it

to

take

Notice of the
all

pernicious Pra&ice of Empiricks of

ders, with

Or-

whom

was a Cnftom to give

Emetkks
by

*,

for certainly

many were deftroyed

a Poflibility to

this pradice, the

convulfive Reachings to

vomit being carried beyond

bear

of the
bear
it.

late <Peftilence.

And
I

truly the belt Deliberation

and

Thought
where
I

was able
and

to take in fuch Exigencies,

called,

happened to be

was but of
Phyfick

little EffecT:-,

after Adminiftration of the

beft

Medicines that

the

Rules of

could invent, Things generally grew worfe

which made

it

appear as impoflible to

reftifie

a rafh and fatal Error in the Conducl of a vi-

olent Difeafe, as in the

tary Engagement-,

Management of a

mili-

but of this

we

fhall

have

Occafion to fay more hereafter.

YET
this
arife,
tial

to fatisfie any inquifitive Perfon

how

primary Affe&ion of the Stomach does

and through what PafTages the peftilenits

Poifon makes

Entrance,
is

it is to

be ob-

ferved, that nothing

more plain than that

the peftilential

Mtafmata not only enter at

the larger PafTages, but alfo through the Pores

of the Skin, even to the whole nervous Syftem,

from whence they are communicated

other Parts
\

to all

for

this

is

peculiar

to

the
firlfc

Nerves, that they not only convey the

Impreffion to the Stomach by
fent with
ter
all

its

general Conthat
is

Parts,

but alfo

when

af-

any Manner whatfoever affeded, they comit

municate

to the

whole Frame,

as in

the

taking a Vomit.

SOME-

^4
is

Of

the

manijeft Signs
the
peftikntial

SOMETIMES
the Food,

Jura

mixed with

and fwallowed therein

with, which after

fonie Delay

the Stolets

mach being

digefled

and diflblved,

out

the imprifoned

Venom

to vellicate the Fibres

:

into Reachings and convulfive Motions

to put this altogether out of Difpute,

And
have
fall

often obferved Perfons

lick

immediately

to

from a

State of per fed Health after eat-

ing, and to

throw tip their Food, in other Refpe&s good and wholfome, as fame what corrupted and poifonous.

VOMITING
as are contrary, by

alfo

may be promoted by

Scents, as well as thofe which are fetid, as fuch

fome particular Antipaconje&ure happens from

thy to the Nature and Conftitution of the

Patient
the
*,

and

this

Harmony and

Coaferit of the Organs of

Smelling with the Coats of the Stomach, in-

fomuch that the Stomach immediately perceives any

Thing
rifes

that ungratefully ftrikes the

Neie, and

up again ft

it.

In the

Time

would however
as in

traniiently

mean make this

one Remark, that

many

Cafes the

Ad-

miniftrationof Emeticks was pernicious, whether or no Evacuation of the

firft

Putrefacti-

on

at

Stomach,

might not be much better

\

encouraged

upwards by Scents

as,

on the
con-

of the
tiraes allayed

late (peftilence.

9j

contrary, the Reachings at Stomach are fome-

by

like
1

Means, as by the Smell

confefs,

of Vinegar,
Pradtice
I

&c
it

do

that this

is

cannot atteft the Succefs of by Exis

perience, yet

not unworthy a rational

it.

Phyfician to attempt

L L

the Sick likewife quickly after Sei-

zure grew delirious,

the Streets,
if

running wildly about

they

were not confined by

tired

Force

when fome

with Rambling,
fall

on Increafe of their Diflemper, would

they were

down,. ignorant of their Condition, or where

,

and

laftly, to

repeat what hath

been already

remarked,

that fad
its

Calamity

feemed

to have complicated in

Prod u&i-

on every Thing of a poifonons and a deliroying Nature,.

MANY
je&s,

were

feized

with a Vertigo %

which, without any Motion of external

Ob*

made them
:

believe their

Heads

to turn

round

Without doubt
from the

the Brain grievoufly

fuffered

peftilentiai

Taint, not on-

ly becaufe the Spirits ufed

to be clouded, but
as if in

that

all

Things were done

arife

Sleep,

which might
caultick,

from the

inflammatory,

and narcotick Nature of the Venom,

and the Texture and Confent of the VefTels

with

p6

Of

the manifeft Signs

With the various Difpofitions of the Fluids,

This vertiginous Difpofition

nion,

alfo> in

my Opi-

might fometimes

arife

from the inordi-

nate and irregular Motions of the Spirits.

A great

many

likewife

much complained
if the

of a Head-ach, fo vehement, as

Parts

would have flown afunder;

the moil intolerable of
all,

Complaint
it

becaufe

conti-

nued without any Remiffion, or Intervals

the

Enemy

never retreating of

it felf,

and on*

ly to

be vanquifhed

by the Efforts

of the
In-

Conftitution,

and appolite Medicines-.

deed nothing was more plain, than that the Meninges were ftimula ted by the faline
cule of
Spi-

the Contagion;

and from the Inits

is

flammation of the Brain, and

tion in thofe

Sphacelaa

who

died, there

ftrong

Sufpicion that this cruel, fhooting Pain, continued to the

laft.

N
is

this

CJafs

of Symptoms, Stupefacti,

on

alfo

to be ranked

becaufe from the

Moment of
a Coma,

Seizure

many were taken with

if

and

flept as
*,

they
in the

were dozed
middle of

with
their

an Opiate

many

Employ,
taken

with their Friends in Con-

verfation, or

other

Engagements,
of)

(as

was

before

notice

would fuddenly,
with-

of the

late

Teflilence.
fall

without any Relu&ance,

into profound,,

and often deacily Sleeps.

BUT
exert
its

by what Means

this
is
;

Venom
is

does

narcotick Qualities,

not with

me
Or

fo ready to be accounted for

that

to fay*
?

whether

it

be from

its

original Seminlum

from

its

Affinity and Complication with the

its

Scurvy ? Or from

predominant Malignity

and Antipathy

Or from an ObftrucHon of
laftly,

Circulation, or Coagulation, or Extravafation

of Blood ? Or
Impreilion
ISIerves?

from fome particular

a

made upon the Origin of the

For
this
is

Difficulty referved

for another
it is

Hippocrates.

In the

mean while

by

all

confeiTed, that

by fuch Stupe fa-*

Hon or Sleeping, the

peftilential

Venom

becomes not only more deeply

alio

rooted, but

more

cruelly affects the nervous Syfteiri,

it.

and greatly weakens

THE
(as

firft

and moil confiderable Symp

1

torn of the fecond Clafs,

was a Fever, which

Atten-*
in-

was before

faid)

was a conftant
5

dant upon the

laft Peflilence

although

deed the Infection ieemed to

kill

fome before
rife

the Blood and other Juices could

into

Fermentation;
for

wherefore

it

may

be taken

granted, that moft Perfons were accom-

paied

5>8

Of
in

the manifeft Signs

panied with a Fever.

But this Fever indeed

and he muft

was

fome very low and concealed, though

it

in others

appeared openly

be but

little

acquainted in phyfical Practice,

who hath

not frequently obferved, that in

malignant Fevers their Beginnings are hardly difcernable, being

accompanied

with no

Heat, no Inequality of Pulfe, and no Thirfr,

although fecretly indicated by fome other
lurking

Symptoms

and the Manner in which

fuch Patients expire, demonstrates, that they

could not be
altogether free

of a

Fever*

There

are
it

many Circumftances indeed which

difficult

make

thus
its

in the

Acceffion to

dilcern

Approaches, as a

Want

of TurArte-

geicency of Blood in the Veins and

ries,

through Defect ol

Room

for

fuch

Commotion and Depuration,

Blood
that
it
is

or becauie the

fo

thin,

crude,

and degenerate,

cannot but with Difficulty ferment

,

and grow hot

or becauie the peftilential

firft

Miafmata feem at their

friendly to

Infinuation. fo
ftir

the

Conftitution, as to
in the

up
or

no remarkable Alteration

Blood;

from

its

cold and ftyptick Quality, retard-

ing or fuppreffing fuch an Agitation.

WHEREFORE
jecture,

no Body mould conis

that

there

no

Fever at

all

where

of the hie *P eft Hence. 99 manlfeft Symptoms do not imwhere its mediately appear; but it moft commonly
happened other wife during
tagion,
for

the late Con-

that difcovered Signs apparent

Prefence; fuch as extream Inintenfe

enough of
quietude,

its

a moft

Heat outwardly,
i

attended with unquenchable Thirft within. x

Drynefs, Blacknefs of the
rable

Tongue,
and
all

intole-

Heat of the

Frxcordia,

other

ufual Concomitants of a Fever's Acceilion.

AS
that

to the Fever's Exacerbations and Reit

millions,

appeared by conftant Experience^

fometimes

they

were

erratick

and

changeable, and at others continued, with-

out any Intervals

to

*,

and

it

was

alfo

cuftomary

meet with fome that

wholly remitted

for 8, 10, or 12 Hours.

The

Alternations

likewife of
ous,

Heat and Cold were very variand with fome would change feveral
in

Times

one Hour, and with others, the

Periods would be at

much

greater Diftances

fo alfo the recurring

Acceilions were fome"

at others

time? milder, and

more

fevere ;

Thole who with great

the
firft

Difficulty

went through
whereas again

Paroxyfm, could bear the iecond with

Eafe, as being

much

milder

:,

the third or fourth Acceilion would be with

intolerable

Vehemence and Fury

'

And

at

other

oo

Of

the manife/i Signs

firft

other Times the

Fit

would be

gentle,
*

and the fubfequent very fevere and intenfe

Difguife of this infidious

and truly fuch was the Uncertainty and

Enemy, that noits

thing could be prognosticated of

or Cruelty.

Attacks

UT

to

come

at

fome tolerable Notion

:,

of the Reafon for fuch Uncertainty

to be enquired,

it is

FIRST, What
And,

Caufe can be ailigned for

?

fuch and uncertain Return of the Paroxyfms

SECONDLY, What
Fits do recur
?

Reafon can be

gi-

ven for the unequal Exacerbations when the

CAN
Diforders

any one doubt what Tumults and

may

be excited in the Blood, and

other animal juices, by that ialine Sem'mium

of

a Peftilence,
?

fcribed

which we have already deThe uncertainty then of fuch DifMotion of the Fluids

order* muft regard either the morbific k Ve-

nom,

or the Nature and

it

upon which

operates:

The

morbifick Ve-

nom,

in

Proportion to

its

Energy, and Disagreement

of the
ready in her

late

<PeJtilence.
irritates

101

agreement in Figure,

Nature, always

Enemy
ration

:,

own Prefervation to expel the but when her Exertions are flow,
Depu-

or imperfect, or quite languid, fuch a

is

not obtained*, but upon a Remiilion

is

of the
terval
-,

Conflict, there

Space given for In-

and this indeed happens, when the

Nature and peculiar Figures of the noxious

Particles are fuch, as

may

in the

fir ft

Strug-

gle

be broke and fubdued, but after fome

infinuates its

Truce

Virulence further into

the Habit, and imprints upon every Part the

true Chara&erifticks of a fatal Peftilence.

BU

the Spirits are at continual Strife,

to fubdue and throw out the

Euemy, although
*,

their Eiforts are not always fuccefsful

to

difpatch

this
as

Matter
the

therefore

in

one

Word,
Mixture
procures

the

Ailimulation

and
and

perfect.

of
a

heterogeneous
regular

Particles

Motion

confor-

mable to the Blood, fo

lity

from

an Inequaarifes

and difproportionate

Mixture,

an irregular Circulation and Fermentation

fo that the

Reaibn for that Uncertainty in

and their irregula^Returns
is

thefe Fevers,

and Exacerbations,
the
Fluids

to

be

-^ght

for in

and their

circulating

VefTels,

and not from any Corruption, or Degree qf

.

J|^3

Putre-

^/

Of

the manlfefl Signs

to

putrefaction,

according
>

the Opinion of

the Ancients.

AND
that
I

as for

my own
find

Part,

can affirm,

never could in any one fingle Inftance

amongft the infected,

the

leaft Impreffi5

pus of Corruption in the Blood

and this

even thofe Empiricks, though unwillingly,

eonfefs,

who, to the

vail

Detriment of the

them Blood upon fuch a Notion none of them having been ever able to difco"
Sick, let

ver any Signs of Corruption in their Blood,

which,as confcious of it

felf,

blufhed for their

fatal Miftake,and in this Diitemper

commonly

appeared more florid than at other Times.

TH

the

Times of the Paroxyfms

I

ihould be uncertain,
bility of the
peflilential

take owing to the Ina-

ConfKtution to ftruggle with the

-

Venom

for as every Fever

all its

is

ac-

counted regular, where

Changes are uni-

form and

diflincr,

by Reafon of the managable

and ductile Difpofition of the morbifick Matter

;

fb,

on the contrary,] where the pefH-

MUfmata uncertainly exert themfelves, and excite new Commotions, either by the
iential

Obftinacy or Afperity of their

Parts not

yielding to Comminution,there a Fever returns

with inconitant

and unexpected Exacerbation^

:

of the
tions
:

late (Peft'dence*

105

But to haften to the fubfequent Symp-

toms-

ALTHOUGH
were
buried in

fome

(as before

faid)

Sleep,

yet others fuffered

by

a very different

Extream, and kept coninfomuch that

frequent

tinually

waking,

Repetitions of the moil: efficacious Opiates

could not
in

procure

the

leaft

Compofure;

which Cafe, it is my Opinion, that the Membranes of the Brain are pricked and vellicated by poilbnous Svkula , beiides which
alfo thofe
foft,

dewy Moiftures upon the

its

Brain, necefTary for

diffipated

Relaxation to fleep, are

and exhaled by the burning Heat of

^

the Fever
fet

fo that the Spirits are, as

it

were,

on Fire, and Inflammations

raifed, not to

be again extinguiihed, and frequently likewife Mortifications of the Brain.

BUT

the moft. remarkable

is

Symptoms of
\

this Clafs,

the Palpitation of the Hearts

the Ancients conject-ur'd that FefHlential Aura

to have a fpecifick Contrariety to the Nature

of that Organ

and

it

muflbe

confeiTed that

in the late Sicknefs this

Complaint was very

grievous

but yet

cannot fee

how

this

Ve-

nom

fhould

more

particularly be

pointed

againft the Heart, than

any other of the VI[-

cera9

!4

Q/"

tnanifeft

Signs

ctra, unlefs in

Gonfideration to the greater Im?-

portance of

its

OiEce

in

the

O Economy..

AS

foon as the fubtile Poiion of a Contait

gion hath infinuated

felf into the

Mafs of
no doubt,

Blood, either through the Pores of the Skin,

or other more open Paifages, there
is

but

it

imprints upon

it

very malignant Qua-

lities,

which, according to the neceffary Laws

arrive- at

of Circulation, muft
felf,

the Heart

it

and

affeft. it

with Uneafinefs,

fo that its
its
;

Palpitation
gles to
is

is

nothing elfe than

off

Strug-

throw

what

is

Offensive

and

it

no wonder to
is

me

this happens, becaufe

the Heart

compofed of
as in

a fine Contexture

of Fibres and what

lates

for

the
it
it

Peftilential

Venom
Nature,

hath fomewhat
is

of a fajine

acrid,

very naturally Simu-

the nervous Parts, and gives to this

Organ
this

even

convulsive

Motions

but

of

Matter every one hath leave to judge

for himfelf.

B U T how vehemently may beat on this Gccafion,

ry
l

the

Heart
ve-

appears

mamfeil:

from a remarkable Infhmce

was fent

for to a

Youth of about four-

teen Years of Age,

who had

continued free

of

of the

late <Peftilence.

107

of the

Mother and the reft of the Family had been vifited by it, when all on a fudden he was feized with fuch
Infecrion,

after his

a Palpitation at Heart,

that

and feveral

others

could hear

it

at

fome confiderable
till

Diftance,

and

it

continued fo to do
after
}

he

died,

which was foon

many Medicines
:

being given without any manner of Succeis

But

in fo extraordinary a Cafe as this,

it

am

apt to conjecture

rather owing to a Pefti-

iential Carbuncle feizing the

Heart

it

felf^

than from the Vellication and Stimulus only

of pungent Particles palling through

it.

BUT
fometimes
as if the

to go

on

in the

Enumeration of

Symptoms, Sweat deferves mention, becaufe

it

breaks out in fuch Profufion,

diffolved,

whole Conftitution was

a vaft Lofs

and with

of Spirits and Strength^

to the imminent Danger of the Patient,

by

fuch a Diffipation of Spirits, fuch a Colliquation of the Balfam of Life,

tinction
I

and an Ex-

of the natural Heat.

And

indeed

know nothing that more powerfully attenuates the Humours, and more fuddenly
all

puts
as to

the animal Juices into Fufion,

fo

run them through the Pores of the

^

Skin, as the peftilential nitro-aereal Poifon

and

io6

Of the manifefi

Signs

and by whole colliquative Quality even the fieihy Parts are dirTolved and exhaled in vapour.

THESE
loured
j

Sweats likewife of the Infefted

are not only profufe, but alfo varioully coin

fome of

a Citron

Hue,

in others

Purple^ in fome green or black, and in others

like

Blood; which

take to be from the

various Difpofitions of the morbifick

Venom, to give different Tinftures to the Humours And by this Means fome experienced Nur:

les

could

prognosticate

the Event of the

Diftemper from the Colour of the Cloaths

or Linen tinged with the Sweat.

THE

Sweat of fome would be fb fetid

and intolerable, from a kind of Empyreumatick Difpofition, poilibly

that no one could endure

of the Juices,
his

Nofe within
in

the Stench
a

fometimes
,

it

was fharp, and

Manner cauftick and hence it was eafy to judge from what Origin the PefHlence derived
its

Qualities,

viz*

From

iharp and

burning
Parts,

Ichor ,

that would even excoriate the

and fometimes veiicate

them,

as if

fcalding

Water had been poured upon them,

SOMETIMES cold Sweats would break

out,

while the Heat 3 raged inwardly,

and

excited

of the

late Teftilence.

07
it

excited unquenchable Drought.

Some con-

tinued in a Profufion of Sweat until Life

felf exhaled

while others had fhort Intervals of Truce and Ceffation; nay, fome
it,

with

fame Time fweat on one Side, while the other was quite parched with Dryneis.
at the

BUT the Benefit

it

of this Evacuation, when

or by Art,

was regular,

either natural,

was fo mamfefr,
rejoyced at

that

all

the Infected that

it,
-

recovered were, fenfible

its

of
n

and greatly
pe-

good

Effects

for thofe

fHlential Particles,

which eluded the Power

immediately upon a
Signal,

of

all

other Means,

Sweat, as at a

common

made
;

their

Efcape with

the tranfpiring Steam

but

whenfoever

Diafhoretich could not conquer or Obftinacy of

the Coagulation, Vifcidity, the pefKlential Poifon,

bad, being
it

always went very

a

commonly followed by

Sympto-

matica! Sweat, and a fatal Separation of the

animal Fluids.

YE T

the Energy of the pefKlential Conits felf in

tagion not only freely dilcovered

thefe Profufions amongft. the Living,

who (as

already obferved) were diffolved as in an Helodes

and a Tyfhodes, but commonly the very

Carcafes

when

dead, would weep out,

as it

were.

lo8

Of the

manifefl Signs

were, the morbid Ferment, both through the

cutaneous Pores, and the

common lachrymal

Duds of

the Eyes.

THERE

is

no Occafion to fay
>

much
Symits

concerning Hemorrhages at Nofe

this

ptom happening much more

Colliquative Nature

often from the

of the Poifon, and

Erofion of the VeiTels, than from a Plethora

as
is

evident

more from the ichorous Colour

its

of the Blood, than

continual Diftillation

from thofe

Veffels.

we fhidy all poffible Brevity, many other Symptoms might be enumerated which commonly attended
it

WERE

not here that

this peftilential Fever, as

cordia,

Heat of the Praall

Hiccup, Gripings, &c.

which

at

prefent pafs by, and clofe the whole with fuch

as are

more peculiar

to

it,

particularly thofe
called Blains*

poifonous Veiications

commonly

THESE
rife

Veiications uled

commonly

to

with an exquifite and mooting Pain, con-

taining a ferous

Humour

or Ichor, for the moft

part of a Yellowifh or Straw Colour, and en-

compaffed with a variegated Circle, generally

Reddiih.

THESE

of the

late Teftilence.

09

THESE
of the Body
fb their

Puftules broke out in

^

many
in

Parts

and as their Station was various,

alfo uncertain
^

Number was

fome

rhey were few,

in others

many, and
all

Wo-

man
them

I
j

once met with covered

as
:,

over with

to their Bignefs,
for

they were alfo

fome were as a fmall Pea,while others increafed to the Magnitude of a Nutuncertain

meg.

THE included Matter (near perhaps to the

Nature of Urine) was altogether incapable
of Suppuration,
cauftick
it
}

as it

was

f aline

and almoft

for very

foon after

its

Eruption

would corrode

its Veficle,

and burft out,

of a Colour yellowifh,

livid, or black.

Moreat

over, the furrounding Circle was not always

of the fame Appearance, although

firft

coming out

it

was continually inflamed.

BUT

this is highly obfervable, that fome-

times thefe Veficles broke out without any

other previous Indications of Infection, and,
as
I

imagine, from the expeditious Separation

peftilential

of the

Venom, and the fudden

Conqueft of the Diflemper by a ftrong Constitution

:

But whenfoever the Pain and Heat

fo aggravated, that

of the Part was

no proper
Appli-

1 1

Of

the manifefl Signs

it,

Applications

would ailwage

there was

commonly Danger of
gether;

a Mortification

from fo

great a Concourfe of peftilential Particles to-

and once

remember

a Veficle

to

change into a Carbuncle, from the continued

Acceilion to
it

of frefh morbifick Poifon.

in Courfe to fpeak

WE

come now

of Buboes,

which were hard and painful Tumours, with

Inflammation and Gathering upon the Glands,

behind the Ears, Arm-Pits, or Groin.

THESE
at all give

Tumors immediately upon

In

Sei-

zure are found fo hard, that they will not

Way to the Touch.

fome theie
:,

were moveable, and

in others fixed

but after

fome Time,
it

this great Tenfion remitted;

and

was common to prognofHcate the Event of

and from their genuine or untoward

the Diftemper from their fudden or flow Increafe,

Suppuration, as alfo from the Degrees of Virulence in their Contents.

THE
drown

Groans and unfeigned Tears of the

Sick too plainly exprefTed the Aggravations

of their Miferies, and fbme feemed even to

their Senfe of Pain with their
;

Com-

plainings

and this Intenfenefs of Pain canto any,

not be a

Wonder

who

duly confider
either

of the
either the

late (peftilence.
peftilential

1 1

Nature of the

Venom,
I

or the Conftitution of the Glands.

have

already

fo largely difcourfed

of the Viru-

lence and corrofive Qualities of the peftilential Poifbn,

that no

more need here be

examines

faid

about

it

and

whofbever

the
Di-

Glands

will find,

that from the great

fiention of the VefTels in this Cafe, the Buboes mufl: chiefly

owe

their Rife to a Corre-

fpondence between the Nerves and

ticks,

Lympha*

and the Juices they contain.

Note have elegantly given the Anatomy and Ufe of the

Glands
}

MANY

Perfons of publick

it is

therefore fufficient for

my Pur-

pofehere to fhew, how from an ObftrutHon

of thofe

Juices,

which flow

through the

larger Nerves, particularly of the

Arms and

Thighs, and their fubfervient

poifonous Particles, Buboes do

and their Impregnation with heterogeneous and

VefTels,
arife.

any one makes

it

Doubt^ why thefe

in the aboveparo^.

Tumors
tide

fhould rather

come

mentioned Places, rather than on the

Glands,
let

fuch

confider,
arid

that

it

is

owing to the Magnitude

the

Capacity of

Nerves

and

VefTels
}

conftituting
alfo

the

Glands of thofe Parts

as

that their
diffe-

in
different

Of

the manifefl Signs

Difpofitions to

Suppuration

does

proceed from the lame Caufe.

BUT
pear,

that this Affair

may more

fully ap-

it is

to be difcovered

from what Source

that

Matter flows, which degenerates into

a

Pm, and difcharges from

Plenty.

Buboe in

fo great

IN
that

the Profecution of this Enquiry,

leail:,

it ihall

not be without a Colour, at

I

of Reaforij

fnall

diifent

from an Opinion both of

Ancients and Moderns, about the Blood alone

being immediately changed into Matter
I
;

for

rather think
I

it

to proceed from other Juices;

and this
folio wing

ihall

endeavour tofupport by the

Arguments.

AND
whitiih.
-

firft

of

all,

notwithstanding the

Blood which runs in the Arteries and Veins

does feme times, though very leidom, appear
it

then happens from too great a

Juice,

Mixture either of nutritious

red Colour

or of a

degenerate Chyle, that will not eafily change,

and take

its

but

it

never paffes

into Matter, becaufe the necefiary Conditions

of Circulation
Reft as
is

will

not admit of ib
*,

much
even

requifite thereunto

befides,

the extravafated Blood will not eafily undergoe

of
goe
flich

the late

Teflilenci.
:

I v

an Alteration

For when

an/

Veifels,

and chiefly the Capillaries, are

(o ob-

truded by
fician

Contufions, or any other MeaiiSJ

that the neighbouring Parts fwell, every Phy-

and Surgeon too,

hope, knows that

difcutient Medicines and Cataplaffns will reilore the

former Motion and Fluxility to the

Blood, eafe the Pain, and diiiipate the, Tumor.

the Blood be too fluid in the Arteries,

apt
to occafion Aneurifms, and in the
3

it

is

capillary Veins an Ecchymofis

but nothing

is

more commonly obferved

upon
a

in Practice,

that

Recovery of the Blood's due .ConfHthrough the

tution and Circulation, the obftrufted Matter

in an Ecchymofis will
diiiipate

Pores of the Skin,

refluent Blood:

or be abfbrbed by the

But when the Blood happens

ftagnate,

to be

too

grumous and

a Fever
by-

immediately
Evacuation
*,

arifes, unlefs it

be prevented

and in fuch a Diforder, every

is

one knows that there

mofr.

Danger of a

SchirruSy or a Mortification.

AND
Infected

as

it

hath been already obferved,

not be drawn from the

that Blood

could

by Phlebotomy,

without Lofs of

Strength, if not of Life, whereas the greater Quantities of Pus

were obtained by SupJ

puration

114
much

Of

the manifeft Signs

Buboes, the Patient
it
-

pu ration of their
to Reafon,

was fo

the better for

it

feems conibnant

that if Pus was generated

immewould

diately from the Blood, the Strength

as

much
:

decay upon

its

Lofs, as

upon Phleit,

botomy

But

have always found

(as

many Times already obferved) that how

foever the Quantity of Blood drawn

little

away

was, and although done at feveral Times, yet

it

proved of more Prejudice to the Patient,

an hundred Times as
a

than

much Matter

drawn from

Buboe

and that the whole

remaini g Mafs was not able to recruit the

Lofs fuitained thereby,

they

who efpoufe

a contrary Opinion,

fhould fuggefl that Blood

a

may be drawn from

and from
Origin was from
;

Tumor imperfe&ly

fuppurated,
its

thence conclude, that

the Arterial and Venal Fluids

readily anfwered,

it

may

be

that on

opening a freih
flow out, bc-

Tumour,

a bloody Ichor will

caufe in the Operation

will be cut
-

feme Blood-VefTels

whereas when the

Maturation, the Quantity oi

co Hefted
to
it

Tumor is in Humour there

from flowing
:,

obfh'u&s the Blood

its

through

proper VefTels

and which
firft

Rumour, although
thin and
crude,

in it lelf at

more
its

yet

by the Heat of

neigh-

of the
neighbouring
Diipofition,

late fP-eftilettce.

1 !

Parts,
it will

and

its

own

natural.

afterwards thicken, and

change into a white Colour of a laudable

Confidence.

THIRDLY, To the
line Quality,

foregoing

it

may

be ad-

ded, that fo far as the Blood partakes of a fa-

by

fo

much

the

lefs will it
;

be

difpofed to change into Matter

for the

fame
of

Reafon that Sea- Water cannot be boiled into

aGelly:, for Salt adds to the Fluxility
Fluids,

and thereby prevents IncraiTation,

unlefs in thofe Inftances,

selves chryrlallize,

where they

of

them-

by Means of an Incapacity

of the Menftruum to keep .them in Solution which is foreign to the Cafe before us.

LASTLY, Nothing
ture, than that Blood,

is

more known

in

Na-

by what Means fbever

extravafited, if it cannot get back again into

the VefTels,

will,

after

fbme Stagnation, run

;

for the moft Part into

Grume
:

fo that

when

a Fluctuation requires opening, little elfe than

a coagulated Blood flows out

And if

any one

pleafes to receive the Blood

from an opened
Sand Heat,
is

Vein into a
place
it

warm

Porringer, and afterwards

in a luted VelTei

upon

as

near as poffible equal to that

which

natural,

he

will

find all

Labour
I

loft in

endeavouring;
1to

'i

i<S

Of

the manifeft Signs

to produce thereby any Appearances of Pus

in
it,

either from

its

Colour, Smell, or any

other of

its requifite

Properties.

WHY
nerated

then
or

may we

not conclude with

is

fome others

great Note, that Pus

ge-

immediately

from the nutritious

and Veins, bat in
all

Juice, not in the Arteries

other VefTels
fite

in

which Juice

trie

requi-

Properties are to be found, as a Difpofition

to

grow thick, without Smell, white,

j

light,
it

and of a fmooth Confidence

to be

and

take
is

very probable,

that the Pus

made

from hence by the Affiftance of the natural Heat, and the Conveyance of it by the forementioned Veifels into the Glands whereinto
they are complicated, and not by any Means

from the Venal Blood,

the Arterial.

and much

lefs

from

BUT
far
;

leaft

fhould feem to digrefs too

Buboe
is

the Sanies thrown out by a

very different, fbmetimes thin and ichorous,

at others thicker

and more laudable,

\

as

in

AbicelTes that are not malignant

in Refpect

of

its

Smell,
as

it

is

fbmetimes fo extreamly
;

fetid,

not to be endured by the Kofe

it

but always the more plentifully

difcharges,
:

the better does the Patient fare afterwards

Nature

of
Nature

the late Te/tilence.

1 1

finds a

Vent this open

Way

to dif-

engage herfelf from a pernicious Enemy.

THE

Number of

Buboes

was uncertain*

fometimes one only appeared, at others, which

was moft commonly, two broke out at once ; nay, there were met with Inftances wherein all the Glands capable of it were tumified.

Many
ftrnted

Buboes

at

a T^rne

infallibly

demon-

the

Aggravation,
-

and Difperiion of

the virulent Taint

and, on the contrary, but

few ihewed the Poiionto be not fo prevalent,

more

contracted, and brought to a narrower

for Expulfion.

Compals

THE Places,
on,

and Manner of their Erupti\

was very uncertain

fometimes one would

and another on the contrary Side of the Groin ^ thefe Tuappear in the right Axilla,

mors would
always

like wife

fometimes

laft

but a
is,

Day, and again

infeniibly vanifh,

that
j

when

profufe

Sweat

arofe

but

whenfoever

they were drawn

in again

by

any Mismanagement or Caiiialty, they would

appear and vanifh. again

many Times, and

be very difficult afterwards to be fixed

and

fometimes when they could be brought to

Suppuration, and a plentiful Difcharge, they
I

would

1 1

Of

the manlfejl Signs

would renew

again, as

we

iliall

hereafter have

further Gccafion to obferve.

THE
Ears
-

Parotides

borrow their Karnes from

are not to be di^

the Glands arfecled, which grow behind the but thefe

Tumors

fringuiffied

from others but by their Situation,

and therefore require not any particular Deicription here, fo that amongft
ces,
I

many

Ir.ftan-

mail give
5

but:

one to difcover their

Nature
Tarotis

In a certain

Youth there
Incifion,
let

aroie a

on each Side behind the Ears, which

after Suppuration

and

out great

Quantities of Tws, and were afterwards by a

Surgeon healed up

:,

but the mufculous Fleih

was

at this

Time

fo wafted, as to difcover a
viz.

Sight as pleafant as ftrange,

nal jugular Veins,

the exter-

with the Arteries under

them, the recurrent Nerves, the Tendons, the

OEfophagus, and
Recovery,all
in ihort, all the Velfeis quite

bare and untouched

filled

but upon the Patient's

as before

up

with new Fleih,

A Conjecture
in

of Bkmcbrocccl comes here

-

cur

Way

to examine

he

will

have

it

that Buboes are produced from an Ebullition

of a

faline

and an acid

Kumour
vy hence

meeting to-

gether, like a Mixture of Salt of Tartar and

Spirit

of Vitriol

But

can fuch a
vaft

of the
vaft Coagulation

late Teftilence.

l
I

arife?

Indeed

do not

deny but that a Tumult and Buftle may be

occafioned by the Concourie of fuch Principles, as alfo that

from fuch a Collu&ation

fome
and
it

faline

Particles

may

be precipitated

muft farther be allowed, that a Part

will inflate

and fwell while fuch Fermentation

I

continues-, but yet

cannot apprehend

how
for

Tus can be generated by fuch

Means

by

aii

Effufion of fuch a

Mixture the Serum

a Lixivium, than
ConflicT:

would he more changed into

a purulent

Matter

after

the

like-

wife

is

over, the

Tumor would immediately

5

fubiide

and vaniih

but, on the contrary,

Buboes daily and gradually come to their

Height of Suppuration

But

lhall

not

detain the Reader on this

Head any

longer,

but proceed to a Defcription of a Carbuncle.

Carbuncle then is a fmall Eruption, 1

J.

whofe
it

Contents are foon difcharged, after which

appears in a crufty Tubercle about the Bignefs

of

a Millet Seed, gradually

fpreading,

and
^

encompatTed with a very red and

arifing
firft

fiery Circle

of

all

from an ichorous Humour,

afterwards with great Pain and Heat, from

a lixivious

and cauftick Poifon.

TH A

Of
I

the manifejt Signs

THAT
in a few

may

difpatch as
it

much as

poftible

now lies before me to defcribe the common Method of its Eruption ;

Words,
in the Beginning
is

a fharp pricking Fain

upon

the Part affe&ed,

which

in
lifts

little

Time

grows very hot, and then

into a

up the Cuticle
but

B lifter,

containing a thin Ichor

is

after the Veiicle

by rubbing or any other

Accident broke, and the contained Fluid by

Keat

difilpated, its cauftick Quality leaves

crufts over, in
,

an Efchar behind, which

various, fometimes

fome
is

fooner, and in others later

its

Extenfion

more broad, and

is its

at others

more contracted ; nor

tain
it is is

Colour more cer-

in the greareft

Degree of Inflammation
it

extreamly red, but for the moft Part

livid,

dusky, very often

and fometimes,
peftilen-

from the peculiar Virulence of the

tiftl

Poifon, even qu'te black.

BUT
tial

as there

is a

Quality in the peftilen*

Venom

not yielding even to an atual

Cautery, and from which, in the Production

of Carbuncles, Efchar s are generated,
I

take

it

to be of Coniequence to

know how fuch

iharp, burning, and cauftick

Humour comes to
:,

be bred in an humane Body

Contrivance of Nature
pa'rated
it
?

and by what
fe-

comes to be thus

and thrown cut

AND

of the

late ^Peftilence.

AND
thinks

in

an Affair of this

Difficulty, I

expect, to be candidly fet right

by any one

who

me

miftaken.

The whole Tribe of

Conftitution
is

Difeafes an
to, dees

humane

lubjeft

undeniably prove that our Bodies

are

capable of producing

many venomous
Thing
in the

Taints, even equal to any

Air

or the Earthy nay, the Hiftories of Phyfick

give

many

Inftances of poifojious Infers

}

and

Animals bred within us

rupted

and no one can be

ignorant, that beftdes the Difpofition of cor-

Humours within
:

us to generate fuch.

Creatures, that their Semina are often brought

to us from without

And this

is

very mani-

feftin a private Peftilence, (if that

Term may
Help
a poifo-

be allowed me) where, without any

from external Contagion, not only

nous Seminium
buncles alfo

may be generated, but Carmay break out ; that is, from the

peculiar caufKck Quality of faiine Particles

in the Body.

WHEREFORE
in a private Peftilence,

if this

can be done

what we may not exConfequence

for the additional
faiine Princi-

pect

from

a Peftilence that is the

;

of an Epidemick Caufe
Aiiiftance of a

more powerful

ple from without, cannot but greatly actuate the animal Juices,

and induce

compound
Malignity

I2

Of the

manifejl Signs
fuificient for

Malignity abundantly

the Pro-

duction of peftiiential Carbuncles.

THE

more aggravated therefore the

faliue
:fliall

Qualities of this foreign faline Principles

be, and in Proportion to the Quantities of it

inimuated into the animal Fluids, the Carbuncles will

break out more or fewer, fooner

peftiiential

or later

although as long as the

Poifbn flows in

Company with other Fluids

it

within the VeiTels,

feems more mild, be-

caufe then diluted, than

when

feparated and

thrown upon the Skin by the natural Excretory Power:.

And

this Expulfion of it feems

much

to be affifted by the

common Tenden-

cy of ferous Particles towards the Surface,

and the Congrefs of nitro-aereal Particles therewith

;

but nothing however

is

more manifeft
hath

than that when the

?ot to the Surface,

peftiiential Poifon
it

exercifes its Virulence

upon

all

the Parts

it

touches, and leaves cruel

Marks of its Triumph behind ^ the fame as which likewife obtains not only from an epi'

demick

Peftilence, but

upon drinking any

poifonous Draughts.

BUT
Miftake

it
;

concerns us here to remove one

For

it is

laid

in Oppofttion to the

down by Dicmebrooech^ common Opinion^ that

a

of the htetPeftilence.'
a Carbuncle is nothing elfe but an

1 5

a&ual Gan-

grene

for if

any Credit may be given to

our Experience, which

as well

we look upon

to be
I

founded

as that

of this great Man,

do not remember any

Carbuncles (unlefs

where

there hath fome manifefb Error been

com-

mitted in external Applications, or the Virulence of the Peftilence hath been greater than

ordinary) to have tended more to a Sphacelus,

than any other Confequences of the peftilentiai Poiibn.

AND

were there not innumerable Teftithis,

monies to the Truth of

many Argu-

ments might be alledged

for while there
rits,
is

in its Vindication

a free Influx of vital Spi-

and other natural Fluids, into the Part

^

affected

while the native Heat

is

preserved
is

from Suffocation, and Putrefaction

ted,

prevento be

what Perfon can imagine there

?

any particular Difpoiition to Mortification in

a Angle Carhuncle

And

the more efpecially

when the
flow

Spirits are fo far

from being

inter-

cepted by the Carbuncle* s Eruption, that they

more plentifully to the Part when the native Heat is fo far from being fuffocated,
-,

that by
is
is

its
-

Ailiftance a iaiutary Separation

laftly,

made
fo far

and

when the

Part arretted

from Putrefaction, and rendered more

humid

124
humid than
of an

Of the
efcharotick
....don,

manifeft Signs

before, that thefe mire Particles^

Quality, rather prevent

M
it

and by drying the Part make

able to
refift iiieh -a

rather

more

Change:

And

according to the be ft of

my Remem-

brance, I never did meet with a Carbuncle that

mortified, im'efs

from the Mismanagement or

Carelefnefs

of Surgeons, or when the higheft

Degree of Virulence

m the

peftile:.tial

Poifon

had not
tion.

occafioned an immediate Mortifica-

NO

Part of an

humane Body was

if
I

free

from the Eruption of the Carbuncles, And I mall

not exceed the Truth,
affirm that
I

have
all

met with them

Places.
fully

at

one time or other in

But

this

Matter will yet appear more

I

beyond Contradiction, when

felecl:

mail have

brought a few

Inftances out

of a great

Multitude, to put

it

quite out of Difpute.

Girl of about 12 Years of Age, felt a

grievous Pain about her Breaft, where quickly

after the

Appearance of a Pimple, there broke

,

out a Carbuncle

the Efchar at

laft

came

off,

and the Ulcer discharging fome Matter plentifully

-j

after

about twenty Days ihe was

reckoned to be very well, had not a Surgeon

too rafhly dreiled her with the red
drying

Ointment^

of the
Ointment^ in

late <Pefliknce.
it
*,

order to cicatrize

5 for upon

that the Peftilence appeared agairL and killed

her in about three Days, undoubtedly from a

Return of the
all

Venom

inwards before

it

was

difcharged.

ANOTHER
lief,

Cafe, almoft

beyond Be-

were

it

not attefted by

rieiles,

was of a

many Eye-WitWoman, who immediately

a Carbuncle appear

after Delivery

had

upon

when the Infant fucked all the Time without Harm, and the Woman, through
her Breafts, the Favour of the Seafon, and
all

exacl:

Care in
another

Relpe&s, recovered.

was

alfo

time called to a

Man

of advanced Years, whole

whole Thigh and Hip was over-run with a Carbuncle, but the Vesication was made by
fuch an ichorous Serum, that
pecled a Mortification
called fo late, but
Scarification,
j

ftrongly fu.

complained of being
a

however ordered

deep

and other Means fuitable,w here-

upon there grew fome Hopes of Separation,

but for

Want

of inward Strength and

:,

Spirits,

the Patient died

whereas another of a mere

vigorous Habit, was recovered in the fame

Cafe, for no other Reafon, but that there was

Strength enough to carry

him through
Bziboe

it.

Moreover,
cle

once met with a

and Carbun-

together in the Groin 01 a Boy, not above

two

\i6

Of

the

mmifefi Sigm
,

two Fingers Breadth of each other

but by

due Means, both medicinal and chirurgical,

the Lad got well from both his Ails together.

A
his

certain

Merchant had a

Carbuncle

upon

Arm,
moil:

a little

below the Elbow, but what

was

unhappy was, that at the Beginning

of the Pain, that he ap^
it

he was

fo Impatient

plyed a Cooling Cataplafm to

of his
it

own

ordering, for fuddenly thereupon

into a Gangrene,
fication

changed

to obviate which, Scarrito, in

was immediately had recourfe

the Execution of which, the Surgeon inadvertently cut a large Vein,

a

which caufed

fuc'h

Flux of Blood,

as

could not be flopped by

either aftual Cautery, or any other

Means

whereupon followed fuch

Spirits, that

a Sinking

of his

the unfortunate .Gentleman died

in three

Hours time.
appeared on the

LASTLY, A
we took
at
firft

Carbuncle

Finger of a young Woman, to eradicate which,

all

imaginable Care

and

all
5

Things
but the
;

feemed to arrfwer our

Wi flies

Uncertainty of humane Expectations

for

the Patient with her old Nurfe Supping plentifully

upon
as

French

Beans, that very Night

;

the Diftemper returned

and although fhe

vomited

much

as her Strength

would bear,

by

of the
after

late Teftilence.

127

by the Provocation of an Erne tick given her,

which were ufed the moft Cordial Re-

medies, and the moil

early in the
in the Place
all

warm Alexiphaimicks,
frefli Carbuncle
j

Morning, a

came

of the old one

me was delirious

that Day, and in the Evening fhe expired-

After the Bearers came that Night to bury

her, and talked of fetching

away the old

Wo-

man next,
as

as a Perfon dead, the

poor Wretch,

awakened from Sleep, cried out, ihe was

}

not dead

but ihe difappointed not their

A-

greement, and died time enough to be carried

away the fame Night to the burying

I

Place.

might
-

eafiiy

imploy a Volume

in a Reci-

tal

of all the particular Circumftances of thefe

7

Carbuncles

but however, before

diimifs this

Subject,

cannot omit that the pefKlential

in a

Venom was
nicable

very great Manner

commu.*,

from one

Carbuncle to another

or to

fpeak perhaps more properly, the

fa line

Vi-

rulence of a Carbuncle would generate another

wherefoever.

it

lodged.

THE

Number of

Carbuncles

was .undeter-

minate, fometimes two, three, four, or more,

would come out

at once, the peftilential

Ve-

nom being diifufed to many Parts at the fame Time but the reft we fhall leave to that

Section

Of the

manifeft Signs
;

SeHon concerning the Cure of Carbuncles

iliall

we

here therefore fubjoin fomewhat concern-

ing peftilential Spots, called Petechia.

THE
Flea-Bite

Petechia

then are

little

Spots upon

the Skin, not eafily diftinguifhable from a

j

though

this Difference

may be
be feen
little

obferved, in a
a

Flea-Bite there

may

Pun&ure

in the middle,
its

where the

Creature had ftruck in

it

Teeth, and round

little

an Inflammation, with a
:

extravafa-

ted Blood

But thefe Soots are more uniform

in their Colour,

more

fixed,

and

difficult

to

be removed

whereas upon any Prelfure with

the Finger, a Flea-Bite gives

the central Pun&ure.

Way, except

in

Furthermore the pefK-

lential Petechia are to be difKnguifhed

from the

Spots of a malignant Fever, as they are deeper coloured^

and likewife to be known

(as

before obferved,) from Scurvy Spots,

are

which

much
-

broader, and not always exa&ly

round

although thefe are likewife fometimes

intermixed with the peftilential ones, and by

Means of the aforementioned Affinities between them, hardly in fome Cafes to be

diitinguimed.

TO

this

it

may

be added, that the pefix

ftilential

Petechia

do not always

in the

fame

of
iame
after
Parts,

the late

^ejliknce.

129

and fbmetimes they difappear*

Stay
in
:

fhort

one Piace, and im-

mediately
is

rife in

others

And

indeed there

no Part altogether exempted from them, although they chiefly come out in the
Breaft,

Neck,
the
Parts.

and Back

whereas thofe of
in the extrearri

Scurvy

come

moftiy

Cafe

The Reafon of this may probably be from

Veffels,

in the former

the Proximity

of the larger

and the Largenefs of

the Pores about the

Trunk of the Body

and in the Scurvy, the Legs

are more,

particularly

fpotted,

from the Tendency and

falirie

Precipitation

of the

Particles down-*

wards*

THE
mofl they were
that was

Spots were fbmetimes

:,

few^
in

but

commonly very numerous

fb
I

fome

thick, as to cover in a

manGirl

ner the whole Skin.

all

faw

a little

over

full

with them, but upon

all

a large Sweat arifmg, they

difappeared,

and fhe recovered} yet fometimes the Diftemper was fo delufory, that thefe
Spots

would
again,

arife,

and

difappear,

and come out

that
is,

for

feveral
its

Times
utmoft

when
expel

Nature gave
Surface;

Efforts

to

the Poifon, they

might be feen upon the

Spirits

but

when the

languifhed
or

|o

Of

the manifeft Signs

or upon any external Cold, they would go

in again.

might here conveniently obferve, that

Eruption was almoft always fympto^
*,

this

matical, and very rarely critical

the Cofame,
at

lour

of them was

not

always the

fometimes

they were red, or

purple,

others yellow, and fometimes livid or black,

according to the Nature and Energy of the

morbifick

Venom, and
^

its

Complication with

other Contingencies
rally pafs to

and hence we natu-

the effential Chara&erifticks of

a Peitllence.'

THE
by
the

genuine

peftilential

Characters,

common

People amonglt us called

Fore-warnings of

Tokens, as the Pledges or

Death,

are nothing

elle

than minute and

their Origin
little

diftint Bla(ls7

which have

from

within, and rife up with a

pyrami-

dal

Protuberance,

having

the

peftilential

Poifbn chiefly collected at their Bafes, and,

according to

the accuitomed

Difperfion Of

fuch Agents,

gradually tainting the neigh-

bouring Parts, and reaching to the Surface,

as the Cofiguration

of Veffels and Pores are

difpofed to favour their Spreading.

MORE-

of the

late <Peft Hence.

1 1

MOREOVER
rivable
Injuries

thefe

BUfis
as

were

de-

from external Caufes,

of Air, where the

from the
Miaf-

pestilential

mata were
that

pent up and condenfed, and by

their Virulence increafed to that
it

Means

Degree, that Life

extinguished,

felf

was Immediately
within
fo

upon

coming
were

their

Reach.

Nay,

fome

fuddenly
that

marked with thefe

they
other Refpecl

fatal

Characters,

did- not before find themfelves in

any
is

out of Order;

which

a
is

Circumftance fb well known, that there

little

need to confirm

it -by

particular

In-

fiances,
faction,

however, for the

I

Reader's

Satis-

ihall

recollect

one or two FaSs

of

this Kind.

was

called to

a Girl the

firft

Day of

her

Seizure,

who

breathed

without any

Difficulty,

her

Warmth
Inwards

was moderate and

free

natural,

her

from glowing
unequal or

and Pain, and her

Pulfe not

irregular; but, on the contrary, all Things

genuine and well, as

thing
;

if

me had
being

ailed no-

and indeed
fhe

was rather inclined to

fick,

think

counterfeited

than

really to be out

of Order, until examining

her Breaft,

found the certain Characters

of

Of

the tnanifeft Signs

in

of Death imprinted
in that

many
ihe

Places

*,

and

following

Night

died, before

Ihe her felf, or any Perfon about her, could

difcern her otherwife out of Order.

Some time
Sixty Years
at Dinner,

after

vifited

a
I

Widow of
met with
of

of Age,

whom
had
befides

where
after

ihe

eat heartily

Mutton,
veral
ihe

and
*,

filled
I

her

Stomach
fe-

with Broth

had enquired into

to her

Particulars relating

Health,

affirmed her felf to have

never

been

better in
Pulfe,
I

her

Life,
it

but upon feeling her

to intermit, and
I

perceived

upon
a

examining her Breaft,

found an Abundance
too
true

of

"TohriSj

which
that

proved

Prognoftick,

even after ib

good a
in

Dinner ihe would

another World.

by the Evening be

AS

to

the
I

Eruption

of thefe

fatal

Characters,
Effects 'of

judged them to be rather the

peftilential

the

corrofive

Salt,
^

than of any Putrefaction of the Humours

for this Poifon wanting room for Exhala-

tion

through the Pores of the

in Quantities

Skin, col*

lected

upon the Surface, and

to
itrive

for

want of

Spirits

therewith

imprinted thefe Marks thereupon.

FUR-

of

the late Tejtilence.

133

FURTHERMORE
Parts not only

thefe external

grew dry from the Acri-

mony of
liable to

this

Venom, but were

alfo

very

Mortification
*,

by an Extinction of
adding

the vital Spirits

caufe
it

but enough of this, bebut

to

would be
Sun,

Light to
con*>

the Noon-day
firm
it

endeavour to

by more Testimonies.
Tokens did differ

THESE
their Colour

iri

Regard to
Their

and Hardnefs
fpeak

of their Co:

lour

we
I

iliall

hereafter

Hardnefs
or

ufed to
to
fee

try

with

Needle
Senle

Penknife,

whether
;

the
in

and Life
Trials
as
I

was perifhed or not

which
very even
per

found a great deal of Difference,

fome

would be

penetrated
others
difficult
I

with

little

Trouble,

when

were
to

callous

and horny, and

be

netrated.
to

The

Origin of thefe

conjecture

be from

the nervous
Subfrance

Juice,

or

fome
a

gelatinous

evaporated

into

gummy

Confidence, not unlike thofe horny

Excrefcencies
lour and

from the Bones

their

Co*
With

Affinity in
is

many

P.efpecl's

W harts

alio remarkable.

.AJ*D

1 J

Of
I

the

mamfefi Signs

AND here
full

cannot pafs by an Inftance worth

Obfervatation,of a Girl

who came to my Houfe

already

of Sadnefs and Confternation,

;

even to fink down

told

me

that ihe

upon Examination ihe had broke out from an

was
ihut

Houfe
Nurfe,

where
all

ihe
reft

up

with

the

of the

Family being
Forerunner

dead, to

ihew

me

the certain
faying
;

of Death upon her,

Tokens

ihe
I

had the
to
nei-

upon her Leg

but

foon found
fatal

a Miftake that
her, for
it

might have been

Nurfe had

was only a Whart, which

nor the
ever

ther

ihe

taken

Notice of before^ ihe was fbon undeceived,

and by
her Fear
thofe

my
5

Encouragement
returning

ihook

off

all

Home

chearful to take
directed

Medicines
off

which were
Difbrders

to

carry

the

upon
But

her,
all

and
Suf-

fweating
.

her plentifully, removed

:

picion of the Contagion

lieve,

really be-

that
eafie,

made

had not her Mind been foon by what was faid to her, ihe

would have died merely by the Force of her Imagination ; as fuch a Dread extreamly aggravates the leaft Complaints.

BUT

fome of thefe

Tokens

were not they

only fo like in Appearance to Wharts, that

of the
times

late <Peftiknce.

they deceived this young Girl, for forneeven

I

the

Surgeons

miftook them

and

was beholden to the Management

before-mentioned of pricking through them,

to be fitisfied lometimes
as to

my

felf,

as

well
in
I

know the Degrees of Malignity

the true Tokens
I
}

the

Venom of

where
it

found

quickly a Senfibility,

took

for

a good Sign, and thole which went no further than the Skin, would oftentimes flough
off j

whereas when they went deeper, they

efpecially

were deemed dangerous,

the
Part loft
:

when
fome
the
info-

its

Feeling,

and

threatned

Sphacelat on.

There

were likewife
comatous,
that
}

found

fo

extreamly

whole Body was deprived of Senle

much
fion,

that

ii

any Limb, or Part clear of

the Tokens, was tried by Punclure, or Incithere

would be no more

felt
-

than

upon the deadly Marks themfelves notwithstanding which Infenfibiiity of Body, fome Faculties of the Mind would return
and be perceived even
till

Death.

THE
ternal

Fife era

alfb,

as

well

as the ex-

Parts,

would fometimes be marked

Characters,

with

thefe

nay,

fometimes

it

appeared, that

the Inwards

were

affered,

when

Of

the tnanifefi Signs, 8cc.

feen
ex-*

when nothing of the Tohns were

ternally.

THE
and
Silver

Magnitude of the Tohns were

Head,
a
larger,

various, fometimes as fmall as a Pin's

at others

and

as

broad as

Feny

there

were indeed
this

Inftances

of many running into one, but

ieldom
in the late Sickneft.

was but

LASTLY,
till

Some were

depreffed,

and

others prominent, and fome did not appear

the infe&ed Perfon was deadfuffice to

its
kill,
^

fo that

It

did not

but alio to leave

Marks of

Triumph

but lome of the

crafty Nurfes

would put the dead Body

of the
in

immediately into wet Clcaths, whereby they

flopped
Juices,

the further Fermentation

and retrained

fuch

Eruption,

Order to elude the Magiilrates Notice and

power, to fhut up the Houfes.

BUT
Marks
Death, yet

how much
the
fure

foever

thefe

deep

were

Fore- warnings

of

fometimes they would be out

before, and remain
all

from the fourth Dqy

the Sick and otherSo

that while as terrible Admonitions both

to

SECTION

\\7 ]

SECTION
The Prognojlick Signs of the

VI.

late Pejl Hence*

AS
was
its

that Peftilence which of late

fo

great
full

made Havock amongft Mankind,

fo

of Shifting^ and Chancres

m
it

Attacks

and Progrefs,

that
its

very

little

Certainty

could be had of

Event:,

highly concerns the Credit and Honour of

the Faculty,
not too haftily in

fuch Cafes

to prognose ate either Recovery or Death

In Order therefore to remove, as
poillble,
it
is

much

as

iiich

Difficulties

for
I

the future,

with Cheerfulnefs that

can

leave
I

with Pofterity thofe Obfervations which have been able to make

zard of
ill

my

daily Atten-

dance upon the Infe&ed, to the utmoft Ha-

my

Life,

through the Courfe of this

late Sicknefs.

THE

prognofHck Signs then regard either

it felf, as

the Peftilence

to

its

Origin, Heighth^

and Declenfion, or the Recovery or Death of

the Patient,

iSOM

; }

1^8

The prognojlkh, Signs

certain

FROM
tion

and undoubted Signs,

for forne time foregoing the manifeji Erup-

of the Plague, may

its

Degrees of Se-

verity be prognosticated.

AS

fharp

and immoderate Pains appa-

rently denote a pefrilential Conftitution, and

likewife

Tumors breaking out

arfe&ed
:

again upon
is

Parts before

For

it

Cafe
thofe

that

have often met with,

break

that

who

have had Buboes and

cured,
to

Carbuncles in

the

Sicknefs well

out

again

afterwards, from fome Remains of the pestilential

tion,

Venom

yet lurking in the Constitu-

and not to be conquered.

WHENSOEVER
are

chronick Difeafes
it

changed into acute ones,

is

may be
of any
are

concluded that the Infection

not far off

Fdr Valetudinarians are more

approaching Diibrder
ftrong and healthful
:

fenfible

than thofe

who

Caufe

may
in

it

be

And from a accounted why

and
be

natural
infirm

ConfHtutions

can certainly
the
Air,

foretel feveral

Changes

forewarn'd
*,

of other external Inconveniencies

and the

more virulent any infectious Miafmata are, the iboner do they affecl: fuch Habits
and

of the
and
it

late

T eft Hence.
Weak

p
fo

feems peculiar to the Plague to be

its

preceded by

pernicious Effluvia,

like

many
kis

Officers feizing

the
it

and Helpover

firft;

and fuch

tyrannizes

by

converting

the morbid

Humours

into its

own Nature,

in fubtilizing
dull,

thofe which are

grofs, acuating the

heating the cold,

ftiort,

changing the natural Ferments, and in

by

inducing

oppofite

Qualities

into

the

whole Constitution.

MOREOVER,
may
confider

in

this

Regard

we
a-

the frequent

Mortalities

mongft. Cattle,

which foregoe an
^

Infection

amongfr

Mankind

for

thele

Creatures

living for the

moft Part,

both Night and

not only are more

Day,

in the

open Air,
it

influenced by

when

tainted,

but are alfo

ga-

hurt by the infectious

thers upon the Herbage
are
its

Venom which
*,

as

iikewife they
feel

more
firft

liable,

on other Accounts, to
its freeft

Approaches, becaufe
in

Pro-

greis

is

open Places.

MOREOVER,
neral Sadnefs

when

there

is

a ge-

and Confternation

upon the
manifeft

Minds of the People from

Caufe,
fo

no

that the whole Multitude are

ipiritlefs,

pale and

who

can

think

but
that

140

The

prognoftkh^ Signs
is

that fome general Calamity

at

Hand?

AND
very
Reafbn,

certainly this will

not appear! a

difficult Conjecture,

and remote from

when we duly

confider the ftrange

Intercourfe and Familiarity

rits

which the Spivery

occult)

maintain

with Things
}

2nd at a Diftance
capable

for whofoever
will

rightly

weighs this Matter,

rits

perceive the Spi-

of very
their

fubtile ImpreiHons,

hy Means of
Imagination,
perceiving,

Intercourfes with

the

whereby they are capable of

tho
5

obfcurely,

any

approach^
a-

ing Evil,

and confequently of exciting

a general

mongft the Populace

Apprehenfion

concerning Futurity, without any miraculous

Influence.

LASTLY,

All

fore-bodings

of

any

Kind denote the Malignancy

ly

of the ap-

proaching Evil, becaufe they are manifeft-

from the Influence of the

made,
the

pestilential

Mtafmata^ and the further oif fuch Impref?

lions are

the greater do they prcfuture

gnofHcate

Calamity

will

be

becaufe fuch Irradiations at a Diftance, and

propagated through

long Traft of Air,

denote the great Energy and Virulence of

their Origin
,

when

therefore the Peiiilence,

feldom

of the
and gradually
Poifon to

late Te/tilence.
fiich

141
to

feklom appears without

diffijfes

Forewarnings,

according

the

greater or lefTer Liberty for the nitro-aerial

move
fo

in,

and the

firft

Perceptions

of

what Miferies and Defblations may not be expected from it,

it

are

terrible,

when

it is

arrived in

its full

Force

A
its

Pejlilence that

is

fierce

and deadly in

pft At tacky
call

foon

ceafes.

fuch a Peftilence

fierce,

that

imme-

diately deftroys the itrongeft.

Coiiftitutions,

and which being every where

all at

diffufed, feizes

once
is

for the fooner

the venomous

Seminium
will its

fpread and wafted,

over.

the fooner

Fury be

THE
creafe,

Times of a Pejl Hence in

in Proportion
to the

its

De-

are

Times ef

its Increafe.

FOR
Manner,
mention
Place

the infectious Poifon

does not act

precarioufly,

but in a regular and uniform

as it fully appeared

by the Courfe
-,

of the late Sicknefs amongfc us

others
at

(not

to of
befl

greater
this

Diftance
will

and Time)

but

be

made

14*

Tk

prognoftkk. Signs

made appear from the Tables of Mortality

hereunto annexed.

THE

Caufe of
or

P eft Hence

being

re-

moved, Jpent,
immediately

extinguijhed,

its

Ejfetfs

ceafe.

AS
lence
it

Fire

goes

out

when

its

Fuel

is

wanting, or fpent, fo the peftilential Virucontinually

wants fomewhat to keep

it

up,

and

no longer than

is

fupplied

with that necelTary Pabulum will it laft: Although I acknowledge that fometimes
thefe fatal Sparks will
lie as it

were fmo-

thered in their
,

own

Ruins, for lome Time,

and
into

after a certain Interval

its
fir ft

break out again

Fury, from the original Caufe

that

as

yet hath never been extinsuiihed.

And

hence perhaps fome

may

be led into

an Error about the Plague's being co-aeval

with the World, and

in

its

continual Subfiftance
as external Cir-

one Place or another,

its

cumftances favour
drance
^

Propagation or HinIricreafe

for

the very

of the pe~

ftiiential Seminium,

after
it

every Interval of

Recefs, plainly

mews

to take frefliRoot;
it,
I

and upon the total Extirpation of

not fee

can-

how the fame

can

appear again

And

of the

late (Peftilence.

145

And

this is confirmed

by the almoft con-

tinual Varieties in different Infections.

WE

now come

in

Courfe to fpeak of

thofe Prognofticks, which regard the Death

or Recovery of the Infecled.

E VE R T
of the

Hemorrhage

is,

bad, but a Flux

Menfes

always fatal.
the Bowels 9

Loofenefs of

efpeciaSj

in

the Beginning j is

commonly a Sign of Death.

BECA U
Diaphorefis
is

,S

by

this

Evacuation

a
is

prevented,

the Strength
is

wafted,

and the Poifon

as

fb

far

thrown
not

upon the Bowels,

Mortification
;

fometimes to induce
Cafe
is

the

like wife

much
fetid,

better

when the
is

Faces are

extreamiy
-,

and there

no Relief thereby

or

when they are green, or black, or come away involuntarily, especially when attended

with a

Dyfentery.

WHERE
or dijiempered)

the
it

Lungs

are tender,
ill.

weak,

generally ends

FOR

can hardly remember any one

that efcaped in the
late

who had bad Lungs

44

The prognofiic^ Signs

}

late Sicknefs

and

it

was a conftant 01>

Perfons,

fervation,

that

Afthmatick

not

only by frequent and hard Infpiration drew

more of the poifonous Steams than others, but alfo that the weakned Force of
in

that Organ,
fix

gave Opportunity to them to

there.

their

Lodgment

WHEN
Sweatings
higher,
it

Perfons grew
weaker^

no
the

better for

but

and

Dijlemper

was judged fataL

FOR
all

after

Nature had made fuch an

Effort to expel the

Venom

to no Purpofe,

Hopes of Recovery could not but va* A great ExpenCe of Spirit, and a niih.
general

Decay of Strength,
\

muft be the

Confequence of fuch a Waft

nuance

and a Conti*

of Sweat likewiie brings on a danis

gerous Colliquitation, or

a Sign

of

it

and

thofe hot iharp Sweats, which veficate the

Skin, are alfo to be fufpetted:
it is

Moreover,

very hazardous

when
is

cold Sweats

come
cer-

after fuch hot

ones.
all,

But the moft

tain Fatality
as

of

from fuch Sweats

^

have a cadaverous Smell

a

altho'

there

was fometimes

very difagreeable fcented

Sweat, with which they recovered, as with

it

exhaled the peftilential Venom.

of the

late

feftilence.

145

Lofs of Appetite jor a great while,

mojl

proved

commonly

but

dangerous

Prognoftick.

IT
faid,

appears, by

what hath been already

at
*,

that a Loathing

Stomach was
and upon
a

certain Sign of Infection

Con-

tinuance of

it,

it

was neceffary that there

a Perfon

fhould enfue a Defect of Kourifhment and

Strength, which
liable

made

much more

to

the worft. Influences of the Di-

{temper, and even to Erofion and Sphacelation of the Stomach.

DEAFNESS

joined with Drowjinefs,

were Signs the Parotides would foon appear.

WHEN Buboes
due Evacuation^

went in again without

while bad

and

Symptoms

continued^ Matters were generally doubtful^

and for the mofl Part very dangerous.

I

always looked upon

my

Labours to be

defeated,

whenfoever

thefe

Tumours

dis-

appeared of a fudden without any maniferr.

Caufe
the

for it

was owing to the Retreat of

it

Venom

inwards^ where

made

terrible

Mifchief, and was extreamly difficult to be

got

146

Tie prognoftkl^ Signs

the Surface

got again to

yet

if

Sweats

broke out, that the Patient could well bear,

it.

was not uncommon

for

them

to return,

and bring again Matters into an

State.

hopeful

WHENSOEVER
nefs, or
it

thefe

Tumours
to

are difcoloured, effect ally tending

Black-

do not fuff urate,

be fronounced
the

or are infenjible,

may

Patient

will

be

worfe.

THE
they

more 'Buboes

there

are,

fo that

fuff urate, the

better.

CARBVNCLES
dangerous than Buboes
;

are

always

more

BOTH

on Account of

their

fliarper

Pain, and greater Difficulty to cure.

THE
and
the

fmaller

the

Carbuncles

are

in

Compafs, and their Situation remote from the

Vifcera, greater Vejfds, Tendons, and Nerves,

fewer they are in Number,

the better
;

by fo

much
when

it is

and,

on the contrary,

they

Jf read

like

a Gangrene,

and are
or

near the princifal Parts, as the Breajl

Belly,

and

alfo are

numerous, or livid,

the

Fate

of the
Fate

late Teftilence.

47

of the

Patient

may

be

pronounced

defperate.

THE
when
they

pefiilential

Tokens,

ejpecial/y

are deep,

are the fure

and fyeedy

Mejfengers of Death.

FORa
is

general Mortification
:

commonly

follows thefe particular ones

although there

fometimes (as before obferved) fome Time

given between one and the other, as for two

or three Days.

Complication of bad Symptoms together^

into another World.

precipitates the Patient

NAY,

fometimes when there are manyobftinate

Symptoms of Recovery, the

tinuance of one bad,
is

Con-

enough to determine

the Patient's Fate,

FROM
the

the

inconflant

Appearance of

"Urine ^

there can he

no certain judg-

ment made.

THE
its

Urine indeed of thefe Patients

is

generally not to be difKnguilhed

from that
;

of healthful Perfons,
Stench
is

although fometimes
5

not

to be endured

this a

148

The

prognoftick^ Signs,

&c.

certain Phyfician

found to his Coft,

who

taking the Urinal too near,

was infecied

by the Scent,

fell ill,

and in three Days died.

all

THE
is

Pulfe 7

which in

other Difeafes

almojl a certain Index,

all

in this Sicknefs

could not be at

trujled to.

THOSE
efcaped*

who

were

comatous in the

Beginning or Height of the Difeafe, feldom

THESE
propofed to

Prognofticks

thought

my felf
I I

obliged to take Notice of,

by the Method

my

felf

herein
is

but that

have omitted many,

in thefe Matters

to

be excufed by

the Difficulty and Difference of Judgment

*,

for luch

was the delufbry

that

Appearance of this Peftilence,

Patients were loft
in a fafe

many

when they were thought Recovery and when we thought

-

the Conqueft quite obtained, Death run away

with the Viciory

it y

whereas others got over

-

who were

quite given over for loft

much

to the Difreputation of our Art.

\

SECTION

H9

SECTION
ALTHOUGH
is

VI.

Concerning the Cure of the late Pe/lilence.

a pestilential Infeaion

extreamly dangerous, and doubtful

Confequences,
it,

as

to its

very

few being

ipared by

yet

we

are

when in its greater!: Height, by no Means to defpair in fb

and give up the whole
to

great a Difficulty,

Race
as it

of

Mankind

Derlru&ion as fbon
rather flimulated

comes, but be
*,

to

greater Endeavours
nifters

and, like faithful

all

Mi-

of Nature, frudy

Helps againft

fuch

common and
before

grievous Calamities.

BUT
which

we
to

enter

feeks Ailiftance
neceifary

upon that Part from Medicine, it

may

be

exhort the Infe&ed,

that they have due Regard to the

Almighty

Power, not only in confeiling,

Forgivenefs
Bleiling

and feeking

for Sin,

but in imploring his

upon thofe P^emedies and Means

which even the moft
i

for Recovery,

skilful

Phyiician can prefer be.

THE
nilhed

Infected alio

ought to be admotheir Wilis,

3

that

they

make

and
fettle

jo

Concerning the Cure

worldly Affairs,
fo as
leaft

fettle their

to pre-

vent Contention and

Severity of

Law -Suits,
off.

by the
to be
all

fuch' a Diftemper

they mould
is

chance to be carried

But this
affe&ed

done

before

they

are

at

in

their Understandings

by the
likewife

Difeafe.

LASTLY,
ed the Sick,
ly.
.

It is

to be enjoin-

'that

they quietly, fubniiiuve-

and with

chearful Confidence, com-

mit themfelyes

to-

the Care
:

and Managehence ap-

ment of

their Phyficians

And

pears the Difficulty of that

Task to watch
imminent DanCares
lie

pver thofe
ger
}

who

are in fuch

and what Variety of

it,

upon
often

him who undertakes

falls

and

who
he
?

himfelf by that Tyrant

is

endea-

vouring to defend others from

BUT
in
its

to do Juitice to the Sacred Art.

relieving
this

Mankind

in

fuch

cruel

Diieafes,

muft

eternize the

Sons of

EfiulafMy

that

they feem to be

born for

the Publick Good, by their Ufefiilnefs even

in a Pefiilence, as well as other

more com-

mon
I

Calamities of Lire

but on this

Head
to fb

fhall

forbear faying more,

I

knowing how

unworthy

am

to give -due

Honour

much Worth.

BUT

of the

late Te/iilence.

BUT
againft

in the Profecution hereof, as

fome

heretofore

have taken a great deal of Pains

Jpecifick

to no Purpofe in finding an universal

the Peftilence,
palpable Falfities
\

and have impofed

many
Blowers

upon

the

World
Coal-

under fuch Pretences

fo our

modern
cried

have in

like

Manner

up their
impofed
Cer-

pernicious Secrets,

and

wickedly

them upon the credulous Populace.

tainly

thefe publick

Cheats ought thempeftilential,

is
it

ielves to

be deemed

as their

Notions and Practice

found Reafon
:

abhorrent

to

all

For

the Arguments be fairly

on

both Sides

the Queftion

ftated,

any one will be convinced, that

there ne^

ver as yet hath been difcovered in Nature,

the

full

aiid

abfolute
ftill

Eifence of a Peftia

lence, but that it

remains
in

Myftery to

Mankind*,

wherefore

this

Difbmper
others,

Perfon muft proceed,

a ferious Attention to

as in all

by

the manifest

Sym-

ptoms,

and

a rational Conformity of the

Means of Cure thereunto-

and while

we
al-

hold to this only Rule of Procedure,

conquer
faved,

though the Severity of the Diftemper may

feveral,

yet

many

alfo

may

be

L 4

IT

j i

Concerning the Cure

now comes

to us to declare

what a
5

Phyficiari

has to do in this Calamity

as

therefore the Difeafe admits of no Delays,

Help muft be immediately procured, and

the Phyiician ought to
Succour,
iliould
leaft,
fly

to the Patient's

by any Omiilion,

the Cafe

be got beyond Recovery, and a Per-

fon be loft for

Want

of timely Afliftance.

WHEN
fulnefs,

the Phyfician

is

come,

he

ought to addrefs the Patient with Chearand blame thofe Fears and melancholy Apprehenfions which" give
too

many over

much

into the
off all

Power of the Diftemper,

by cutting

Hopes of Recovery.
to
tjie

LASTLY,
Directory
_the

According
College

general

of our

beforementioned,

moft generous and

efficacious

Medicines

muft be contrived with the utmoft Care and

Deliberation.

the
is

iirft

Place then,

whether Phlenot,
I

botomy
pafs
it

to be pratlifed or

is

juft-

\y to be queftioned^

and indeed
but that

mould

by here

as

fatal,
rafh.

know
not

many
only

unskilful and
let

Perfons,

who

Blood largely at one Time,

but
order

of the
order
it

late

Teftilence.
to

15

likewife
faints.

be

repeated

until

the Patient

BUT
ents
as

if the

Authority
the

of the

Anci-

well

as

Experience

of the
indeed
it

Modems
if

hath any
Practice

Weight,

and

our

own
to

may
in a

be regarded,

as

highly

be

feared,

from

many

In-

ftances,

that Bleeding

genuine

Pefti-

lence

is

not

only

to
,

be
for

fufpe&ed,

but

charged as pernicious
times feen
together 7
*

we have many the Blood and Life drawn away

it

which makes
Pra&ilbrs
in

afconifhing

to

fee

the
juftifie

fuch Mifchief dare

\

to

the fatal Error

this

what
Is
it

is it

that

indicates

Evacuation

intenfe

Heat,
fels?
lential

or

any
is

Or

it

Turgefcency of the Vefto give Vent to the peftito

Poifon

make

its

efcape?

Cer*,

tainly nothing to
for if the

me

feems more

abfurd

other

Symptoms do

not remit

with the Fever, the Patient

ed into the
the

will be plung-

utmoft Hazard:,

for

how
?

can

Blood and other Juices be depurated,

febrile

if the

Heat

is

extinguiihed
SuppreiTion

Not
of
fa-

to fay lutary

any thing of a
Breathings

hereby, a

Perverfion of

the

natural

Secretions,

and Sinking

the

Spirits.

THEY

Concerning the Cure

THEY
ror,
ctice

alfo are

under as great

an Er-

who
while

fetch their Reafons

for this Pra-

from the Turgefcency of the

inordiate

VefTels

for

Hurries

are

excited
hete-

in the Blood,

from difagreeing and

ftriving

rogeneous

Particles

to

extricate
is

themfelves from one another, there

made

thereby only a feeming Plenitude

nefs then

what Madremove

muft

it

be, in order to

an imaginary Fulnefs,

to link the necelfary

?

Strength by a ram Effufion of Blood

AND
the

lartly,

the mortSifick Poifon

is

not of that kind, as to feek an Efcape at

Orifice of a

Vein, and run out

with

the flowing Bloodproved,)

reflding
affecting

and which (as before

the
Spirits,

chiefly
VefTels,

and

in other

makes

this

Methere

thod of Cure
I

in a Feflilence impracticable.

will

not however

deny but that

may
and

poiilhly be Circumfrances in malignant

peftilential
as

Fevers,

which may
is

juftifle

Phlebotomy,

when

it

done for Revul:.

lion fake, in too great a

Flux of the Menfcs

it
is

But

in a genuine PefHlence,

not to be
I

meddled with.
remember,
nefs
-

There

is

but one, as
it

can

who
it

lurvived

in the late Sick-

but

is

needlefs to

lay any

more
upon

of the
upon
a
fhall pafs

late ^Peftilence.

Subject fo

plain,

and

5 5 therefore J

to

what

is

of more Confequence.

what concerns the next Means of Remedy, an Emetick may be given in the Infancy of the Difeafe, where the Stofor

AS

mach is loaded either by over-eating, or by a Crowd of bad Humours, or when there is a Loathing, or a Bitternefs in the Mouth ;
fo

that

any

particular

Conformation

of

the Breaft and

cate are
j

Neck doth
which

not contra-indi-

and

amongft.
.

thefe Remedies,
plentifully
alfo

they
excite

preferrable

Vomiting
wards.

without

working

down-

OF
?ielij
y

this kind

are the
comfof.
,

Syr.

Dlafari FcrScillit,

Syr. Scabief.

Oxymel.

and

chiefly the Sal Vitrioli

but the Antimonial

fo

Preparations

are

not

advifable.

The
lar c e

Dofe

of the

Emetick

ought to

be

enough to empty the Stomach fcon} and

the PolTet-d rink ufed
order to
is

in

the Operation,
all

in

rince

off its

Coats

Filthinefs,

to be impregnated with Carduus, Scordivm,

Meadow-fweet, Butter-Burr ,
In

&c. boiled

in

it.

my own

Practice,

have always found

good Service from

large Draughts

of the

Polfet-drink abovementioned, fwectned with

fimfle

156

Concerning the Cure

without any other previous

finple Oxymely

Emetick given.

AFTER
to enable

Vomiting

is

over,

in order

the Stomach the better to keep

any

Alexifharmick

Medicines,

its

Force
Sto-

may

be greatly ftrengthned by adding

to

machich

the
to

Alexifharmich

But

if

a Reaching
ca!,

vomit

prove Symptomatiall

Emetich
;

are

by

Means

to

be

a-

voided
fes,

leaft

the Phyfician (like old Nuraltogether

who

are

ignorant

of the
that

Rules

of Practice)

ihould

promote

Symptom, which by
the Spirits, and

fruitlefs Strains

wafte

follicit

the peftilential Vediftant Parts

^

nom
more

into the

Stomach from
ftill

which, when fixed there,

irritates into

violent Reachings, that cannot be af~

fwaged by any Remedies.

ALTHOUGH
miting

in other Cafes a

Vo-

may

be

removed
it

by Emetich) yet
to
follow

in a PefHIence

is

dangerous

fuch Pradice-,
rather

becaufe

the Malignity, or
vellicate

Nitro-faline

Effluvia,

the

the Stomach, and fo invert its nervous Coats, although empty, as to bring

Mouth of
on.

Convulfions

And fome

Perfons

feem with

to have their Stomachs full,

as overloaded

of the
with
to

late Teftitence.

Food,

who

crave
it
is

to

be

freed

by
fate

Vomiting, which
indulge

by no Means
only

them

in,

becaufe fuch a

Senfa-

tion

of Fulnefs

proceeds

from the

peftilential

Poifon

vellicating

the
it
*,

Mem-

branes, while the

Stomach

is

felf free

from Food, or bad Humours

be
further
confidered

but what

further concerns this Matter, will

come to

under the Cure ot

Symptoms.

MOREOVER,
but

Purges are juftly reck;

oned amongft Medicines of great Efficacy

whether or no
of Controverfy
indeed
the

they are to be uied

is

in the Cafe before us,

full

a Difficulty,

and

amongft.
in

Phyhcians
peftilential

and

the

Varieties

Difeafes,

Differences of Conftitutions,

the various Complication of Circumftaxes,

the Uncertainty
it

of Seafons,
give
I

&c

do make
Rules

impoilible
j

to

any
ihall

general

hereupon

wherefore

go no further

than what

my own

Practice
it.

hath enabled

me

to judge concerning

Turgefcency

or

Diftemperature
for

of

Humours do
ation this

certainly call
\

an Evacu-

Way

that

is,

when uthe Humore

mours

are

troublefcme

by

their

Quantity

158
Quantity

Concerning the Cure

than

any Simulating
the

Quality;
is

when
able to

therefore

Conftitution
a

not

conquer fuch
nor

Burthen,

neither

by

Digeftion

Expulfion,
to help

Cathartich

are certainly

neceffary

away the

Load, and efpecially if a Perfon hath been

before eating to Excefs*

BUT
the

if this Evacuation be delayed

till

Juices

have

received

the peftilential

Taint, the
depurated,
tich, and

Humours
it is

are then rather to be

Cathar-

than purged away by

certainly better to truft to

the Strength of Nature,

when Things are gone fo far, to do the Work her own Way And whether or no the Blood is too much
:

fufed,

or

(according

to fome)

coagulated,*

purging Medicines

are

certainly

to

be a-

voided

for

in

the

firft

Cafe

they fur-

ther agitate and fufe the Blood, befides the

Hazard of breaking open fuch

VeiTels as

may
ful

not without great Difficulty be again

clofed^

the fame Medicines are alfo hurt-

in the Blood's Coagulation, becaule

they

evacuate only the

ierous

Parts,

and leave
tenacious,*

the Remainder more

vifcid

and

whereby
perverfe

Obftructions

are

rendred

more
ftag-

and unconquerable, and the

Poffibiiity

nant

Matter without a

of Dilution*

of the
lution,

late Te/iilence.
its

59

and Reftitution to
as alfo

priftine State

of Fluidity,

more ftrongly

inclofing

the peftilential Poifon at the fame

it
is

Time

alfo greatly

to be feared,

that

in fo

great an

Agitation

the

morbifick

Venom

may

be drawn to the Bowels, and Sphace-

lation follow thereupon.

THAT
is

Purging

may

be alfo praH(ed

with Succefs, the

carefully
to

Strength of the Patient

confulted,
for

be

where
it

the Spirits are low, or

deficient,
,

may

not only prove unfafe, but fatal

and where

the

Bowels are

extreamly Simulated by
the
its

the Cathartick, and

Humours

greatly

put into

Fufion by

ratifying Qualities,

they will be apt to pais off in too large

a Profufion.

WHAT
to do

can a Perfon likewife expect

a
It

with

Cathartick,

in

Diforders of
to

the

Spirits?

certainly

appears
all

me

more
are

likely to purge

away

the

Humours

of the Body, than re-kindle the Spirits that

oppreffed,

cloudy, and
j

almoft extinct,
as the

by fuch Means
til ty

and further,
Poifon

Subit

of the

peftilential

inclines

rather to

efcape by the
larger

fuperficial

Pores,

than

the

Emun&ories, this

Method

i6o
thod
is

Concerning the Cure

contrary to that natural Tendency,
it

calling

back
the

again from
Center-,
I

the

Circum-

ference

to

cannot imagine

what they propofe, who even repeat in

thefe Cafes their

purging Medicines, until

they bring both intolerable Pains, and Gripings into the Bowels, and Mortifications, as
beforementioned.

BUT
fori

if after all Confiderations

it

any Per-

thinks

proper to purge,

it

ought to

be certainly done in the Beginning of the Infedion, and with fomewhat that operate s
fpeedily
:,

and to which Purpofe thole in

beft, as for

Liquid Forms anfwer

Aq> Angelica
j.

Example
%
Syr,

]$

fimfl. Tartar izata

ij.

de fpim Cervina J

Ellx. proprietatls Crollii vcl

AntiVefk'dentidis 9).

& interdum.
M.
S.

5/.

dhTolve

[alls abfynthii gr. viij.

Flat hauftus hork\

'commodity

&

typo remittendo dandus.

A
Z
j.

Solution alfo of

til.

Ruffi

from Z

fi.

to

may be made in Mangold Water, by thofe who like that better. They who pleafe likewife may ufe the following
*

T}L
j.

Ext rati. Pi Mortem

trochifc.

Ruffi

ij.

re fin

zalapii

de

rhabarb.

j-

gum. ammoniaci
in

of the

late

Teftilence*
j.

6i

m aceio fciliit.
ana gr.
e cujus in
viij.

foluti

fdis Tartaric abfynthii^

cum

tin&. Theriacali q. f. fiat mafia*

j.

conglobcntur piluU vij, vel viij.

athletica

Dof*

confiitntione

ad 3

ij.

front medico

vifum fuerit varianda.

Dileale
befr.
5

that

will

admit of no

Delay,
that

it is

to evacuate but little, yet

fo that

not flowly

the morbid
firffc

Hu-

mours may be expelled

before

at the

Seizure*

they have received the

its

peflilential

Taint, and before

Virulence hath reach:

ed to the whole Mafs of Fluids

is

For

it

certain that no Digeftioii

in this Cafe,

is

to

be ex-

peded
be no

and therefore can there

:

Room

for Alterants or Digeftives

is

But
it

when the Body

Suppositories*

very cofHve,
fafe to

judge
this

moft convenient and

do

with

UT

all

Authors and practical Phyfkithis, to

ans agree
lential
is

in

-throw out the pefH}

Malignity as foon as poilible

which

expeditioufly
'

and furprizingly done by

as

Alexipharmkh
Belly
is

and to thefe,
Recourfe

loon as the

loofned,

muft fpeedily
:

be had, as to a facred Refuge

is

And

there

fuch Plenty

of Remedies

of this kind,

that Nature feems to have had

more than
&*

\6t
an

Concerning the Cure

Indulgence

ordinary

and Forecaft,

in

providing againft this deftru&ive

Enemy of

Mankind
likewife

nor hath the medicinal Art been

wanting in fupplying us with maSimple s, that are

ny Preparations of
ful

power-

againft

fb grievous

Deftroyer.

But
felecl:

in this great

Choice

it

behoves us to
-

thofe which are moft efficacious

for this

Diftemper, which

is

certainly the moft ty-

rannical of any that befets a

humane Body,
in
its
is

may
fancy,
to be

be

fometimes

conquered
a

In-

which when got to managed by the

Skill.

Head,

not

greater!:

Efforts

of

humane

AMONGST
V^rflnlitn Snake Rooty
is

the Simples of the three

the
Vegetable,

Kingdoms, to begin with

when
-

frefh

and fragrant,
indeed

the
I

moft

efficacious

infbmuch

that

have often admired, that luch great

Virtue mould refide in fuch minute Fibres,

having a Tail very pungent, and a quick

aromatick Scent, and difcovering fomewhat
wonderful and almoii fbpernatural
it
-

fo that
effica-

defervedly

is

accounted the moft

Ditzfhoretkk

cious

and generous

and Alexi-

fharmkk for expelling the

fbn.
Its
iv.

peftilential Poi'

Dofe, finely
vis

powdered,

is

from

g&

or

to 9

ij-

in
/

any proper Vehicle,

due

of the

late (peftiknce.

id}

due Regard being had to the Strength and

Age. of the Patient.

THE
defcribe,

next Place

is

jufHy given to the

alfo
fhall

Contraycrva-Root,

from which
I

com-

pound Medicine, which

is

hereafter
:

admirably

contrived
is

The
i.

Dofe of 3
i.

this in fine

Powder
Scordium

from 3

to

in

Angelica, or

Water, or in

Wine, &c>

THERE
which daily
to be very

are

other

Roots

likewife
us,

Experience hath

taught

good for the

fame Purpofes
requires,

and with which,

as Occafion

ma-

ny valuable Compounds
der
to
-effet

are formed, in ora

that

with

united
-

Force
in

which they could not do

Clafs are
Bictterhsr,

iingly

this

the Roots of
Mafterwort,

Angelica,,

Scorz,onera$

T'ormentil,

Zedoary^
Birthwortj

Garlick
Gentian,

JLUcamdane
Bittany,

Valerian

and many others, which

loves

any Perfon that

in

Variety

may

find

proper Authors*

BUT
I

even

Gratitude obliges

me

not

to omit faying

fomewhat of

Ginger,

which
great

have prefcribed both in the

Root powSue-

dered, and candied,

many Times with

2,

1^4

Concerning the Cure

it is

Succefs, for

very powerful both to raife

Spirits

a breathing Sweat, and defend the

againft the Peftilential Iinpreffion.

FROM
tracts,

thefe Roots

may

be

made Exthat

either
for
it

with Spirit of Wine or Viis

negar^

agreed by

all,

the

more

fubtil

Particles

collected

together,

and divefted of their grolfer and unprofitable Parts,

become more

efficacious in

Me-

dicinal Cafes.

THE

Leaves of Vegetables moft

ufed

-in Practice, are Scordium,

Rue, Sage, Veronica,

Dragon, the

lejjer

Centaury, Scabious, Pimfinel,

,

Marygolds, and Bourn, and from which, o Occafion, are feveral Formula contrived.

GOOD
litate

Vehicles to wafh

down and
diftilled
frefli

faci-

the taking more efficacious Medicines

are

made of the Waters

loft

from

thofe Herbs while they are

and fra-,

grant (having not yet

for thofe

their volatile Salt)

for

which

are

commonly kept
infipid,

Or-

nament
or no

in

the Shops are

and of little

Worth.
alio

Ciyjfus

of

the

lame

Herbs

is

jrrable

to

the

Waters,

made

after
this

of the
this

late Te/iilence.

165
of

Manner

-,

Let

Quantity
green

Water

be drawn

from the

and fucculent

Plant, and the Juice -be exprefTed

from anoand
depu-

ther Parcel
rated by

of the fame Herb,

*,

ffo riding

let

then both be evapo-

rated

to
it

the
a

Coniiftence

of Honey ,
with
little

and

from

Tincture

drawn
a

fome
Spi^

more
rit

diililled

Water and
which
is

of Wine,
to

again

by

Eva

poration
alio

be

reduced into an Extract

its

from the dryed Plant draw

from the

eiTential

Oil, and

Refidlum, after Bifliilation,

iv.

the Salt.

Of the

Extract take 5

of the

Salt

/, and of the Oil 50 drops, and mix them together, where let them lie to incorporate

mo, e

intimately
Juices

with one another.

likewife

The

inlpiiated

of thele
and
in

Ingredients are of good Erred,

the

Winter,

Decoclions

may

conveniently

be

made
pofes

of
^

them

for the

fame medicinal Purin this

and further, that the Remedies

yet the

Cafe

maybe
be

more

efficacious,

they

may
in a

joined with Alkaline-Salts

;

diiioived

proper Menftruum

For by
be be
a

this

Means
the
at

the
ned,

Tone of the Stomach

Putrefaction
Effluvia

will be ftrength-

will

prevented,
refifted, or

nitro-faline
leaft

will

precipitated,

and

Diaphorcfis

pro^

moted.
JVI

SOME

66

Concerning the Cure

SOME
In

Berries
-

are alio-

of great Ufe
Ivy-Berries

Practice

as the

Powder of
and one

given to the Quantity of one

Parts of Elder
Vinegar,

Dram

in

two
of

Part

White-Wine-, the Spirit like wife

drawn from
in a

Elder Berries

would do the fame

a Spirit

Dofe

of

iij[,

or iv. .the Spirit of .Juniper. Berries

given

to

i.

drawn from green

as

Wdlrmts,
the-

with Treacle-Water, of
Car duns,

alio

from

Seeds

Citrons,

&c.

had
in

like wife

their

due

Recommendations

powerfully promoting Sweat.

BUT
flill

know nothing

ainongft

the

Simples that

hath fo obtained, for Ages toBez,oar,

gether, as the Oriental

and

which
re-

hath

fo great a

Name

-,

yet without

having any

Inclination to contradict a
I

ceived Opinion,

have been fo confirmed

by
will

Multitude of Trials, that the Truth

fpeak
its

for

it

feif,

which
all

manifestly
'equivalent

denies

Virtues to
:

be at

And I have really given it in Powder many times to 40 or 50 Grains, without any manner of Eifeft And I dare
to
its

Value

affirm that the Bezoar

with which

made thefe

Trials was genuine.

THE

of the

late

Teftiknce.

167

THE
lb

Powder
cried

alfo

of an Vniccrns Horn,
Antidote, never

much
had

up

for an

anfwered any good

I

Expectations, although
it

feveral

Dozes of

given
its

me by
Virtues

a
:

Merchant, on purpofe to try

But

that

which

would

cure

Pidgeons,

Fowls, Cats and Dogs, from Arfenical Poifbns, as

the worthy Gentleman affured

me

that did,
peftilential

had yet no Efficacy

Virulence
:

againft the

Yet

if it

was not

controverted to this very Day, whether or

no there is fuch an Animal in Being as an Vnlcom and it fhould moreover be srant\

*ed*

that the

Horn hath

thefe fhipendious

Virtues

the Price of it would

make

it

pur-

chafeable only by the Rich

whereas

in this

dreadful Calamity the Populace were chiefly

ure&ed; and
Medicines

therefore cheap and

common
for

fhould

be

contrived

them

by the Phyficians 5
firrl

in the

Number of which,
Scordium

occur the Troches 6f lifers, given to the

of

Quantity

iv.

in

compound

Water, or the volatile Salt of Fibers given to

very worthy Perfon fent us from New-Ewland fome Troches made of the Flefh of a kattle~$Me
fs.

in the

lame Vehicle.

from which
the
here.
Sick,

found more Succefs amongft

thole

than

we commonly have
4

THE

68

Concerning the Cure

THE
I

Powder

of

Toads

was

likewife
5

Prodigioufly

extolled by every
Spirits

Body

but

found more Succefs in

ij.

of Hartjhorn,

given from 3

to 5

i.

in Plague-water.

A
culty

Youth was
in

feized with a great Diffi-

of Breathing,

the

Arteries

hardly

beat, and,

fhort, all
in his
laft

Things feem'd to

beipeak
icribed
rits

him him
3
iij.

Moments

pre-

1.

of the forementioned SpiScordium Water

obfrinate,
^

in

of compound

but
again

the

Symptoms

continuing

repeated the fame

in three
i.

Hours
and
five

Time, with Addition of 9

Biiiters

more

were

alfo forthwith applied, after

which, in about half an Hour, he began to

move
all

his

Limbs, and

recollect
:

himfelf,
at laft,

as

if rilen

from the Dead

But

when
Legs,

Things were
Dilcolouration
a Bliiier

hopeful,

there

appeated
his

upon one

of

where
upon
fied,

had been

railed,

with a
^

Lofs of Senfe very near to a Sphacelation

this the affected Part

was deeply

fcarir

and then fomented, which,

with a

Repetition
a

of the fame Draught twice in

Bleiling

Day, by the

of Heaven, again
hopeful
fiery

reitored every

Thing
is

into a

Way.
that

For

this Spirit

of fuch a

Nature,

of the
that
it

late Tejtilence.

t6$
its

immediately difperfes
}

through the
great

whole Body
Volatility,

and on Account of
to

helps

encounter

with,

and
than

correal the fa line, malignant Quality

of the

PefHlence
that
it

But

need fay no more

is

the moft powerful

be given in

Blafkoretkk

that

can

any Difeafe

w hat-

foe ver.

WHENSOEVER
to

Things are brought

have
in

Extremity,

fome

Recourie
to
^

to

Mineral

Preparations,

Order

drive

out the Peftilence by mere Force

amongfi:

which, the chief are Mineral

Auratum^ and Aurum
tions
Fit<c, Sec.

gez,oary Sulphur

the Prepara-

of which are to be met with in chymi-

cal Writers.

am

fearful indeed

of being too prolix

of Remedies
I

in

the Enumeration
Clafs
^

under
fenfible

this

although
Simfles

am

very

that

fome

prudently

chofen

may

iingly encounter
as

a Peftilence with Succefs,

Difeafes:

well as

fome other
is

But befo

caufe this Evil

ufually attended with

many Complications,
oppofe
it

the Contrivances to
in

ihould alio,

the

Opinion of

fome, be equally
plicated
j

and proportionably comForces drawn up

and

all

m Battle
againft

17
againfc
it

Concerning the Cure

with

full

Front, -in Order to be

equal to the Encounter.

To
,

this Purpofe

fbme of the Sons of

fo prolix,
as

Efculafius

have invent-

ed manifold Compositions
if

and fbme of them

Sacrifice

they intended a

of an Hecatomb to appeafe the Severity of

this tyrannical Deftroyer.

IT

would be

entirely
all

foreign

to our

Bufinefs here,

to extract

the Medicines
for this

which fome Writers abound with

End} and

it is

our Bufinefs here only to

take Notice of thofe

which

were made

Ufe of with
Duty
fir ft

Succefs in the late Sicknefs

and in this Performance, both Gratitude and

oblige

me

to

begin with

Rich as

were ordered by the

College^

amongft. wjiich

occurs their Tlague-water.

V/L

Badic. torment ilia 7 migdicz^ faoma, z,edoaglyclrrhiZjAj

ttdj

hetenU

ana
:

^fi-foL

Salvk y

Chelidonld^ ruta, fummitat

toy Is foils , artemljht^

rorlfmarinij abfynthlij

fimfinelk y

dracunadi, fedbctonica,

blofky agrimonizj meli/fie,

cafdui,

cen{alii
iij.)

taurll min. fol'.'& flir.

calendula ana

Ad

i.

dddunt
incifa^

fior.

fafavefls err at : paralyf. ana^f.

contufa

&
ufui

infundaniur

fer

triduum

in

lib. viij. vln.

alb. oft. deln F.

:

cauta

dlftlllatlo

&
by
the

liquor

refervetur

But

here

it

is

of the
the

late tPejlilence.

Way

to be

taken Notice,

that in the

Cure of a Pefiilence the medicinal

are not to be

Forms

pompoufly contrived with a

long Catalogue of Ingredients, but carefully

adapted in every Refpect to the Circum-

fences and Exigencies of the Infected.

is aifo

It
is

to be obferved,

that this
to

Water

by no Means
all
j

indifferently

be given to

or to every one in the fame

Manner

as for Infhnce, not at all to

Women
iea$; it

under
fhould
.

their menftrual Purgations,

provoke them
nor
is

to flow

too immoderately

it

to

be. allowed to

Women

with

Child, for Fear of Mifcarriage.

MOREOVER

the Colkge hath appro-

priated other Medicines for the fame Ends,

from which we may extract the following

5 Diafcordily
fiat
dijfolutio
acq.

vel Mithridatii o
lib.
J?,

j.

fi.

in

foffetala
oft.

alter at a

cum

fartibns

vim

albi,

& aceti

Aiifce dctur
bene
cooler to*

hac fotio fervefa&a

agro ftragulis

Or,

Vyl

Radio, Angelica %

ij.

tormentilU

inp.

fufis^

&
g
j

decotlis

in aq.

font. q. f.

ad tenia

ccnfumftionem^
aceti
/?.

adde fccci
cor rep us
:

lirnonum

n j.

vel

bib at

vij, vel viij.

kujw

afo^ematps calefacli

Or,

J Son.

%?%
J Sem.

Concerning the Cure

fatdfitidis

j.

fern,

citri

gr. xxvj.
fiat pulvis,

cuchianelU 9//. caphura gr. xij. mifce,

ex hauftu
mendus.

aq.

car duly calenduU y

vel

fcordli

fa

Or5
flercoris

1^1

Expreffionem

vaccini

recentls

in

ace to acerrimo

infufi

ad

cochl. vij.

velvii).

Or,

1J

llceriaca

Androm. 3

ij.

EleU. de

ovo vulg.

ft"

fa $d

dijfolutione

in hauftu pojfetaU
caleftaEia

cardu-

at y fiat potio7

bibatur

expeUando fu~

doris exund.afionem.

come to take Notice of thole Medicines which by the College were

fhall hereafter

WE

contrived for the Poor

now

therefore take

thofe which by daily Experience were found

of moft

Efficacy;,

and deferve to ftand

fir ft

on that Account.

Compound

Attti-pejlikntial

DscoUion.
ana g v. an*

VZ Radic. Scorz.onera 7 petafitidis

gelidpy tormentilU C. C. C.

ana
flor.

J.

foL

Scordii,

ulmarUy
rag.

mclijfie

ana 04).
bacc.

calenduU, borhedera ana

j.fs.
J.

ana Affs.
titri'B'i)*
iij.

jumper*)

[em.

coriandri prap.

caricas mi*

mero

incifa7

& prop,

in duabus p. aqu. font.

of the

late Tefiilence.
infundantur^
cfr

J\

&
tury

tenia

p.

aceti opt.

dccoqvan-

fab finem addendo glycyr. taleolatim fella

in exprejfionis
iij.

j.

lib.

iij.

d/Jfelve

t heri aca

Anin-

drom. J

nitri purijfimi

iij.

&

adms.

ter'dum Spir. Vitrioli^

vcl Sulph. guttas aliquot*

ad

leviujculam

aciditatem.

Sometimes

alfo

we

add hereunto Syrup of the Juice of

or Baum
mofi;
*

Citrons,

but

when Matters
Patient's

are

in the utis

Hazard, the

Life
}

more
all

to

be confuked than his Palate

and

Sugars

we

often omit,

as

they are both a

Load upon the Medicine's Operation, and in no wife fit for a Stomach affecled with
a Contagion.

The Dofe of this

Deception

is

from 8 to 10 Spoonfuls every 4 Hours.

An
J
Fadic.

Aiexiterid IVater.

Contrayerva

j.

fcordon era
ana
C.

hijpan*

angelica ana
fi. rof. rubr.

j.

/?.

fol. Scordii galega

iij.

M.

iij.

calendula ana p.

rdu
ana

C
ij.

eboris

anj,

j.

bacc. juniper i, hederg

:

in

aceto

fambucino per triduum macerat

cortic.

diEtarnni cretici,
melijfa^
lih.i).

limonum ana
ana
lib. fs.

j.

face,

carduiy

angelica

aceti opt.

difiilla in

organis humilioribus poft. deb.

irifufiqnetfi.

Or,

5^ Succ. Scordii, acetofa ana

ft.

lib*

j.

gal eg*

lib.

face.

limonum^

aceti

opt.

ana

lib. j.

theriac.

Androm

174
And/Gin. 5
vcl viij.

Concerning the Cure

iij.

dlgere

& diftiHa Dof

Or,

ad

cochl. vja

Aqua AlexitcrU
Elect,

lib.
j.

ij.

theriac.

Androm.

iij.

de ovo ^
cochl *

dlgere^ filtra,
viij.

&

uful

ferva,
vitandoi

Dof ad

vj. vet

fhialam

a*

Or,
IJ

Summit
ana.

ahfyntbljj

rut a

ana

j.

Scordll^
lib.
iij*'

dracmicull
difiiila

iij.

^s#i

\awhuc.

in

vefca y

turn in liquor e

dijfolve falis
iij.

fraxlnl^ car dull , vel Scordli Vifriolat. o

Dof.

ad
h<zc

ccchl,

iv.

i^/ v.

efjicaciter

elicit

judorem

Acrua.

A
13

Treacle Water*

Eadlc. Afar I Virgin, g

fcorz^on.

fs.

covtrayerva

torment ilkj
car dul y
bus

fetafkldis

ana 5

j.

p. fern,

calendula^ angelic ^^ citr I ana

acctl op.

'5 iij.

quU

Prap. affimde fplr. vini,

ana

lib. ls #

dijfolve

theriac-

Vcn.

lib. fs.

adde

crocl

Aw.

ij.

mlfce Indantar creams vitrels,

fuper clncrcs digefiicnem^

&

fojl obtldu-

anam

dlftll!a
iij.

in rofira

Alembici fifpcndcndo caflmra 3

v. vel vj.

Dof ad cochl.

of the

late

fefliknce.

7j

A
VjL

Diapkoretick Oil*

Sails Abfynthll, vclScordli, five

cjuaterve fublimat.
,

Rut a 3
j.

ij*

flor. Sulphur is ter,

ol.

Ju^

niperi

lib.

j.

invicem mifc.

per

biduum calore

medlocrl bene occlufa relinque, dein per Retort am

diftilla,

etiam

altera

vice diftilla, digerendo per

biduum

addendo falls

abjynthlj

j.

Dofi

ad

cochL unum, vel duo, ex aq. angelica, vel JcordU9

faccharata, ad olei v. a.
e,

Commlxtlonem.

An
Vji

Alexifharmick Vinegar.

Radlc. Scor&on. Hifpan. Chelldonia

contrayerva

mau an&
and

ij-

i.

angelica,

torment Ma

i.

p. fol fcordii, p. ij.

mcllffa,

fcabiofa ana
cret.

ip

fummit. Rut a

dlBamnl
ii},

fs. flor.
ij.

famC.C,
ij.

bucl, calendada ana'p.

eborls

gr. Junip.

raf.

ana J

j.

fern, rut a, cardui,

c'tri

ana 5

fortidaca

v.

cinam.
lib.

opt.
fs.

fs. caryophyll.

iij,

Theriac.

Androm.

quibus f. a. prap.

afi-

funde Aceti ex vin. albo accrrimi lib. v. vitro

opt.

obturato digere per trloluum, bis, ftrve de die conquaffan do, turn caute diftilla,
Croci
v.
fuffettfis

camphor a,

&

ana 3

ij.

in

toftto

Alemb* Dof. ad

cochl*

vel vj.

BUT

176

Concerning the Cure

BUT
it is eafie

furBciently of thefe

from whence*

for any one to gather,

why

liquid

Medicines,

and

efpecially

are preferable

to others
j

when wanridd, in the Form of

becaufe of their
effe&ual

Boles or Elefluaries

that

is,

more expeditious and more

rations

Ope-

BUT

becaufe

many of

the Infetted have

a Loathing at Stomach, and an Inclination

to vomit, in the fame

Manner
fuit befc

as an

Over-

load of Eating and Drinking occafions,

dicines in folid

Me-

Forms

with fuch,

as they are

net

fo eafily

thrown up, and

adhere better to the Sides of the Stomach Of this Kind we have the following Comt>otion,

which
of 5

at
ij.

taking

may
j.

be

made

into Boles
Salt

each adding thereunto

or

of Carduus. or

Wormwood 3

more or

4efs,

according to the

Exigency of Sym-

ptoms.
W. Elect, dc ovo miner alps

j.

they lac

Androm.
o
iijL

/?.

Vulu

[erpntdrU

virgin. 3 v. cucbianelU
e

trod fulverl^ 3 / cum Syr.

vcl cltriy
co:
'

fucco meJiffbfhylL

?tur maffa.

Tic

of

the late

TeftHencS.

iff

The famous Sir Theodore Mayern6*i

Elect uarium

de Ovo*

Ifi

Ovum

vulgariter ut in Pharmacopoeia Loii-

dinenfi

frap

de

quo fume,

&

fern*

finapios,
fs.

vel eruca ana

fidis prunella

^
3

i.

Antidoti Saxonica ^

la*

V.

Antimonii diafhoret,
vftorurn
ij.

fixiffimiy
iij-

&
&
3 ij.
vi.

croc I

metallorum fimul

pulv*

JcordHy rut a , z.edoaria ana o

veterls

fs.

Theriaca vcn*

J cum
q.

iv.
ffiir.

Philonii 'turner i

vij. gr. ij.

mi fee

theriac.

iij.

Gr mellls de

Jpw
vet

matt

Plat Elell.

molle,

Dof
cor da,

ad 9

iv.

corroborand,

adjicUndo
a.
e.

& jecinsrd
it
is

viferatum

v.

prap

But

to be

obferved in this likewife,

tidotes,

as in other

An"iie-

that

a long

Fermentation of the

Ingredients together in a
ceffary, becaufe

Mafs

is

very

by that Means they more

another.-

intimately

mix with one

if

BUT
thus

the Body
is

Be

too open,

the'
'tis

Lapis Contrayerva

very faitable,

and

made
Pulv.

~t

radic.

contrayerva
extract,

rec,

j.

ferf en-

tar ia virgin.

ij.

fs.
ij.

radic.

Angelica^

torment ilk ana 3

fulv, C, C. vhilofofmce calcim

}$

ehelaruni-

178
5J.J?.
Jovzs

Concerning the Cure

Corall.

chelarum Cancrorum pr&p. pulv.

rubr.

and

Antimonii Diaphoret.

vel potim Diaphor.

crocl
ij.)

iij.

cuchianelU

ft.

j.

(aliqui

addunt lapid. bezoar. orien. 9

ambrA gryfi

9 ft. cum
vel

gelatina Jpoliorum ferpentumy vel C. C.

a.

fingantur globuli f.

exiccandiy Dofi ad

ij.

j.

e vehiculo idoneoy

&C.

FOR
3
ij.

the fame Purpofe alio

is

the cele-

brated Orvietan thus compounded, and given

at a Dofe.

"t

Cardul hcned.
ft.

totitts

eupatorii

mat.

&

min.
<5

ana g

fcordiiy
h.
e.
j.

ariftolochia

utriufque ana
bace.

v.
bi-

viper in a

cchiiy gentian Ay

Jump,

fiortA ana
albi

bacc.

lauriy

torment UIaj dlElamni

ana ft. carlinAy angelic a ana %)>ft. rhabarb. imperatoriAy [cordon, hiffian. valerianA. ana ^ ft.
mprfits diaboliy calami aromat.
.

ana $

iv. Theriac.

Androm.
rarum ^
q,

opt.

iij.

cordciy

& jecinora

12 vipe-

terantur terenda fubtilijjimey

Cr

cum

f.

mellis dejpumati fiat Elcfl. per trcs menfes fer-

mcntand.

IT
the

is

to be obferved,

that thefe
Galenical

and
or

like

Medicines,

whether

Spdgyrkdy which cannot be prepared as foon

as Afparagus can be boiled,

ought to be

al-

ways iVReadinefs.

THE

of the

late <pe[tilence.

17$

THE

general Remedies being thus pro-

vided, the exacl

Way

of Living and Diet

:

comes to be coniidered
v/henfoever

And

firft

of

all,

the Patient

is

taken,

he muft

immediately be put to Bed}

wherein

we

have found
becaufe

it

much more

ferviceable to be

covered with Blankets,

the Woollen

than Linen Sheets*

much
alfo
all

better

encouit,
t,

rages Sweating^

and

abforps

and
for

keeps the Body cleaner

the while

Linen being

not fuited

to drink

up the

Sweat, the Pores of the Body, at fiich Times

as

open

as poflible, will be

choaked up and
to

obftru&ed
the Skin,

by the Moifiure hanging upon

and giving alfo a Chiilinefs
:

the

Flefh.

To

all

therefore
is

who

fweat

thus,

Change of Cioaths

to be denied,

for the Patient takes

ings, not fo
lity

Harm by

clean Cover-

much from any

prejudicial

Qua(ac-

of the Soap abounding in them,

cording to the Opinion of BiemehrooecJz) as

from a Dampnefs which

unavoidable
will

is

infeparable frofri
is

them, and the Approach of Air which

in

the Shifting

both which

check the Sweating.-

UNLESS

the

Patient

hath Gccafion

for a Vomit, or Purge, or a Clyfter,

i\

immediatily

*-8o
diately

Concerning the Cure

upon

his going to Bed,

if

Alexivharmkh

ought to be given, and

Vomiting,

thrown up by
is

repeated until the Stomach

ftrengthned, and can retain

them

and

have

always obierved,

that

flich

Kaufeoufnefs

goes off as foon as Sweat breaks out.

SOME
midities

indeed of a very dry Tempera-

ment, or from a Confumption of their Hu-

by the

febrile

Heat, do not eafily

1

get into a Sweat

liberally to

fuch therefore
of a

ordered

drink
order

medicated Poilet-

Drink

in

by

this

Means both to
fluid,

render the viicid

Humours more

and

contemper and afTwage the feveriih Heat.

THE
Drink was

Milk with
made,

which

this

PoiTet-

was turned with two

in
Scor-

Parts of Ale, and one Part of Vinegar,

which had been boiled the Roots of

z^onera

and

Butter-bur

\
-

the Leaves of Baumj

7

Scabhs, andlVood-forrel
rage

the Flowers of Bo-

and Marygolds
Hartflvjrn,

the Rafpings of Ivory

Carduus

and

and

and Coriander

Seeds.

we ufed to keep up for two or three Hours at a 'I ime, as the Strength would bear them and until the
Sweats
;,

THESE

mor-

} 1

of the
morbifick

late (pejtilence.
rarified

Venom was

and fubtilized,

id as to be exhaled quite

away along with

through

the vifcid

H umours

Sleep alfo was induflri-

oufly kept off, although fometimes,

meer Wearinefs,
into a Doze.

the Patient would drop

AS
them,
and

much Care,

befides that of Sweating

was taken to fupport the Strength of the Infecled,

ordered

Spirits

by fuch Alifoak-

ments
for

as the

Stomach was able to receive

I

which End

them Bread

ed in Wine,

poached Eggs with Juke of

and fome-

Citrons, pomegranates, or Elder Vinegar, as alio

cordial Waters, Broths, Gellies,

times alfo generous Wines.

THE
z.onera,

Broths then ufed

were made by

boiling in Chicken-Broth the Roots of Scor-the Leaves

of fimfmel, Mead.owfweet,
of Hartjliorn, and

Wood-Sorrel, Borage, Rafpings

Dactyls,

with a Piece of White Bread, and a

in a

little Saffron tied

Nodule } and the Fat

was not taken ofiunlefs in aLoofnefs or Loathing at Stomach Of the Ufefulnefs of Gold
:

boiled in thefe Things

have nothing to fay

Of this Broth was

J

alfo

fometimes Emulfions
Plantain, blanched

made with the Seeds of Citrons^

/Urmn&s, and I earl-Sugar.

Mayerne'f

8 2

Concerning the Cure

Mayerne'i
VJi

celebrated

Cordial-Water*
fcorz,oner& 9
tor-*

Radio. car Una

vj.

z,edoarU y

miferatorUy gentianz 7
msnti!U y
f'mella

vlncetox.

Valeriana,

biftorta, fetajiiid.

dlEbamnl^ bardan<z y fim-

totim

fcordiiy ana
holly

ana g
V.

V.

fol.

cardui y

oxytrifhylL

ulmaria y Jcabiofe y merfas dia-

melijpe y fentaphyll.

mentha y
ana

rut<z y

buglcff y

fWi calcndula y

hyfencl

Mil.

Hmonesy

&

Aurant. cum corticlb'M

<tMy rorifm. ana
Mj. cor da viper,
lib.

ma

numcro xx.

fior. fal-

ij.

cor da

vervecina numero

numero XX. vini gensrofi Hifpan.

deb.

xx.

infufione

peraU:a y fiat

Difiillatio

cauta in B. Ad. hujm

V. dulcor. (fi
it a

Aq. Dof. ad

cochl. iv.

vel

vlfiiiri)

cum facchari'perl.

q. f.

BUT
much was
admit
of,

the Patients were kept from Ali-

ments of this Kind until fome Relief was

found by Alexlfharmicks
y

and then only lb

allowed of as their Strength would

for that v/as
y

to be helped, and

not loaded

bu" as they grew better, more

was allowed;

Yet

an

Hour

or

two

after

fuch Refreiliment,

notwithstanding the DiAlexi-

ftemper feemed to be extinguished,

pharmich were repeated,

until all
7

Sufpicioii

of

its

Remainder was removed

becaufe

fome-

of the
fbmetimes
after it
it

late feftilcnce.

would on

fudden

recruit

had ieemed to be quite gone.

Infected were

THE
Beds
the

kept clofe in their

whole

Time

of the

Difeafej

and thofe

who would

not be thus governed,

their

bitterly repented of

ObfKnacy

*,

for

upon Checking

a Diafhorefis,

and Confining

the peftilential Venom, moft grievous Pains

and Dilorders enfued

delirious,

And they who were

were tied in their Beds, to prevent

their doing either Injury to themfelves, or

thofe

who

attended upon them.

a Drowfinefs

came on

at at in

the

firffc

Attack

of the Difternper, or

the Be"

ginning to Sweat, the Patient was forcibly

kept awake

although,

when fome Appearlittle

ance came of Fvecovery, a

indulged,
to
recruit

Sleep was

the Spirits,
^

but not

beyond four
flept longer,

Hours together

for if

they

they were waked to take their

Medicines.

the Belly was coiKve, and the Diits

ftemper on

Declenfion, ClyfTers were ufed

with

Benefit,

made of

a Decoction

with the

Roots of Sc orSonera, Torment il, and Marfa-Mallows

the Leaves of Scordhim t Meadow-fweet,

and

; ;

4
-

Ccincernim the Cure

9

and Filets

Flowers of Chamomll and /^r

/i3?m- Fennil-Secds)

and

Amifeeds
or

",

and in
brown

it

was

dillblved the

Yolk of an E??.

Swar,

and 5

iij.

Qi Diajcordlum

London Treacle
required

and

when more Hafte was

foe

Evacuation, g j. or j. fs. was added of the Infufion of Crocm Metallorum* After the

came away, the Patient was allowed a Draught of generous Wine, or of iome
Clyfter

Cordial julap, or Broth, &c*

AND
rits

whereas a Languor upon the Spi-

very

much

contributed (as before

ob-

fervedj both to

the

Propagation and Vio:,

lence of the Contagion

to remove fuch an

Inconvenience,
ue of, fuch

grateful

Scents were

made

as are

known

to comfort the

Brain

fometiines Vinegar of Rofes was fprinlive Coals,

kled upon

and at others, were

burnt fuch things as Styrax7 Labdanum y &c.

more hereafter, and all things avoided which might give any Offence to
the Nofe by
its

of which

Smell.

JJITKERTp
tidotes,

we have

treated of

Anj

and the Regimen ot our

to external Helps-

Patients

next

we come
BUfiers

amongtt.

which

demand the

rTrft.

mention
Application

and whole

frequent and fucceisful

of the
.cation

late Tejtilence.
all

85

removes

Controverfy about their

Piefuhiefs.

BLISTER-Tlafters were applied to ft* veral Parts j as the Nape of the Neck, within-lide the Arms, the Thigs, and Legs and by theft the VefTels were wanned, the

Juices

rendered more fluid, a Stimulus given

ol"

to the Sluggifhnefs

Nature, and Paiia e

made

fufKciently large, for the Evacuation

not only of fuperfiuous Serofities

and noxi-

ous Rumours, but alfo for the peftilential

Poifo
:,

which by

this

Artifice
,

feemed to

be turned out this

Way

not to fay any

Thing of the Revulflon made hereby of Venom from the nobler Parts.

FOR
Thigh,
laid

this

Purpofe,
to be

once

ordered a

Blifter-Tlafter

applied within- fide the

a

a little

below

Buboe
felf }

in the

Groin,
it

but by the Carelefnefs of the Nurfe,

was

upon the Buboe

to

it

which happen-

ing

prove fortunate, after obtained in

Practice, in Expectation thereby to prevent

the morbifick

Humour from
its

going back again,

}

and to forward
this

Suppu ration
in

but altho'
it

was of Advantage

fbme Cafes,

was
it

yet

much

fu fpected

by the more cautious Phybrought

ficians

and Surgeons, as for the moft Part

8<J

Concerning the Cure

all

brought too great an Inflammation

ity

round

and promoted a

Strangury, which, by

Excefs of Uneafinefs, greatly wafted the

Spirits,

and funk the Patient's Strength.

THAT
tainly
iition

thefe

A pplications may
The
following

cer-

anfwe.r

their

End, the moft fharp

ought to be ufed:
never failed
its

Compo;

me

in all

my
the

Practice

but before

Application,

Part was

always rubbed with Vinegar.

IJ

Ticis
fs.

navalis

v. galbani colat.

5j

j.

cera

).

quib'us

fimul liquatis 9
fr<zp

&
5

ab igne femotis y
vel

aide pufo. cantharidum

menti veterisy
fern,

vij.
iij.

j.

fer-

ameos ana 5

cufhorbii

j.

cum
doy

aceti

fcillit. q, fi

incorjorentur^ affiduc agitan*

quoWfcjue cogdntur in Emplafiri

majfam.

THE
Difeafe

Parts

thus

veilcate'd

were never

lljlfered to .heal, till

the Malignity of the

was fpent

and to prevent their

they

fudden drying up, with fome Powder

kept up
a

were continually

Simulated by Melilot Plafters fprinkled over

of

Cantharides

which

conftant Drein of noxious

Hu-

mours

but to affwage the great Heat and

Inflammations, fometimes occafioned hereby,

Cole-wort Leave's

were applied to them.

YET

of the

late Teflilence.

87

YET

although Efiffaftich

did fo

much
made
-

Service to the Infetled, and fufficiently

amends for the Trouble and Pain they gave

Perfbns

yet they were not indifferently fuitable to

all
*,

As

for

Inftance,

where there
Incli-

was an Heat of Urin, or a continual

nation to pifs
\>

where the SfmnUer of the

or ulcerated, in an
or to
-

Bladder was
1

inflamed,
,

Hemorrhage

Women
and

with Child, or

having the Menfes

laftly,

where there
Spirits
j

was a great Languor upon the

alfo diligently to
ftieks

it is

be confidered when Eflfpa-

are applied to

Buboes

or Carbuncles

near

upon Suppuration, that they do not

fufe the

Humours too much,

to admit

them

going into a laudible Pus, and give fuch a

Stimulus to the Parts, as

may

fink the Spirits,

and

fruftrate other
feif.

Endeavours of Nature

to help her

BESIDES
I

EPifiafiich, it is

not

loft

La-

hour to apply proper Things to the Feet

commonly ufed
Saffron,

a Plafter

made of the comit

pound

Bettany Plafter,

adding to

iome Eu:

fmrhium,

and London

Treacle

And

found this to do more Good than Cataplafms,

which

forae,

however, liked better to ufe,

Bryony Pvoot fteeped in

and were

made of

Vinegar,

8S

Concerning the Cure

Vinegar, the Flelh of pickled Herrings, black

Seapy Rue, Scordlum,

and Arum, with a

fuifi-

cient Quantity of Vinegar:

Sometimes alio

Pidgeons were applied to the Feet.

BUT
tial

thefe,

and other Medicines of the

lame Rank, were' not applied in any Expectation to draw away by them the peftilenMlafmata
as

by Attraction
of the

but becaufe

the Multitudes of Pores, and their Large.

Eefs in the Soles

Feet, gave

fuch

Things

a: i

Opportunity of lending in that

warmth,

as

would keep the

f*uxile,

Animal Hu-

mours more

and cherilh the natural

Heat that was almoin extincl ; and from thence the whole Body would be refrefhed
by
their Influence
:

Applications were like-

wife

made

to the VVrift with the fame View,

AND
rative Part

thus having gone through the cu-

come
ptoms

to
,

we now the Management of particular Symof a Peftiience

in general,
firft

and

of

all

of the Buboes.

highly concerns

all

who

are concern-

for the Sick

in thefe Cafes,

both Phy

iiclans

and Sure;eons, to attend with Dili-

gence to the Nature of thefe Tumours, and

have their feveral Differences ready in their

Minds,

of the
Minds, that at

late

^ejliknce.
firft

89

their

Sight
ufe

they may-

know
it
is

their Condition,

and

Means of
firft

treating

them

accordingly.

And

of all
are
?

to

be enquired, whether
fixt ?

they

moveable or

Whether

fort or
?

hard

Whether
final.I

depreiTed or prominent
great
?

Whether
o*

or

Whether

contracted

broad? Whether with, or without Pain?

laftly,

And

whether inflamed or not

WHENSOEVER
tain

Buboe

is

uncer-

and dodges, fbmetimes appearing, and

all

then again going back,

ufed to
fix it
;

Means
-

is

to be

and

this

is

very fuccefsfully

done
will

by cupping upon the Glands, which fix a permanent Tumour upon them.
Buboes
juft in their
firft

TO

Formation,

we have indeed applied

DifcutietiSj

and very

powerful ones too, in Order to d"ilipate them;

and although they have.feveral Times endeavoured to fettle, yet we have not defpaired to conquer the

Enemy

this

Way

But

always found

it

for certain, that they

we who

went through fuch Fluxes and Refluxes of

the peftilential Venom, never recovered in fuch a perfect Manner, as they whofe Buboes im-

mediately fixed, and after Suppuration threw

out a great deal of Matter.

IF

190
I

Concerning

the

Cure
and

the

Tumour

is

hard

painful

from too great a Teniion upon the glandulous Parts, not giving
receive the protruding
affecled
Rofes,

Room enough

to

Humours, the Part

Lilies,

may

be anointed with Oil of

Elder,

&c. if no Inflammation forbids

j

fuch a Method
Oils and

in

which Circumitances

all

Ointments are to be fufpecred,

as

they

obfkucr the Pores, and are no

Ways

fuitable to the
peftiiential

Nature cf the

nitro-faiine

Venom.

When
Part,

an Inflammation

therefore

is

upon any

which

is

eafre
it

to be
is

known by its Heat and Colour, better to make Ufe of the Mucelages
and
Fenugreek,
;

of

Linfeed

with Elder Vinegar, and

London

'Treacle

or a Cat of lafm of Wheat-Flower,

Linfeed,

Fenwreek

and

Elder

Flowers,

white

Bread Crumbs, the Tolk of Eggs, and Powder of

Saffron.

THE

London

fhyficians

at

this

Time
Catafhall

fpared no Trouble nor Application, to ma-

nage the Buboes rightly

plafms therefore

-,

fome of the
I

by them daily ufed

here

infert.

VjL

Ccefam majufculam, quam

v. a.

c.

excava-*

tarn imfle

fummit. rvta deb. ex ice at.

&

pulveriz.

ij.-

of the

late Teflilence.

ij.

indantur etiam therlac

Lond. 9 he foramen

operculo fuo

obturetur, coepa deinde chart a blbuls

cinerlbus
aflat am,

involuta

feib

afletur,

-cui

adde ficum
liliorum
conficiatur

methodo
alb.

eadem
q.

cum

ol,

lini,

ana

f.

fvmul macereritur y

&
bis

cataplafina, appllcand,um calld},

dc

die

im-

mutandum
Bites

This

is

alfb

good againft the

of venomous Creatures.
Or,

g Fol,

rut<e y

fcbrdii contuf. ana

ij.

f. medulk,

carnis ficuum
pulverizi.

fior. mellloti p. fi. falls

marinl
q* aceti7

iij.

ferment i veteris^fi.

cumf

faretur Cataplafma*

Or,

J^

Rod, liliorum}
fi.

alth<za y

cum

aceto macerate
ft.

ana

lib.

fern.

lim 9 fanugraci ana f

carnis

ficuum ^

iij.

confeElionis finap,

cum

therlac. ana,

/. axungla
cording to

fuilla q. f. F. cataplafma.
I

Or?

ac-

May erne y from whom

learned

the Rudiments of Practice.

I Succ. apii %
c&pas majores

ij.

meli/ja

j.

plmphiella %} f.

Numero

duos,

ad

intenerationem y
aflat as y

five putrilaglnem fub clnerlbm carat e

oHio*

rum

bulbos

Numero

vj.

clave s

pglandlum maj.
vetufi.

tpt
vetuft.

Concerning the Cure

Numero W.
turn
trltis

alii

bulbi$7

&

cldvis,

ajfunde fuccos,

addc Capos, in mortario mar-

more o cum

aceti fciUit.

q.f agiteww-

& cogantwr

in Cataplafmatis

confifentiam*

BUT
intenfe

the Hardnefs, pricking Pain, and

Heat of the Tumour continuing, Mefticti

:

dicines were ufed to diffoive

Hardnefs,

and aiTwage the Pain and Heat

As,

J Rad.
cfjrnis

I II lor

um

alb*
j.

ij

Porrorum,

medulla

ficuum ana g

fern, lira

Cs.flor.

Sambucij
is.

mcllloti
in
f.
cj.

ana

p.j*

mkarum

fanis alb. lib.

ol.

coc*

laclisy

addendo fub finem

q. f.

rof.

liliorurri

alb* vel

fambuc. ana

ut F. Cataplafrria.

Or,

I$

ol.

Scab io fa y

acetofe ana

M
3

ij.

chart a bi~

hula

involute

&

cineribus feint Ulantlbus

veteris
ij.

fubditofalls iati-

rum, qidbus adde ferment i

tillwm 7 agitefitUr Probe

in mortario

cum

f.

q*

axunI

gia

fuiluZ)

ad.

ufum fr&memoratum,

But that

may
cular

not be

too tedious in reciting partithis Kind, any necei'fary

Forms of

Va-

riations are left to the Difcretion

of every

Phyfician in his

own

Practice.

WE

of

the late

Teftilence.

p3

WE
fevere

do not wait for the Suppuration of

it

a Buboe until

breaks of

it

ielf 7

wheii

the Pain and other Symptoms continue very

without
in

Remiflion
fo

befides, i/there

would
bifick

doing

be Danger of wafting

the Spirits too much, and letting the mdr-

Matter
Orifice,
is

retreat, befides

the Smalnefs

of the
felves,

which, when they open them-

feldom large enough to give due

therefore open

Vent
or to

them by Incifion, prevent Mortification, by a potential

we

Cautery

and for the fame Purpoie

it

hath

alfo been

many Times found

reafbnable td
Digeftives.

mix the milder CaufKcks with

YET
tefts

although

common Experience
cherifli

at-

to the

Advantage of Cataplafms,
natural

as

they wonderfully
almoft

the languid and

extinguifhed

Heat,

liippie

the neighbouring ^Parts, relax the Skin, and

contemper
yet,
I

and

affwage

iliarp

Humours;

fay,

becaufe their

frequent Repeti-

tion

is

fometimes on may Accounts inconI

venient and difagreeable,

ufed to fubftitute

the following Cerate in their

Room.
iii s

J Emp. Oxycrocei g
raring

iij.

galbanl col at gum.

ij.

ma

j.

ficis

naval is

liquatis fimul

twri

ip4
fro

Concerning the Cure

cum oL chamemelly
empL

& liliorum
am

y v.

a*

e.

F*

maffa

And

I 1

bold enough to affirm,

that with this

have prevented the

Want

of a Surgeon
stances
:

more than a thouland InBut when a Buboe is artificially

in
is

opened j

it

the moft proper to do

*,

it

in

fome depending Part of the Tumour

ing Care not to
Mufcles.'

tak-

wound

the larger Veffels and

BUT
felf,

whether
is

Buboe breaks of
Incifion,
it
is

it

or

opened by

to be

wailied
u4flies 7

and clean fed with

Betony y
is

a Lixivium

of

Scordium,
alfo

Buglofs y

Sankle y

&c
have

in

which
:

diiTolved

fome London
I

Treacle

And the

following Mixture

found very good for this Purpofe,

ing

confirm-

of

Birthwort Eoot y

Myrrhy

Aloes^

and

Saffron^

infufed in Sprit of Wine,

and to the

foamed Tinrure, adding

femine.

a little Oil of Tur-

Furthermore, to promote DigefHoq,

and prevent Putrefaction, the following may

be applied:

I}

Mcllis rof.

i.

terebinth,
iij.

cum

vitcllo

ovi foij.

fut.
Is.

fs.

theriac.

Land, o

farina tritici

cum

ol.

hyferici

& fambuc.

ana

q. f,

coq.

in

Cataplafw/rjis confiftentiam.

Or,

of the

late fejtilence.

ij

Or,

l$t

XJvg.
ol.

bdjitic,

p.

dztas,

linimenti

Arc&i

f,

Tertiam,
is

terebinth.

fs- A<f. 5.

But here
are

it

to be obferved,

that Detergents
unlefs the

by
is

no Means to be ufed,
foul
,

Ulcer

as alfo that to appeafe the

Enormity
and
be-

of Pain and Inflammation,

Repellers,
is

by

Opiates

a moft pernicious Practice,

caufe

it

drives back the

Venom upon the

nobler

Parts-

and alfo by their frequent

is

Continuation,

a Sphacelation endangered

upon the Extremities.

THESE
Means
to

Ulcers
healed
all

are

like wife

by

no
are

be

up
the

until

they

well cleanfed, and

peftilential
I

Symcannot

ptoms quite difappear.

than

But here

but remark, that thefe Ulcers do heal

eafler

any other when the

:

much Venom is

fully

conquered

And

in the Cure, it chiefly

concerns

the Surgeon to prevent the Lips

callous,

growing
Error
is

becaufe

fometimes
-

that

not eafily again remedied

is

when
will

the Ulcer
Sarcoticks

well

cleanfed,

the ordinary

ufed in the

fbon

fill

up the

common Method loft Subftance To

:

pre-

vent

tp6

Concerning the Cure

the
Parotides

vent Repetition,

are

to

be

treated after the fame

Manner

as Buboes.

AFTER
thod
buncles

this tranfient

View,

our

Me-

now

brings us

to

the Cure of Car~

thefe

fince

therefore

Eruptions

have their Rife from a pefHlential Lixivium, thrown upon feveral Parts of the Body, and
their burning
nefs

them

into an Efchar, the Bufiis

of a Surgeon herein
Intentions.

dire&ed to three

main

i.

THAT
TO
TO

the Carbuncle does not Ipread

too far, like a Gangrene, knowing no Bounds.

2.

bring
j

it as

foon as poilible to a

Separation

and,

3.

cure

it

as carefully as it

can be

done*

FOR

the

firft

Intention,

fuch Remedies

are iuited

which give

a Reftri&ion to the
Particles cannot

Part, fo that the

venomous

ipread

and fuch
and

alio as alTwage the distemcherifli

pered Heat,

and prefer ve that

which

is

natural.

BUT

of the

late Tefiilence.

197
is

BUT
by
is
its

the Cure of a Carbuncle

varied
;

Nature, Progrefs, and Situation

and

accordingly to be treated fometimes with

lefs Severity.

more, and at others with

this Cafe Benerlt
is

In

fometimes received from

Soot,

a Cataplaim with roafted Gar lick,

don Treacle, and Oil of Turpentine
;

Lon-

Or,

J Fermenti ceteris
cor is columblni

fs.

allii

ajfati

gij. fier^
eufhorbii

J.

confee,

Srnapi

V.

Z
it

ij.

cum

ci.

faponis nigri F. Cataplafma.

But

is

to be oblerved,

that in the Applica-

tion of thefe Cataplafms,

fharp,

which

are very

the utmoft
is

Caution

muft be ufed,

that a Pain

not aggravated thereby be-

yond the

Patient's

Power to bear; that the

colliquated,
;

Bumours be
Efchar be not

not

and thrown

upen weaker Parts

and that an immoveable

made thereby,
the Efchar
does not
fall

WHEN
if the

off,

nor any Signs |of Separation appear,

guents and Oils are not to be blamed
-

Unbut
be

Carbuncle fpreads further,

it

will

neceffary to have Recourfe to

more effe&ual
regarded.
is

Means
nefs

in

which Cafe, neither the Tenderor

of

Sex

Age

is

to be

Sometimes the

peftilential

Venom

to be

drawn

Concerning the Cure 98 drawn out by Cupping, or Scarrification, or

?

Epifpafricks

Sometimes

alio for

the fame
a

Furpofe

is

applied the hare

Rump of
natural

Fowl,

repeated until thefe Creatures appear not to

be hurt

by

it}

for this

Warmth
applied

foorhs the vital Heat of the Part

to,

.it is

and entices away the morbifick

,

Venom

through the Pores

Pidgeons ufed alive, and

warm Sheeps

Lights, have likewife been ob-

ferved thus to ailwage the

pefdlential Virulence.

Acrimony of this

THE
the
ours

Efchar

is

fometimes

got
,

off
I

by

Burning, and fometimes by Incifion

never

indeed found any thing more eifecmal than

Cidiuzl Cautery
,

and

in this Practice

of

we

differ

not from the celebrated Contells us,

coregras,

who

pag.

39. that

in his

Time they were wont

with a red hot Iron.
venient
for

to burn the Carbuncle

There

are

very con-

Inftruments amongft

the Surgeons
call

this Operation,

which they
,

the

Butt in , being fo ihaped

little Service,

but they

are

of

except the Burning extends

to the

Iron

is

Compafs of the Eruption , and the by no means to be taken away, until

is

the Patient

fenfible

of it, "but to get off

the Efchar, the midAl^ Part muft. be burnt

deepefl.
*

AMONGST

of the

late Tefiilence.

199

AMONGST
I ihall

many

other Advantages,

mention but a few that are received

aftual Cautery
iri

from the

thefe Cafes

for

from hence

the Parts aflecled are rendred

more
are

firm

and

ftrong*,
;

hence the Veffels

more

afrringed

hence the fubtile Mi-

afmata

are rariiied
is

and evaporated

hence

the Poifon
daftly,

corrected and dried

up
is

and

hence the languifhing Heat

and, not to ufe

quick-

ned

many Words,

the pe-

fHlehtial

Venom
no

feems to be deftroyed by
the Bites

Burning,

otherwife than

of

poifouous Creatures are cured after the fame

Manner.

A
by

S for what
are

is

done hy the Knife, the

as

Inferred
it,

certainly

much
;

.benefited

as

by the

actual Cautery

efpecialty

if the lncifion

be made deep,
:

and goes to

the Root at the Centre

be

for

by this

may

made

a very expeditious Elevation and

Separation of the Eh-haris

and

this

Means
it 7

more particularly
is

to be
j

ufed where a

Gangrene
that there

threatned

but in doing

great Care muft be. taken, as before hinted,

is

not

made any

Effafion of Blood

by cutting the larger

Arteries.

VeiTels, efpecially the

BUT

ipo

Concerning the Cure

BUT
niihed,

when
of

this Separation
it

is

once

fi,

whether
to peal

be

by

Knife, or by
;

Burning, or
thing
is

its
it

own Accord
off j

the next
frequent-

and this
it

is

ly affifted

by moiflening
Oil of
to
^

with new Butter,

Oil of Elder, or
is

Lilies.

The

Efchar

likewife

be loolened gradually, and

that
is,

not too hafHly

ration
is

a kind of

Matu-

to be waited for.

After the Car-

buncle
cleanfe

is fallen off,

Care muft be taken to

away the

Sordes

upon

it,

and promote

Digeftion by the
tions
;

Ufe

of fuitable Applicaeife carefully

and every thing

as

ma-

naged,
Bubces.

before

directed

in

the Cure of

LASTLY,
effected,

Incarning

is

gradually to be
\

and the Ulcer flowly healed over

haftily clofed ?
it is

for

by being too
to find

not un-

common

fome

peftilential

Miafmata

lurking behind,

which afterwards prove mif^

often fatal, as

chievous, and

may

eafily

be

gathered from a preceding Hiftory, and ma-

ny others not here mentioned.

BUT

becaufe fometimes the Parts where

arife,

Carbuncles

cannot be cleanfed conve-

niently from the

morbid Hnmours, whence

at

the Cure proves flow, or cannot be effefted

of
at
all,

th

1a*e

Tejtiknce.
firft

20

the circumjacent Parts at

Defenfatives,

ihould

be guarded by

which would
Parts,

altringe the Laxity

upon thofe

keep

the Paifages clear, and give

Room
and

for the
Spirits,

due Motions
while
at

of the Juices

the fame time they prevent

the

Exhalation of the natural

Beat

But if
to be

notwithftanding the utmoft Care, Sphacelation comes on, immediate Recourfe

is

had

to Embrocation, with the following,

Ifi

Clnerum abfynthii, fcordiij carduiy centaurii

iij.

min. ana ^
flor*

e quibus farctur

lixivium y indendo

chamemeli) fambuci) meliloti ana

ij.

M. J.

liquor is

limfidi lib.
thcriac.
dice,}

adde fpr. vini

ij.

oft. lib. fs. dijfolve

Lend. J

M, S. fro

fotu

f.

ajfe&a bis de
conficiatur

quam

caladiffime, exin

Cataplafma
frufrietatis.

theriac.

Lond. cum Elix

LASTLY, To
Secl'ion,

put

an

End

to this
I

wherein

to

prevent
all

prolixity,

have ftudioufly avoided

troverfy
I

Points of Con-

cannot

altogether

omit the

Mention of thofe
geons, with
this

skilful

and faithful Sur-

due

Honour,

whofe Task

in

raging

Calamity was very hard and

dangerous,
peftilential

how they had the Care of all Tumours and Ulcers, &c. Eut
fome of thefe
fell

although

themlelves in

the

tot

Of

tPreferVation

the Difcharge of their Duty to others, yet

the Survivors went on chearfuily
in

their

Bufmefs

and they

who

lived through the

whole, owed a great deal to a Conftancy of Mind, as well as to the conservatory Power

of Providence.

section
Of
is

vni,
Peflilence.

Preservation

from a

manifeftly IT keep the to

off

much more

advifeable

Iiwafion of a PefHlence,
-,

than to Hand

its

violent and fatal Shocks

as well
as the

and Self-Prefervation,
ple

Exam-

of

all

other
all

wife

People,

admonifties

us to ufe
it

poffible

Endeavours to keep
it

from

us,

and guard our felves againft

while at a Diftance". This Part therefore concerning our Prefervation from a Peftilence,

regards both the

Duty of the Ma-

giftrate,

and the Care of every Individual

to fay,
it
is

that

is

the Magiftrate's Duty,

that
ties

when

the Nature and peculiar Quali-

of this Difeafe are known, and reported

by Phyficians, fuch Laws

vided,
its

mould be proutter Extirpa-

as

might

beft

conduce to prevent
to its

Spreading, if not

tion.

FIRST

from a

Weft'tlence.

205
plight to

FIRST 01
be

all

therefore, they
a

deemed

as

kind

of Traitors,

who
by
\

frightned the credulous Populace with the

Apprehenfions of an approaching
idle

Pla< ue,

and groundlefs Reports and Predictions

for the Propagation of the late Sicknefs

was

too notorioufly

aflifted

by

this
it.

Means, to

want any Arguments to prove

THE
infecled

timely

Separation
is

alfo

'

of the

from the we 11,

abfolutely neceffa-

'vy to be done*

becauie the moft fure

it,

Way
and

of fpreading
well

is

letting

the

fick

converfe

together.

Publick Funerals
alfb
all

ought to
Meetings,
veral

be forbid, as

kinds

of
fe-

and frequent Intercourles of

:

Perfons together

An

Injunction alfo

of Quarantine from infected Places, according to the Cuftom

of Trading Nations,

is

by any Means not to be omitted, and

leB.y to

care-

be executed.

ALTHOUGH
almoft impofnble,
trivances,

it

is

looked upon as

by the moft artful Conprudent Councils,

and

the moft

to avoid the Influence of a

common

Caufe

*,

yet the Call of Nature,

Self-prefervation,

and the Laws of

Dili-

demand our utmoft

gence

204
gence and
private,, to

^7

*P reformation
in

Labour, both
prevent

publick

and

the Encroachment of

fuch
it

fiibtile

and cruel Deftroyer.

a wife

And
ConFa-

was certainly to this purpofe

trivance

of the Magiflrates, to conftitute

two

in every Parilh daily to viiit every

mily,

and be

fatisfied

whether every one

belonging thereunto was well, and free from

any

Infection,

BUT
to

both

the

Ancients and Moderns

have taken the

purge the

utmoft Pains in contriving

Suppofition
that,

Air, on a

in a peftilential Contagion, that

is fubfiantially

infeted
ftrated,

But
is

as the Air,

as

before

demon-

only

the Lodgment or Vehicle

Miafmata,
it, it

to

the

peftilential

every

Way

agitated in

which are does not feem fo

its

much to want
with
it.

Depuration on

own Account,
is

as that poilonous

Mixture which
the peftilential

joined

Indeed

Particle s

refiding in the
often,'

Porofkies

of the Air,

may

without any Change of Figure, for

of due Agitation, remain and ftagnate
long Time,

Want
in
it

fo as

to be

drawn

in

by

the

Lungs

in

Inspiration* and

hence

from the intimate Mixture and Confufion as it were of both, a Sufpicion may be
entertained

of the

Taint coming from a

Cor-

from a
Corruption of Air
faid
^

Teftilencel

2 of

but of this we have

,

enough already
is,

and

as

howfoever this
Air
all

Matter

a Purgation

of the

is

by-

common

Confent called for on

Sides in

thefe Cafes,

we

mall confider this Matter,

Refpetts.

chiefly in thefe

two

FIRST, That
be diflodged}

the

peftilential

Semimum

and

to this Purpofe contri-

bute brisk Winds, efpecially from the North ,

and the frequent Explofions of great Guns, in the Morning and Evening chiefly ^ becaufe fuch

Concuilions agitate

the poifbn-

ous Miafmata y and not only help to diilipate

them, but to change and

thofe
particular

alter

Configurations
-

them in whereby
hath been

they become fo noxious

attefted

and
that

it

by Experience,

an intimate
greatly
peftilen-

Combination of Nitre
alters the
tial

and

Sulphur

faline Qualities

of the

Taint*

SECOND LT,
to
ticles

The
Effect.

utmoft Diligence

is

be ufed to prevent the peftilential Par-

from taking
done
the

which

is

fuccef-

fully

by proper Fumigations.
Oracle
in

Hif*

'

pocrates y
it

Phyfick, hath left

to Pofterity, to kindle Fires in the pubStreets

-

lick

and thefe fometimes

conceive

2o6
ceive

Of
it,

(PreferVation
-,

may do good

but not, as fbme will

peftiferous
all

have

by abforbing the

HumL

dities,

but by diffufxng on

Sides a great

deal

of Nitre , which gives a confiderable

%

Change to the venomous Miajmata

it

judge

beft therefore that fuch

Fires ihould be

made of
a clear
Fir,

refinous

Woods, which throw out

as

and unHous Smell, fuch

Jumper y

Oak, Aft, Elm, Chefnut, &c. but by no

Coals,

Means

which exhale an impure,

fetid,

and fuflocating Sulphur.

B Y the Care of the Magistrate Streets, Sinks, and Canals, mould

cleared

alfo the

daily be

of

all

Filthy
juftly

btcauie

Stench and
Enterthe Air

Nafnnefs
tainers

are

reckoned the

of Infection,

and we

find

to be

corrupted frequently
^

from

noifbme
can-

Smells

io that

the peitilential

Venom

not
iiich

but

receive

additional Strength

from

Means.

B
and

TJ

to

be yet

more

particular about

theie Fumigations,
refreili

both to mend the Air

in-

the Houfes that have been

mufr.

fected,

they

be

compofed of fuch
the
Spirits

Things
Flavours

as raile

and comfort

that were
-

languifhing

with their greatful

Smells are a kind

for refreihing

of

from a

Tefl'tlence.

toy

of natural Pabulum to the animal Spirits ^ or they mould be of fuch Subftances as

by their
cover
cannot

gummy
,

Vifcidity
Sficula,

entangle
fb

and

the venomous

that they

a&

or, laftly,

of fuch Things as

breath out

fuch nitrous Steams, which will

Bodies from
receiving

either preferve our

Impurities, or

change the Nature of the

infectious Particles.

do not indeed deny, but fome ungrate-

full Smells

may

be fometimes more conveas

nient
Spirits

than iweet ones,

they

fix

thole

which would otherwife exhale } and

But

a copious Efflux of faline Particles will often

keep them from Infection and Injury.

to reduce theie into ClafTes.

THE
Civet,

Simples

of the

firft

Clafs are,
Rofcmary,

Muskt
Rofcs7

Amomum,

Lavender,
Cloves,

Angelica,

/Marjoram,

Rhodium

Wood 7
Titch y

Aloes Wood, &c.

Benjamin,
St or ax.

Of the fecond,
Bdellium,

Frankincenje7

Labdanum,

Sagapcnum, Myrrh, &c.

Sulphur

Of

the third Clais,

and Nitre> more of which hereafter.

further,

BUT
.

that

all

the

Means of
removed,

Propagating
it
is

the Plague

may

be

very wifely ordered bv die Maefiftra-

cy ?

io8
cy,
to kill

Of
all

Tre/erVation
Dogs, Cats,
left

and other do^

meftick Brutes,
PafTage from
r

thefe Creatures in their

one Place to another iliould

carry along with

fedion.

them the

peftiiential In.

YET
their

although

both the Makers and

the Conthere-

Executors of the Laws were very diligent in

Duty during the

all

late Sicknefs,
j

tagion notwithftanding fpread

fore

when

the Care and Skill of the Magiftrate

could avail nothing in flopping the

common
made
were

Deftroyer, the utmoft Application was*

to preferve the Individuals under itsVifitatioii

:

For which Purpofe,

all

firft

of

all

removed

Means of rendering our Bodies

to take the Infection, and the
'the Conftitution
it

more

fubjecl:

beft Care taken to fortifie

againft its Attacks,

its

and to lupport

under

Tyranny*

know not indeed

greater

Neglect

than in not keeping the Body clean,

keeping at a Diftance every

and

Thing fuperpefti-

Huous or

offenfive

and during the

iential Conftitution,

nothing was worfe than

Evacuations of

all

Kinds:

But

if a Ple-

thora required Phlebotomy,

the Blood mould

in

be taken away

by

a fmall Orifice,

but

little

from a
little

Weft'tlence.

209
:

Quantity,

and at feveral Times

Perfon loaded with bad Humours,

fhould

be difcharged of them,
diately
firft
i

if poffible,

immethrown

if they

glut the

Stomachy and
to be

PafTages,

they

ought
in

off

by Vomiting, Drinking
been
boiled
;

the Operation
in

good Quantities of PofTet-Drink,

hath
the

which

Leaves of Carduus

and Scordium

and alio the Bowels ihould

be cleanfed, to which Purpofe the following

is

ufeful

Sails Tart,

ij.

V. Solutlo in Jplr. vini opt.

iv. f-era

\)i

turn

adde gutta gambi 9

Jpir.

Ba

folutione eva~

f oretur

turn

addi colocynth. cum wink prop*

j.

ij.

fcammaiiy Sulphurat i 9
di rhabarb.
rec.
j.

Aloes y rofatx 3

ijo

trochifc.

iv*

gum ammoniaci
ana
de rhamno F.

in acetOy fcil. foluti

falls abfynthii, cardui

q* Syr.

9 J.

ol.

carui gutt. vij.

cum f.

ma]fa y indi piluU ntin. formentur, Dof.

ad 9

ij*

And

thus to throw off thofe

Humours which
pestilential

join with

and aggravate the

Ve-

nom, very much prevents the Want of Antidotes afterwards.

CARE
muft

muft

be taken that

there

be

noSuppreffion of Urine*,

the Non-naturals
the

be ufed with great Regularity-,

tranfpirabie
,

Body muft be kept

the

Tone
of

2 10

Of

(PreferVation
%

of the Vifcera ftrengthened } Failing avoided

Choice made of a good Diet,
yield good Nourishment,

fuch

as will
little

make but

Excrement,

and be eafy of DigefHon} to

and Sauces are to be
Lemons,

which

federal Pickles
as

recommended}
every Meal Sack
tues

Juice of Sorrel,

Oranges, Pomegranates, Barberries,

is

&c.

and

ad

to be allowed, whofe Ver-

we

fhall hereafter

have Occafion to fpeak

to be

of^

and Care

mould be taken not

Abroad

in the Evening.

AND
all

to exprefs

all

in

a few

Words,
a

the animal

Fluids muft be kept in

in an Equality

natural State,

of Motion*

and

an

equable
;

Degree of Mixture and

muft. not

Fluxility

they

be put at any

inordinate Hurries,, nor be too

much

rarified

or exalted^

nor muft they be fuifered to

for

grow vapid and languid,

ration,

Want

of Depu-

and a Retention of excrementitious

But a proper Regimen
is

Particles.

better

to be had from other Writers,

haften to proper Antidotes.

we

therefore

An

from

a Teftilence*

An

Anti-feflilential Eletlaary of

Mayerne*

J Jutrlandium vlrld. lib.

ij,

ficuum^ prunorum

ana

lib.

j.

macerentur in aceto^
fubt'dlff.

&

pulp a trajici*

atirf) cul

adde pulv.

ruta, lib. Is. viperin*

iij.

Virgiiiianse

j,.

fs.

rad. contrayerva g
ij.

pet a-*
j.

fold, zedoarl*, ana 5

is.

facchari perlati lib.

Syr

fucco

Kermes

j.

Syr. calendula^ caryophyll.

ana

q. f.

ut F. Eletl.

mo He y addenda foL Aurl 40*

Dof. ad quantltatem nucis Jugland. maj. ma?je y

vefperl.

&

An
J5

Electuary for the Poor*

Conferv. lujul<e, galecne

am

lib. fs.

calendula
vitriol*

lib.

j.

1her lac.
cum
ij.

Londin.

iij*

boll

armen.

iv.

fyr.

llmonum

q.

conficiatur Eleft* Dof,

ad,

vet

iij.

An

Antipejlilential Confetti on*

J Radic. fcorzon. Hijpan. petafitld. cmtrayer*

Va ana ^

ij.

heteml^ tormentllU ana 5

fs.

angelic a 9
pr&p. lib*

chelidcnldy mal. ana

fs.

j.

fs.

bacc.

Jump,
citrl

fummlt. rut a ip.j.fem. cardul^

ana 5

ij

quibus pnzp. affunde p. duas acetl fambuc.

fplr.

& tertiam
:

vlnl opt. infufione peraEta

&.

exprejfionc, liquor

ignc lento evaporetur fere

lib,
j.

ad mellagincm
ij. fs.

extraEli

addc

theriac*

Londin. 3

boll

arm* ten A
figil-

P %

211
Jigillata

Of
ana %
j.

(PreferVation

j.flor. fulphuris

Z v.fucci Kermes ^

ij.

conferv. lujul& lib.

molle,

cum

fyr. limon* q>

mtcis

F.

FleM.
ter,

Dof ad

quantit.

myriftica

mau

vel fapius de die.

Anti-fefiilential Vills*
1% Extract, rad.
helenii,

angelica, contrayerva

ana
fulph.

j.

adde

extraft.

alb. glycyrrh.

iij.

fior m

ad quatuor faltem

vices fublim.

ij.

C. C. phi*

lofoph.

calcin. fern, citri pulvcriz.

ana Z). fs.falis

picis liquids

fcordii, abfynth.

ana 9

ij.

cum
fs.

f. q.

majfa pro f Hulls, Dof. ad o

vel

ij,

mane,

&

bora fomni.

Antipeftilemial Elixir Proprietatis.

VI Croci Angl.
aq.
opt.

fs.

extrah. tinfluram
',

cum
q

ulmarU, jcabiofz,

cardui

vel melijfa

additis fpir, fulphuris aliquot

guttis

ad

leviufcu~

lam aciditatem

liquor per

chartam emporeticam
dijfolve

agatur, in colatura

ad lentum B. calorem
vefica

Aloes

pellucida
ita

iv.

per fat ac cum lin;

teum hand
condenfatio

rarum

trajiciatur liquor

deinde F

ad eundem calorem,

acquifita pilularum

wolUufcularum confftentia, adde myrrh a purijfima

vij.

for.

vel magifterii pr&cipit.

Benzoin Z

iij.

falis C. C.

ij.

cu,m fyr.jambuc. q.
ij.

f F.

majfa wi-

de pilul a formentur, Dof. ad 9

Lozenges

from a Pe/tHence.
Lozenges Againft the Plague.
g Extratt. rad. angelica,
extr.
h.
e.

&
ol.

contrayerva %

j.

alb.

liquiritU

iij.

flor. fiulphuris

myrrhat.
viij.

cum myrrha fublim. 3

cryjlaliin.

v.

cinnam. gutt.

faccharum
mucilag.

ad duplum omnium pondus, cum

gum

tragacanth. aq. fcordii far at, q.

f. TabelU farva fubling.

SOME
unripe

ufed every Morning to fwallow

,

a Clove or two of Garlick

Walnuts
pickled.

and many eat

The

following

Draught was of admirable Service

I Aq. rofar. rubr. camphor at <z J

ij.
ij.

aceti

opt,

j.

in quibus dijfolve bol.

arm*
S. F.

opt.

adde Jyr.

fcabiofie

Jimp I. 5

iij.

M.

haufius.

SOME
Excrements
Secret,
I

old Kurfes, as themfelves have

informed me, for an Antidote gave

j

human

but for the Efficacy of this

fay.
:,

Some found Benefit by drinking of Urine but many who have thought themfelves by thefe Means
have nothing to
fo well fortified,

would venture themfelves

too inadvertently into Danger, without any

neceffary Occafion, to the great

Hazard of

their Lives.

BUT

14

Of

TreferVation

BUT
it
is.

in theie precautionary Dire&ions,

to be

particularly

advertifed,

that

Aftringents of any Kind whatfbever, as Bole,

fealed Earthy

Lemnlan Earthy

Coral^

&c

are

not to be
in

given to Maidens,

and

Women
they

their

monthly Courfes,

for Fear

fhould occafion Obftruftions,

Diforders
:

and other bad

alio

Thofe Remedies

are

as

much
and

to be blamed which force this Eva-

cuation by thinning
irritating

the Blood too much.

:

the Uterine Veiiels

as

And

laitiy,

in

the Prefervation

well as the

Cure, the Seafons of the Year, Sex, Constitution, Age, <&q. are carefully to be attend-

ed

to.

BUT

before

proceed further.

Grati-

tude obliges
tues of Sack 5

me

to

do

Juftice to the Veris

as it delervedly

ranked a-

mongii the
it

principal
it

Antidotes,

whether

be drank by

ieif,

or impregnated with
for
I
-

Wormwood, A'dgetka,
yet

Sec.

have never

met with any Thing

all
is
beit.

fo agreeable to

the Nerves and Spirits in

my

Experience.
neat,

That which
fine,

is

middle-aged,

bright,
:,

racy,
is

and of a Walnut Fla-

vour the

and

it

certainly true, that, during

in felled

late fatal

Times, both the

and
the

from a
they

Te/lilence.
it,
:,

the well found vaft Benefit from

imlefs

who

ufed

it

too intemperately
it

many

indeed medicated
mick Similes.

with various Alexifhar~

remains that
the

we now

fay

fomewhat
cried
}

concerning
tues

Ule of

Tobacco,

whole Verbut

for this Purpofe

are extreamly

up by

Diemebrooeck,

and fome others

whether
Oil
or

we

regard the narcotick Quality

-

of this American Henbane

or the poifonous
it

which exhales from

that
it

in

Smoaking;
of Spittle

prodigious
occafions,

Discharge

which
for
laitly

and which Nature wants

or,

many
it

other important Occafions;

it

the Exercife
\

gives to the

Lungs

in

drawing

befides

the

Aptitude of the
taken

pefti ential Poifon

to be

down along
its

with
I

it,

and the Irkibmenefs of

confefs
,

Scent

murr.
it

my

felf

at

Uncertainties
felf,
I

about

though

as to

my

am

its

profelfed

Enemy,

and was accuftomed to

fupply

its

Place as an Antidote with Sack.

W E now
dies,

then come to external RemeNotice:

it
is

amongft which Amulets, and Characters,

firft

demand the
be granted,

It

mull indeed

that

no new Cuflom or

Contrivance to hang thefe Charms,

made
various

P 4

Of

(PreferVation

Ways, about many Parts of the Body, but what Vertues thefe Things have,
various
is

worth fome Enquiry.

hath obtained with many,

or the Soul of the World,

that

Navery

ture,

hath ima

preffed
dirfufive

upon fbme certain Bodies

magnetick Vertue
;

whereupon fome
thefe Bodies

Adepts have afcribed to

many of

a Faculty of expelling Poifons.

ceit,

Others con-

that both artificial and natural Poifons

do, by a certain Sympathy,

applied,

when outwardly
is

draw away every Thing that

after
as

detrimental to the Constitution;

the

Manner

Amber

attracts

Straws,

and (as
its

they report

of the

Snake-ftone)

imbibe

Venom
of

Some

others again contrive Amulets

Spices,

to invigorate Nature,

and fup-

port her againft the Enemy.

think

it
;

proper

to give

my

Opinion of

this

Matter

with Submiffion therefore to

I

thefe great

Men,

cannot eafily come into

a Belief of any Advantages to be

this Practice
j

had from

for molt,
is

of the Efforts afcrL

bed to them,
perty.

rather from the Power of

Imagination, or owing to fome manifeft Pro-

Furthermore,

it

hath

religioufly ob-

tained ampngft

many

People, that Difeafes

are

of

the late <PeJtiknce.

are to be driven

away by
but
it is

painting Chara&ers
ftrongly to be
fii-

upon the Body

:,

fpe&ed, that this Practice hath been altogether owing to Jugglers, and Perfons addi&ed
to infernal Arts
-

for

what medicinal Virtue

?

can there be in a Figure

It

feems to me,

that becaufe the Sacred Myffieries of our Art

were

anciently

defcribed by Hleroglyf hicks 7

the Populace,
nifications,

who were ignorant of their Sigand

miflook them for Charms againft

a Plague,

and other grievous Difeafes,

they propagated their Delufion down to Posterity*

THERE
I

are innumerable Preparations

of thefe Charms or Amulets to be met with

in the Writings of feveral Phyficians
fhall
:,

but

take

it

to have fufficiently difcharghere, to mention

ed

my Duty

thofe only

which were ufed by our own Country People ^ the principal of which was a Walnut
filled

with Mercury
did

for it

is

certain that

many
curity

promife

to

themfelves
this

Se-

from the Dignity of

others
its

Metal,

which to them feemed to be the Parent of

all

others*,

again

expected

great

Matters from
ft

Volatility, notwithstanding

was thus

inclofed,

thinking

that

the

natural

Heat of the Body would draw inch Ver

S
as

Of

tPreferVation

Vertues,
lufecHon.

would fecure
But much the

them from the

greater

Number
from

were fupplied with

arfenical Amulets^

Empincks and Mountebanks j thefe were compounded of Arfemck alone, with Wax ^ or had many other Things added thereunto,

appropriated

to

the
this

Difeafe.

One
is

of the chief Forms

following

of

Kind

the

Di&amni
Benzoin.

crei. pulv.

d
Z

vij.
iij.

p ulv. finapi Z
ol.

is.

3 ij
opt.

Arfenici vert

cinnam. gutt.
tragacanth.

m). cera

V.

cum mucilag. gum.

aceto rofav. parat.

pafia^ unde placenta multifor-

mes
For

dcpfiticm par-entur 7

ad pondus 3

ij.

vet

iij.

cor-

dis regioni
it

admovend^

linteo ferlco prius involute.

commonly

prevailed

amongft

the

Populace, that Arfcmck y by fome magnetic

Vertue, draws away
all

Poifon,

efpecially

that of a PefHlence.
a dried

The

wearing alfo of

Toad was

mighty Secret with

fome.

BUT
Remedies,

to give

my Thoughts

concerning

the good or bad Effefts of thefe appended

I

do not remember any one who

Expectations anfwered thereby
confiding
;

had
but

their

many

too

much

in

them 2
Pre-

neglected

other

more

neceifary

Means of

from a
Prefervation,

Teftilence*

and brought themfelves into

great

Hazard
,

of their Lives
Inftance

by wearing
of which
I

them

a remarkable

met with
had a
the

in an elderly

Lawyer, who upon

under
died.

wearing an Arfenical Amulet upon his Breaft

pefHlential Carbuncle
rife
it,

third

Day

after

which he
Vesications

In

fome others
not from any

large

appeared,

Venom drawn

out, but

from

the Cauftick Quality of the

and the
to the

Charm Communication of its own

it felf^

Poifon
it,

Part:

What Madnefs
fiich

was

in

fiich a terrible

Calamity, to put the Hazard

idle

of Life upon
periments
?

and ridiculous Ex-

BUT
ceed to

to pafs over fiich Baubles, and pro-

Means

that

are

conformable to
Ijfues

Reafon, and the Rules of Medicine,

are not to be forgot
^

for

by thefe

all

kinds

of Impurities are allowed to flow out along with the

pellilential

Poifon, as through an
j

open and ready Paflage

and the more of

thefe little Ulcers are made, the better, al-

though their Largenefs may anfwer

as

as well

more

in

Number

that

is,

if they are big

enough to hold
If any one hath a

4,

6 or 8 Peas together.

one be

made

in

Mind for two IfTues, let the left Arm, and the other
in

mo
fiilnefs

Of
of
thefe,

tPnferVation

in the oppofite Leg.

I

And

as for the
it
I

Ufe-

can fpeak

of

my own

Experience, that whenfoever

was moft befet

with

peftilential
I

Fumes,

in the Courfe of

my

Bufinefs,

could then immediately perceive

a fhooting Pain in
deal of an
ill

my
I

lifue,

and had a great

conditioned Matter difcharge

from

it

and this

always looked upon as

a fure Warning to have timely recourfe to

Alexifharmkks.

GREAT
well as in
tion of
its

Service was like wile found in

the Prefervation againft

the PefHience, as

curative Part, by the Applica-

Blifiers,

and keeping them open a

good while,

HAVING
I I

r thus come to a Conclufion,

think

it

not amifs to recite the Means which

ufed to preferve

my

lelf from the Infection,

during the continual Courfe of

my

Bufinefs

among the

Sick.
.

AS
I

foon as

rofe in the

Morning

early,

took the Quantity of a

*

Nutmeg of

the

uinti-fefillential Elettuary

then after the Dis-

patch of private Concerns in

I

my

Family,

ventured into a large

Room, where Crowds

of Citizens ufed to be in waiting for

me

and

from a Tefliknce.
and there
I

It

commonly

fpent

two or

three:

Hours, as in an Hofpital, examining the

veral Conditions

leall

and Circumftances of
:,

who came
cers yet

thither

fome of which had \JU

Seizure
all

uncured, and others to be advifed

firft

under the

Symptoms of

which

endeavoured to difpatch, with

all

poiftble Care to their various Exigencies.

AS
fafting,

fbon as this
I

Crowd could be
got

difc

charged,

judged

it

not proper to go abroad

and therefore
till

my

Breakfaft:

After which,

Dinner-time,
*,

I vifited

the

Sick at their Houfes

their Houfes,
I

whereupon, entring

immediately had burnt fome

proper Thing upon Coals, and alfo kept in

my Mouth
Miftake

fome Lozenges
report that

all

the while I

was examining them.

But they are in a

Phyficians ufed

who

on fuch Occafions, very

Myrrhs Zedoary, Angelic a^

hot Things-,
Ginger ,

as

&c. for

many, deceived thereby,

upon their
their Lungs.
Tonfils,

rai fed

Inflammations

and greatly endangered

further

took Care not to go into the

Rooms of
Mind

the Sick

fhort-breathed

when I fweated, or were with Walking} and kept my

ently

as corapofed as poiTible, being fufHci-

221
ently
fuffered

Of
warmed by

TreferVation
fuch,

who had
this

grievoufty

by Uneafinefs

in that Refpefr.

After
I

fome Hours
turned

Vifiting in

Manner,
I

re-

Home.

Before

Dinner,

always

drank a Glafs of Sack, to

refreih the Spirits,

warm

the Stomach,
4

and diilipate any beginInfection.

I

ning

Lodgment of the
for

chofe
eafie

Meats
and

my

Table that yielded an

generous

Nounfhment,

roafled before

boiled, and Pickles not only luitable to the

Meats, but the Nature of the Diftemper^

(and indeed in this melancholy Time, the
City greatly abounded with Variety of
all

good Things of that Nature) I leldom likewife rofe from Dinner without drinking more

Wine.
foiis

After this,
for

had always many Per-

came

Advice

and
I

as foon as

could

difpatch
at

them,

again vifited

till

Eight or Nine
the Evening at
fuinefs

Night, and then concluded

drinking to Cheer-

Home, by

of

my

old favourite Liquor, which

eafie

encouraged Sleep, and an

Breathing
if in the

through the Pores

all

Night.
leaft

But

Day-time
the

found the

Approaches of

Infe&ion

upon

me,

as

by Giddinefs,
I

Loathing at Stomach, and Faintnefs,

im-

mediately had Recourfe to a Glafs of this

Wine, which eafily drove thefe beginning Diibrders away by Tranfpira ion,

YE

from a

<Peftilence*

225

YET
ftiorij I

in

the whole Courfe of the Life-

found

my

felf

III

but twice

but was

foon again cleared of its Approaches by thefe

Means, and the Help of fuch Antidotes

kept always by me.

as I

UT

to conclude,

it

may

not be impro-

per to take Notice, that the Citizens

much

accuftomed themfelves to certain Compoiltions for keeping off the Infection,

tinual Smelling to

by con-

them

the chief amongft

which was the

following.

ty Pulv. rad* angelica^ fummlt, rorifm.

vendula cum
fioribus

~ia~

ana

ij.

carycfbyll.

iiij.

labdani fur iff. Styraels ana

iij

omnibus pr^p.
exprejf.

m
Z
j-

commixtione adde oL nucis mofch. per

fs.

oL

ligni

rhod.

ij.

camphors Z
f. F.

fs.

mofchi gr.
like*

viij.

cum

cer<c

opt. p.

maa*

Some
Oil of

wife
vpood^

would fmell to Galbanum,

Pltch y

Worm-

or Rue, as alfo the Oil or Spirit

drawn

from

and dropped upon Cotton, to be

Yet
I

kept in a clofe Ivory Box.

fo

could not

much approve of

thefe Things, as they

were ufed^ becaufe they fo much dilated

the Pores of the olfa&ory Organs, as to give

more Liberty

for the peftilential Mlafmata to

pafs in along with them.

TIT

I?

224

Of

tPrtJtfVatwiy

&c

THE
I

Purification

of Houfes was con-

trived to be done feveral Ways*, but

what

moft approved

of,

was in placing a Cha

fing-diih in the

Middle of a Room, or the Entries, or Windows, where proper Things

all

were burnt, and exhaled

round.

Quick-

lime was likewife thrown into the following Deco&ion.

t
IJ

Vol. Scordii,

Angelica ana

M; iij.
fs.

[ummii.
rofar*

lauri)
pallid*

ruta,

lavendula,
ij.
JF.

ana

j.

ftor.
3

fambuci ana p.
iij.

calami aromat.

V.

Ca~

ryophylL Contuf. 5
font.

decotlio in duabus p. aq>

& tenia
it

aceti rofac. vel

Sambuc

confimiliter

ac lagena, a mucore 7
dantUT)

& fitu

calcis extinfhione

mun*

ut liquorum inditum amplius vitient7

&

corrumpant.

For

as foon as the

Lime is thrown

in, it raifes a

very penetrating Steam, which

feemed very likely to deftroy the Efficacy of the

peftilential Miafmata.

For the fame

following very

Purpofe likewife were the

judicioufty contrived.

Sails

petra lib.

5j.

Sulphur is

iij.

benzoin*

(U Styracis Jimul liquati. ana q. f ut formentur f.

Trochifc. deb. exiccandi.

FINIS.

ESSAY
ON THE
O F

A N

Different

Caufes

PeftilentialDifeafes
And how they become Contagious,

WITH

R E M ARK
Upon
the

Infection now

in

A N
John
Q.u

C E.
'

incy, M.

D.

Clje C&fca esittot, Mil) large

9Wt0Rt&

L O
Printed for
Cornhilt^
JE.

N:

Bff7 at the Crofs-Keys and Bible in and J. Ofisorn^ at the Oxfird-j4rms ia

Lombard-fire et 7 3721.

]
m

lwr,n,xHnUBi3Lai!u&aj- 7.i'Jo a

p^n*

111'JBBC

! !! -

IWl M

W n
I

>

W KM^MI >lfl
ll

OF

THE
O F

ent Caufes

Tejlilential

Ttifeafes,

&c.
any
cne

HERE
.

is

hardly

Subjecl

more

largely

treated

of by Phyfical Writers,
that

than

of

Teft Hernial
it

Difcafes,
I

and the Reafbn of

be, the

take to

Frequency

in all

Ages and Countries,

*,

of Alarms from

fuch dreadful Deftroyers

Impreffions they

and
apt

the
to

uncommon make upon

are

the Minds

of thofe,
to

whofe Profeilion naturally leads them

enquire into their
Caufes.
all

But

in this it

has fared as with

that

the other Branches of

noble Science.

The

Conjectures

and
Opt-

4
too

The Caufes and Cure

Opinions of Pe.rfons have at

much influenced

Times been by the Philofophk Hy~

all
it is a
1

fothefes in

Vogue, infomuch that

molt an
to

endlefs as well as an unprofitable Task,

examine into them

quiry
is

all

And
with
I

as fuch an

En-

not

confiftent

the intended

Brevity of thefe Pages,

mall pals

them by,

only

juft

taking Notice of the moil coniider-

able Opinions, under which, mofl: that has been

advanced to any Purpole

may

be reduced,

ALL
reduced
af bribe

Authors upon this Subject, may be

under thefe two Sorts
:

Such

as

them
by

to the immediate
as

Wrath of

Heaven, and account them

inflicted

Puniahments

the immediate
^

Exertion of a
as ailign for

Supernatural Power
their Origin

and

fiich

fome natural Caufe,

too
great a

ALTHOUGH

Regard

cannot be had to the Author of our Beings,

yet Care fhould likewife be taken,

not to

afcdbe every Calamity

to

the immediate
^

Exertion of the Almighty Power

feems

for

it

much more worthy of

it,

the Divine

Being fo to order

that from the Courfe

of iecond or natural Caufes,

shall

Fumihments

purfue Offenders, than to imagine the

frequent Exertion of his Power in a

Way
fuper-

of peflilentkt Vifedfes.
fupernatural
to
is

inflift

fuch

Puniiliments.

But
Very
but

there

great deal

of Reafon to

fufpeft, that the

[Number of this Sett was

much

increafed

by fuch,

as

either

of Ignorance in other Caufes, of an affe&ed Devotion, thought

Intereft

or out
it

their

to

come

into

this

Opinion,

and
reli-

pretend to do greater Cures by certain

gious Performances,

and their Interceilion

with Heaven,
Medicine,
little,

than was in the Power

of

of which they knew but very

OF
there

thole that aiUgn fome natural Caule^

are feveral Opinions
:

Some

afcribe

them
Bodies.

to aftral Influences,

to malign Con-

junctions

and Radiations of the Heavenly

We

find,

from the moil

Peft Hernial

remote

Antiquity, not only

DiJ cafes, but

Hkewife a great many

the fame Caufes
:

others, afcribed to
all

But

the Reafonings

about this Conjeture have been Very obfeure

and perplexed until the prelent Age, when

Sir Ifaac Newton
juftly, "and talk
firfc.

taught

Men

to think

intelligibly

about the

Mo-

tions

and Influences of thofe remote Bodies

:

upon our Atmofphere

Dr.

And upon

his

Theory

Mead has
their

fince further

proceeded to

determine

EiKcacies

upon humane
Bodies,

6
Bodies.

The Caujes and Cure

By which,
as
it

does appear that

they

affect,

us no otherwise

than

as

they

occafion
fons,

the feveral Variations of the Sea-

and different Conftitutions of the Air,

left to

the Reader muft be

the Confideration

of fuch Caufes.

ANOTHER.
Steams and
Bodies.

Caufe

is

charged

upon

Exhalations
are

from putrefying
Instances

There

Abundance of

to iupport this Opinion, that manifeilly dif-

cover very fatal Effects from fuch Caufes.

As

Battels are generally fought in

SummerSeafon

Time,
fo
it

when by the Heat of the

Things are moil difpofed

to PutrefacYon,

has often been obferved, that the Plague

has appeared after great Slaughters of

in Fight,
as appears

Men

by undoubted TestiDiodonu
others, too tedious
() gives a

mony from
to mention.
lation
a

Julius Alexa?idrinu6 (a) 9

S culm , and a great

many

Amhhfe Pamy
Plague,

Re-

of

that laid wafte almoin

its

whole Country,
of
a

which had
great

Rife from'

the Stench
cafes
left

many human CarPit,

that

were thrown into one

Joannes

and

Rotting uncovered.

Witfius

(c\

Forcjius

(a)
{b
(i)

De

Bello Punico.
3
.

Lib. 10. Cap,

Tom.

i.

meinortb. Cent.

io,

of peflikntial
toreftus

f)if?afe$.

9
(c)

(d) i

the abovernentioned Parrey

(f)y
all

and Agricola
arifing
.

take Notice of Plague^

from the Stench of putrefying Fiih

that were thrown dead upon the Shores.

OTHER
in

Steams of the fame Efficacy

Frequently arife
fragnant Waters,

from the Putrefactions of

and other Bodies, which^

fome particular Confiitutions of Air, are

Efflu-

apt to corrupt, and emit very orrenflve

via*

Dr.

Mead

(V)

relates

from Diogenes

Lacrtius Qi) y

that Emfedocles oblerved a pe-

fdlential Difeafe to afSift the Salinumij,

from
to re-

the Putrefaction of a certain River

;,

medy

which,

he contrived to
which,

have the
Pvivers

Streams of two other neighbouring

drained into
it,

by their Increafe

of the Current, with an additional Weight

and PrelTure of Water, brought the former
to
its

ufual Sweetnefs, and fo put a Stop to

the Plague*

TO

this

Purpofe

Dn
is

Plot

(>')

obferves^

the Reafons

why

Oxford

now much more

4
health-

A
(d) In his Scholium upon U) De Pefte, Lib. 6. (/) De Pefte, Lib; 1.
ig) Pr^ef.

Obf.

9.

Lib. 6,

(h) Lib. 8.
(/) S^at;

de imperio Solis acLunS, Segon.70. Hift. of Oxf&dfhirei Chap. i.

&s

The Caufes and Cure

Inhabitants,

healthful than heretofore,, to be the Enlarge-

ment of the City, whereby the

who

are not proportionably increafed, and

clofe

not fo

crowded together

and the

Care of the Magiflrates in keeping the Streets

clear

from Fi i.-.:h:
ufed
to
kill

For formerly (he

all

lays)

they

Manner of Cattle within the Walls, and fuffer the r Dung and
Offals

to

lie

in the Streets.
Ifis

Moreover^ aGherwelt, t: :6*

bout thofe Times the

the
filled

and

Careleinels

of the Townfmen,

being

with Mud, and the

Common-Shores

by fuch Means ftopped, did caufe the Aicent

of Malignant Vapours whenever there happened to be a Flood.
But
fince

that,

by

the Care and at the Charge of Richard Fgx 7

Biihop of Winchefter, in the Year
1

7,

thole

Rivers were cleanied,

and more Trenches

cut for the Water's free Tallage, the

Town

has continued
tion
j

in a very

healthful Condi-

and in a particular Manner fo free

Peftilential Difeafes, that the Sicknefs

from

m 1665,

which raged

in

moft Parts of the any Perlbn there, and

Kingdom, never
the Court
did there

vifited

although the Terms were there kept,

and both Houfes of Parliament

refide.

TO

of peftikntial Vi/eafes.

f
is

TO

this Caufe,

'tis

very

probable,
at

owing the Frequency of the Plague

Cairo in Egypt,

Grand

and

in the

bland of Sardinia,
relate
:

as Taufanias and

others

Although upon
their
as

indeed Proffer Alfinus (a) charges a great deal

of the Caufe of that

continual

at Cairo,

Commerce with fuch Nations

Reafon
it
is,

are feidom without fuch infe&ious Difeafes.

And

for this

that

we

find all

thole Countries,

which mofl abound with

to be

Swamps and Standing Waters,

unheal thful, efpecially in the

moil

hotter!.

Seafbns^

except, as in feveral Parts of Italy, fuch Lakes

have any Communication with the Sea, or

fome large Rivers.

To

this Purpole Pifi (b)

frequently obferves thole Places to be moix

fubjecl to fuch Calamities,

where there are

as

conftant

Heat and

fettled Calms,

fuch

Temperament of Air moft

mas
JJland,

difpofes Bodies to
as

Putrefa&ion and Corruption,

in St. The*

and Guinea

And, On the conof

but agitated by
is
little.

trary, that notwithftanding the Intenfenefs

Heat,

if

the Fluids are

Winds, Tides, and Currents, there

Danger, of fuch Difeafes } and the lefs ftill, the more regular and conftant the Seafons are

upon

(a)

DeMedicin.

Egypt.

Lib

i.

Cap. 15.

(*) Hift. India

and BrafiL

Tie Caufes and Cure

:

upon other Accounts

is,

By which Means

it

that between the Tropicks, and even under

It is

the Equator,

very healthful.

UNDER
found Fruits,
a Share
(a)

this

Head

it

may

not be im-

proper to obferve, that too fcanty and

mean

a Diet, and Feeding upon unripened and unare

frequently charged with

in Mifchiefs
Julius Cxfar

of this kind.

Jofcvhus

and

(7?)

amongrt Hiftorians
plryfical

Forefiw (c),
ters, give

and feveral other

Wri-

Accounts of Plagues from the like

Galen (d)
is

Caufes.

very pofitive in this

(e)

Matter

:,

and in one Place

accuies his

great Mafter Hippocrates with neglecting too

much

the Confequence of a bad Diet,

and

afcribing

fome Miichiefs

arifing

from thence
is

to a bad Air.

And upon

this

grounded
following

the

common Opinion of
:,

a Plague's

a Famine er fort,

in

which Circumftances, the poorfeed meaner!:,

generally iufFer

who
it
ill

moft, as

frequently happens in long Sieges,

fuppiied with Provifions.

and Armies

Thus
Tra*

Bello Judaico, Lib. 7. Cap. 26, BelJo Civilly Lib. 2. (c) Lib. 6. Obfer. 9, 2nd 26. (d) Lib. 1. de differ. Feb. Cap. 3. decibis mali.
(a)

Dc

(b)

De

&

&

boni fucci.
(e)

Comment,

in

lib.

denstaliwn,

t->r..i

of
dies is

peflikntial Difeafes.

1 1

Travellers report, that Sarrat in the Eeft-Jn*

feldom or never free from a Plague,

is

which
elfe

afcribed to the

mean Diet of the

and feed on
little

Natives,

who
j

are Banians,

than Herbs, Water, Rice, and fuch like

Fare
for it
is

pitiful

obferved, that the

Europeans

who

trade there, are in no Danger

of being

infetled, becaufe they feed well

Fle/h, and drink

Wine, which

fecures

on them

againft thofe malignant Difeafes.

Third Caufe
from
this

is

afcribed

to

Mineral

Eruptions
Veftilences

and fubterraneous
Caufe are

Exhalations.

more

Infre-

quent than from feveral others } becaufe fuch

Eruptions hardly
ever

happen but upon

Pits,

Earthquakes, or

Breaking into the Bowels

Wells, and the,

of the Earth by Mines,

like
-

and
it

then too, in Order to produce a

is

Tcfiilcnce,

necellary that whatlbever ex-

hales

and

mixes

with

the ambient

4ir
it

muft be of fuch
unrefpirable
j

a Nature, as to render

or to

communicate by

it

iueh

Particles to the

Animal Juices

as will per-

vert their natural Crafis,

and difhirb their

often hap-*

due Secretions
pen,
for

which does not

there are frequent Shocks of the

inteftine Fermentations,

Earth from

which
they

are not followed

by any fuch Mifchlefs, as

The Caufes and Cure

when they have
got Vent, nei-

they happen only from the Struggle of fuch

Principles, as

ther of themfelves, or by

any Thing emit-

ted with them, are of that difagreeable Nature, as to give

any Difturbance to the Ani-

mal OEconomy.

CARO LV S

de

la

Font,

(a) indeed, as

Well as feveral others, lays great Strefs upon

Caufes of this kind, and charges

Dijeafcs chiefly to

Peftilentiat

Mineral

Exhalations of

divers kinds
rous,

as Arfenical, Mercurial, Sulphu-

&c. which he imagines the

ambient

Air often to be overcharged with, either

from the Heat of the San, Earthquakes, or

fubterraneous Fires.
different

To

all

this, Perfons

of

Opinion

object,

the In frequency of

Plagues in Calabria, Naples, and feveral Parts

of
Sicily,

where there are manifefHy very

occafion

great fubterraneous Fires, fuch as

violent Earthquakes, and

many

furious

and

plentiful Eruptions of metallkk and mineral

Fumes.

very diftinb Relation of which 3

own Knowledge, may be met with from Dr. Bernard Connor, (V) who has been
from
his

very curious in his Enquiries hereinto.

BUT
(a) DifTert. de Pefte.
(h)

De montis Vefuvii

Inccndio.

of peftilential Difeajes.

BUT
Head,

however Authors
in Hittory

differ

upon this
are to be

feveral very

odd Relations

met with
is

of malignant and dead-

ly Sicknefles from thefe Caufes.

That Story

very ftrange which

is

related by Ammianus

Marcclllmis, (a)?.vA taken Notice of by Cardan

and

Rlolanus, that a
Seleucia,

moft grievous Peflilence

which, from thence to
fpread
it

broke out in

Tarthia, Greece,

and

Italy,

felf thro

a great part of the

World, from the Opening

an ancient Vault in the Temple of Afollo\ and

that
it

raged with fo

much Fury,

as to

fweep

away

a third part of the Inhabitants

it vifited.

of thole

Countries

IT

is

needlefs to trouble the

Reader with

.many Relations of the fudden and ftrange

Effects

of fome Steams

arifing

from Mines

and

Pits,

which

are generally termed

by our

Colliers Damps, becaufe almoft. every

Body has

already been acquainted with fuch Accounts*

D R.
dig a

Plot (U) tells us,

Years iince,

That about Twenty two Perfons were employed to

in the

Well

Parifh of North-Leigh in

Oxford-

la) Hi ft. 73. (b) Nat. Hift.

of

Oxford/hire^

Chap.

3.

Par. 31.

14
Oxfordshire,

The Caufes and Cure

but upon being taken
it
ill,

left off

the

Work: Whereupon
*

was undertaken

by two others of Woodftock ; who, before they could do any thing confiderable in it,
funk down, and
died
irrecoverably in the

Well: Which being perceived by a Miller

hard by, and he coming to their AfEftance,
fell

down dead upon them.

fell
*,

Another aifo
the

venturing to do the fame, with a Rope' tied

about him,

from

the"

Ladder

juft in

fame Manner
sip

and though prefently drawn

by the People above, yet he was fcarceiy

in an

recovered

Hour

or more.

And

fince

then,

upon

a Bucket's falling into a

Well

in

another Part of the

Town,

Woman

per-

fwaded a ftrong lufty

Man

to

go down a

Ladder to fetch

it,

who, by that Time he

had got half way down, fell from the Ladder into the Well upon which, the Woman
*

called another of her

Neighbours to his Aiiiabout the fame

Place,

fence, who,

much

met with the fame

leaft

Fate, without giving the

;

Sign of Change

fo

fatal

(fays the

Doclor) are the

Damps of

that Place.
at

Dr,

Baot (a) tells a Story that

lin in. Ireland^ juft

happened

Duh~

of the fame Nature.

And
in

(a) Nar.'Hift. Cap. 18, Seft. 4.

of peflikntidl Difeafes.
ill

the

Thilofofhical

Tranfallions

(a) 7

5 there
in

are the

like

Relations of

Damps
Lord

the

Coal-Mines belonging to the

in Scotland*

Sinclair

T II E
is

mofr.

furprizing
I

Efxeft

of theie

fubternuieous Effluvia that

in a

ever

met with
deep in a
fuddenly

Relation of Dr. Bernard Connor , of

Peribns in
or
Paris digging

certain

Vault

Cel%, who were

by fome
fubtile

fo

transfixed

Vapour, that

came down to fpeak with them, me found them in Poitures as if

when

a Servant-Maid

at

Work-,
up,

one with his Pick- Ax advanced,

full

another with his Shovel

lifted

of Earth, half

and a

Woman

fitting

by with

upon her Knee, her Head leaning upon that Hand, with manifefr. Expectatiher
ons in her Countenance of
in Search after.

Arm

what they

were.

THE
ledge,
Grotta in

fame Author, from his

a

own

Know-,

gives

Italy,

monly
thor,

called (a Cryfta

Account of a much talked of, and comGrotta dc cani, by this Auexacl

very

Kvwfo

But

Dr.

Mead hath
fiace.

U) No. 3.

iince,

The Caufes and Cure from his own Knowledge alio,

Place.,,

givai

a very particular and national Account of

this

and the Manner of

therefore

its killing

to

whom

the

Reader

may

turn

for further Satisfaction.

ANOTHER,
ladies,
is

and more general Caufe

than any hitherto mentioned of thefe

Ma-

ftitution
Strife

fbme bad and unw-holfbme Conof Air. Such CJSftitutions may

feveral Caufes,

from
affect

which although

they

us in different Manners, yet as

fata],
:

they are equally

Malignant or
fore to imderftand
differently
affected

we
In

call

them

all

Peftilcntial

Order there-

the better

how we

are

by thofe

different

Con-

flitutions, it will be

proper to confider them

ibmewhat
Heads,
and
viz.*

diftinctly,

under thefe

genera!

dry hot Air, hat and moift, cold

cold

moifi,

and

and dry

to which moll

Variations of Air

may

be reduced.

THAT
mid that

from the

ieveral Constitutions
differently affected;

of Air, our Eodies are

mofl* Difeafes are in

lefs influenced

fome Meafure
is

more or

thereby,
in

quite out

of Difpute.

Hippocrates,

great

many
His
Proof

Places, declares himfelf of this

Mind:
is a

whole third Section of Aphorisms

of

of peftilential VifeajZL
of
his
it
)

\y
have
In-

and in feverai Places (a) he difcovers

that
Peftilential

Opinion,

Difcafcs

their Rile from hence.

terpreter,

Galen, his
to

his
$:v,

bell:

underflood

which

fome

will

have to be meant of ibmewhat

Divine, or the immediate PI and of God, to

be nothing
tion of Air

elfe

but a particular Confuta-

ariiing

from natural Caufes

and that he was of the fame Mind himfelf^

is

very plain from his

own Writings ()<

IT

is

almoft endlefs, as well as altogether

all

needlefs, to cite

the Authorities for this

Opinion, that might be collected from the

moft remote Antiquity

lent Age.

down

to

the preto

We

Avail

therefore proceed

consider

the different Conflitutioas of Air,

-

according to the forementioned DiftinHon

premifing only, that' the

Terms

Hot, Cold, &c*

is

are ufed in a twofold Senfe, the one

solute,
viz..

Ab-

and the other

Relative

by the former,
is

Ahfolnte

Heat, Cold,

&c.

underflood
it

one

fimple Property of the Air only, as

is different

not
:

in Degree,

but in Quality

from others
Heat 7 &c.
is

By the

latter,

that

is

Relative

meant certain Degrees of thole

B
VU. Epidem, And de Acre, Aquis & Loci? Comment; inpidem< Hi^wYAtzu

Pro-

(a)

{b) Vid.

The Caufes and Cure Properties As the fame Air may at the fame Time be faid properly to be both Hot and Gold, or Dry and Moift, as it is
!

compared with another Air, either Hotter

or Colder, Dryer or Moifter
,

for

with Re-

gard to a hotter Air,

it

will be
if it

termed cold>
be compared

when

at the

fame Time
it

to a colder Air,

would be accounted hot

And
it is

fo of the reft.

To which

Diftin&ion,

very neceflary to have conftant Regard,

to avoid Confufion.

THOSE
tial

Countries

where the Air

is

hot and dry for the greatest Part,

lated to be healthful, and free
Difeafes,

are rePeftilen-

from
or

except where there are great

ftagnant Waters,

Swamps and

by any

accidental Caufes Bodies are expoied there

to PutrefaHon, the Steams of which render

Perfons Difeafed.
In

fuch Countries,

for

the morl Part of the Year, there

little

but very

Rain,
colder

and the Nights are comparathan elfewhere,

fall.

tively

from

the

great

Dews which then

As

Plfo (a)

informs us, that the colder the Nights are

in

Brafily

and the more plentifully the Dews

fall,

(a) Hift. Inl

& BrjtJtL

of
fall,

peftitential Bifeafes.
it ihoft

19
agree-

the Inhabitants account

able to their Soil,

tation*

and conducive to Vegeit

and Phyficians reckon

much

the

moft healthful for the Inhabitants*

THE
as

Heat of the Air alone, where

in

it

conllant and uniform,

does not appear

it>

to render Perfons born

or long ac-

cuftomed to
that which

it,

any more unhealthful, than

is

more temperate.
'

Arifiotle

indeed fays, a hot and dry Southerly

will bring a peftilence

Wind

but of fuch

we have
Ac-

very few Inftances, efpecially on this Part

of the Globe.

There

is

in Livy (a) ah

count of a Plague at Rome,

from a great
relates

Drought;
another
:

and

Nlcefhoms

(b)

fuch

But thele generally come

befides

from
Heat^

fbme
and

other manifeft Caufes

in Places

not accuftomed to a dry Air.

XJ

T
By

a hot
Moift,

and moift Air

is

is

very
arifes

diife-*

rent.

meant what
This
mofi:
is

from

fudden or long Rains.

tation

the Confu-

of Air that

Authors charge
in Pe-

with being the

greateft Instrument

B 1

fiilentUi

Probl.

1.

(a) Lib. 1.
(b) Lib. 15.

Decad.

4,

Cap. io*

2
ft ilenHal

The Caufes and Cure

Diftempers.

Hippocrates

(t)

afcribes

a great deal to fuch an Air,

Teftilence

and relates a

that had

its

Rife from great Heat,

joined with Southerly

Winds and much Rain.

as appears

Galen

is

of the fame Mind,

from

feveral of his

Writings (d)9
manifeft

with

many
the

others, too tedious to mention.

The Truth
from

of

this

is

likewife

Kiftories of thofe Countries,

where there

are long fettled Heats, and afterwards

much

Rain, as in feveral Parts of the Eaft-Indies y

which

are

known

at

fuch Times to be mojft

grievoufly afflited with Fevers and Difeafes

of a very malignant Kind.

The fame we
fall

are informed of from fome Places in Africa

(f),
'

viz.*

That

if

Showers

foon upon

the fultry Heats of July and Auguft, peftilential

Diftempers certainly enfue.

It

may
own

be generally obferved here too in our

Climate,
are after

that the mofl unhealthful

Times
if the

warm

Rains, and the

little

more

Air

is

then agitated but

with Winds.

FROM
(c)

Epidem.
1 1.

Lib.

&

3.

de Aere Aquis

& Locis.

Aph.

Sett. 3.

(d) Comment, in Epidem. Lib. 3. de differ. Febr. Cap. 4 de Temperam. Lib. 1. Cap. 4. (c) Vid. PMrchasVWgv. Lib. 6. C. i, as zlCoJoatt.Lct Hi ft., stfrit. Lib. 1. Cap. 1.

of

peftikntial Di/eafes.

FROM
little

a cold

and molft Air, we have

of,

complained

as

to their

occafion-

ing

thefe Difeafes,
in
,

unlefs

fuch a Conititu-

tion lets

immediately upon a contrary

all

Extream

for

Hidden Changes of
lefs

Weawhich
be

ther are more or

unhealthful,
*,

as well

as in other Refpets

of living

for

Reafon particularly, Cam.

very
flow in
all

Celjus advifes to

Alterations

of Moment:

And SanHorius

frequently inculcates the fame

in his jlfhcrifms, and tells us (a)

how

it

is

hurtful, both to go fiiddenly out of a hot

Air into a cold one, and out of a cold Air and is alfo very particular into a hot one
:,

(b) in the

Inconveniencies

of fuch a Con-

ftitution

of Air

we

are

now

fpeaking of^
H'q-

fetting in after the

focrates (c)

Heat of Summer.

does

tell

us of a Tefillence from long

as likewife does Fernol*

continued cold Rains,

ndius

(d\ but fuch Inflances are

laft

common,

THE
and dry,

Conttitution _of Air

is

we
is

are

to take Notice of,

againfl:

that

which
a

co'd
great

which there are

many

(a)
(c)

(b) Ibid.

Medicina Statica, Se&. Aph. 6, and 29. Lib. 3. Epidem.

2.

Aph.

18.

(d)

De

Abdit. Lib.

2.

Cap. 12.

ti

The Caujes and Cure

Complaints.
Galen writes

many very heavy

of a moft Raging Peftilence about Jquileia in Italy ) that began in the very Middle of
Winter, and had
tream Cold.
feveral
Peftilences
its

manifeft Caufe in ex-

Fernelius (a) afferts

the Rife of

from the fame Caufes:

obferve great

As

alfo does Morellns (h)

Mamenfrom

lignities

to

proceed from
Titus Lfay

fome

Northerly

cold Winds.
tions

(c) likewife

a peftiientid

Ccnfiitution

ariiing

Intenfe

Cold}

but

Thyfical Hiftories

abound

with fuch Relations.-

OF
intenfe

the

fcrange

and fudden

Effects

of

Cold and dry Winds we have very

Accounts from thofe

furprizing

who have
are the

travelled into Countries

where they

moft frequent.

Dn

Bernard Connor (d) before-

mentioned, relates,
Poland^
it

That when he was m was afferted to him by very creit

ditable Teftiraonies, that

frequently hap-

pens in Lithuania^ and fome of the Northern

Trails of Mufcovy and Tartary
,

that

if

fome-

iimes, through the Negiecl: of the Shepherds,

their (mall Cattle, as Sheep, Goats,

and the
like.

(a) Ibid.
(b)
\e)
(ct)

De Febr. purp. Cap. 2. Lib. 5. decad. De Antris Lethiferis, Art;.

3.

of peftikntial Difeafes.
like,

2J

be

left

expoied in the Night-time to

the Northerly Winds, they are frequently found

next Morning perfectly

the

ftin

and dead,

in

fame Pofture

as

they are wont to be

:

in at their Stalls

and Cribs

And

there are

divers Accounts of Perfons in thofe Countries,

who have

been fo fuddenly transfixed,

Blafts,

ftirfned,

and killed by thofe

as to

have continued on Horfeback in the fame

Pofture as

when

Living,

till

the Horfe, ac-

quainted with the Road,

to their Journey's

has brought them

End:

And

the abovethat

mentioned Phyfician
Jie

(a) tells us,

when

was

at Bruffels,

he was informed by a
in a very cold Seafon,

Sfanljh

Captain, that of a Party of Horfe that

was

fent out for

Booty
loft

one by Accident
find his

the

reft

of the Body

and Riding about fome time, before he could

Way,

or any Refreshment, he

was

fo transfixed
killed,

with the Cold

as to

be quite

but continued on Horfeback in the

Pofture of a Live Perfon, until his Horfe at

laft

happened to

find the

Way

back to his
before

Quarters, whither his

got, and miffing him,

Company had
but

feared he had fallen

into the

Enemies Hands*,

when they
came

B 4

{a}

Loco cir

14

*The Caufes
to

and Cure

came

congratulate

him upon

his

fafe

they went fo near as to lpeak to him, and take hold of him, before they perReturn,
ceived

him to be
Blafis

dead,

TO

of

this kind it

undoubtedly

is,

that Fruit Trees and Plants do fo frequently

fuller, efpecially after

warm

early Spring,
rife

after the vegetable Juices

have began to

and ihoot into Buds of this Nature we

and Leaves.
frequently

Inftances

rind in

our

own Country
to obferve,
Blafis ,

and

have had Opportunity

more than once, that upon fuch

one Night's

the Trees have, on that Side towards

iri

the Wind, been

Time

quite
-

changed in the Colour of the Leaves

fbme,
of.

and

the mofi tender fort, almoit. ftripped

bare, their Leaves falling off dry, as in ^4u*

tumru

BUT

there

is

fomething yet further, be-

fides particular Constitutions

of Air, that

is

taken Notice of by Fhyficians, as a general

Caufe of Maladies of this kind

and that

is

what
on
,

is

commonly
this

called Contagion, or Infectiis

by

Term Contagion,
have

understood a

Diieaie arifmg from the LontacT: of fuch Bodies or Particles as

in-

them

Power
Perfon,

of Altering

the due Crafis of a healthful

of peftikntial Vifeafes]
Perfbn, and inducing
eafe
;

25:

ftill

one

common Di
by

thefe Particles are generally called

Phyiical Writers
tagij

/W^t*,

Contagiofa, or Con-

Seminia

and the Difference

of PefK-

lences arifing

from thefe Caufes feems much

to differ from

what have been hitherto

ta-

ken Notice

of* as

the former cannot be fhun-

ned but by quite leaving the difeafed Climate, or by

fuch a Strength, or
refifts,
;

Turn of
laft

Conftitution, as

or yields not to the

Cafe*

general Diforder

whereas in this

a Perfon feems
that
gious
is

to be equally fate in any Air

not impregnated with thefe conta-

Effluvia,

and the

greater!.

Danger

arifes

from the Nearnefs

whatfoever
mifchievous and

to difeafed Peribns, or

elfe is capable

of harbouring thole
as the

fecret MeiTengers,

Poet (a) takes Notice.

Quo

frofrior quifq\ eft, fervitq) fdelius agro

In fartem Let hi citius venit.

<

THE

Hifcories of Phyfick

abound with

Relations of PefHlences from no other Caufe

than what arifes

the Difeafe, if
it

from the Importation of

may be

fo termed,

from

diftant

(a)

Ovid. Meram.

lib. 7,

6
The Caufes and Cure
;

diffont Countries

and fometimes not by Perdiftempered,

fons themfelves

but by

tfee
113

Conveyance of thefe
the^r Cloaths or

Tefiilential

Miafms
in the

Wares imported

Way

of Trade.
Phyfician,

Fracafkorius3 (a)
tells- us,

an eminent

Italian

That in the Year Fifteen Hundred and Eleven, when the Germans were
in PofTeilion of Verona, there arofe a deadly

Difeafe amongft the Soldiers from the

Wear*,

ing only a Coat purchafed for a fmall Value

for it was obferved, that every

Owner of

it

fbon fickened' and died

until,

at laft, the

Gaufe was fo maniferUy from fome Infection

in

the

Coat,

that

it

was ordered to be
Perfbns,
this

burned.

Ten Thou fa nd
to
fall

he

fays,
be-?

were computed
fore
it

by

Plague

ceafed.

FROM
Garments
takes
Venice
j

the fame Caufe, that

is,

infe&ed

and

Merchandize,

Mercurial is.

Notice of a Plague in his Time at

and

jipfianus Alexandrinus (h) afTures

us, that the Celt a, after a Conqueft over the

IRyriciy

and

in

PoiTeffion

of their Plunder,

were inferred with a grievous Plague, which

the
Illy r

id then laboured under.

Thycididss
alio,

(a)

De morbis contag. De Bello Illyrico. 0)

lib. 2. cap. 7.

of
alfo, in his

peflilential Vifeafes.

27

Relation of the Plague at Athens^

intimates,

That

it

was brought from lome

Part of Ethiopia by the like Means.

Pro/per Alpinus (a),

And

before mentioned, feems to

lay the greateft Strefs for the Frequency of

the Plague at Grand

Cairo, to

the Traffick

with thofe Countries

as are hardly ever free

from

Tefiilential Difeafes.

great

many Phy-

iicians

have charged the Plague in Sixteen hundred and iixty three at Arnfierdam, to the
of fome
Peflilential

Infection

Miafms which
Algiers,

were tranfported from Smyrna and

then

much

infeclred
^

with fuch Difeafes, with

fbme Merchandize
it

by which Means

like wife

was conjectured foon afterwards to reach London, and feveral other Parts of England,
as
it

appears
(b).

from the Account of Dr.

this Purpofe
I

Hodges

To

remember

to have read a ftrange Story, fomewhere in

Bakers Chronicle, of a

great

Rot amongft

Sheep, which was not quite rooted out until

about

Fourteen Years Time, that was

Largenefs, in a Country then

brought into England by a Sheep bought for

its

uncommon
with
this

infecled

the

fame Diftemper:
it is

And
of

upon

Account

that the Prudence

{a)
(b)

De Medic. De Pefte.

Egypt.

28
fled,

The Caufes and Cure

States are to be jufti"

of thofe Nations and

who

enjoin

all

Perfons and Merchandize

flay a certain

from infe&ed Countries, to

Time upon
ful People
'

their Coafts and Borders, before

a health-

they are fufered to intermix with

7

having by fuch Inftances as here

jufrly

mentioned been

alarmed at

the In-

croachment of fuch dreadful Deftroyers.

THESE
who have

Historical.

Fragments are put

with

together, in Order to apprize thofe Readers

not been very converfant

Things of this Kind, with the various Ways by which the molt dangerous Difeafes, and
even Hidden Death,

may

be introduced into

our Conlikutions, by the Agency of very

minute zr& unheeded Caufes

and iikewile
ne^

the better to fupport the Diftinction

celiary to
eafes,

be made between Evidemic DifContagion

j

and a

as well as to illustrate

the Manner

whereby

the

latter

fubfifts,

fpreads, and proves fatal,

when the Caufes

producing the former are abient.

Efidernicl

Difeafes of

all

Kinds and De-

crees of Exacerbation, have their Rife

from

ibme common Caufe, that aife&s

its

all

within

Extent more or

lefs, in

Proportion to the

particular Fitnefs

of

different Conftitutions

to

of peftilential Difeafes. And by the to be influenced by it

:

29
BeJllnian

Do&rine we are
Changes
are

taught,
in

how

all

thofe

made
to

the

Blood,

when

thrown into a Fever, even from the moft

fun pie Ephemera,

the

moft complicated
;

and malignant Cafes whatfoever

therefore the
a
it

to

which

Reader muft be referred, for

of
fuch Matters;
Purpofe here to
all

clear

Under ftanding

being fuificient to our

obferve, that
to

he demonftrates
Quantity,

Fevers

be

attended

with fome Fault in the

or

BJood's

Motion,

Quality,

or

in

fome or
to

all

of them together;

and
is

that

its

chief Fault in Quality, (which

moft

the prefent

Cafe)

coniifts
it

in

an

unequable Fluidity, fome Parts of

being

rendered thinner, and others thicker at the

fame Time, than

unlike
quors.

in

natural State;
all

not

what happens to

coagulated Li-

FROM
through
tions, that

this Condition

of Blood, this
goes on to ihew,
of his ProporPart,

great and wonderful

Man

the whole Courfe

the coagulated
diitinguifhes

which he

commonly
Lentor,

by
in

the
the

Name

of

does

accumulate
their

capillary

Veffels until
tion,

Endeavours of ReftituBodies, are greater

as in all Elaftick

than

The Caufes and Cure

protruding Force,

than the
Arteries

when by the
the
Lentor
is

Re-aHon

upon

it,

ihook, diflodged, and wafted away into the

Veins, an

ordinary Courfe of Circulation,

its

there continuing
fitted for

Progrefs

till

it

is

either

fome Secretion and Evacuation, or

again lodged in the Capillaries, to bring on

a

new Paroxyfm.

T HI S
arifes

unequable Fluxility of the Blood

from two general Caufes, either from

diminiih
its

fuch Means as

Motion,
Particles,

or
as

from
the

the

Mixture

of fuch

cannot only
digeftive

of themfelves be

reduced by

Powers

into

homogeneous

Difpofitions therewith; or as

have a Faculty

to put

in

Fufion fome Parts of the Mafs,

,

and leave the other thicker than before

thefe are particularly enumerated, and their

Ways
by

of Operation diftin&ly demonftrated

Bellini.

CONFORMABLE
in the Blood,

to this

Change

which

is

the

common Prom-

ptuary of

all

the other animal Fluids, every

it

Thing feparated from

in particular,

hath fome cor-

refpondent Affections 7 and the nervous Fluid

which

is

feparated

from

a
it

Mafs

fo unequally

fluid,

cannot but in

felf

5 t of pefiilentidl Difeafes. felf have fome Parts too fine, and others

too

grofs,

befides

the

Inequalities in the

Times and Quantities of its Separation } from all which the fame Author accounts for thofe Affections, termed nervous, which
are

the

Concomitants

of Fevers

And

in

the Profecution hereof he frequently takes

Occafion to fpeak of this Fluid to be thin,

iharp, hot, fiery, dry, &c.
rigid
as the faline

and

Parts

in its

Compofition are by the

lefs

Diftemper more or
or lefs

fubtilized, or
its

defrauded of

more humid Parts by

Exhalation.

FURTHERMORE,
Hurry and Collu&ation of the
times

in

this

great

Diforder of the Conftitution, and inordinate

Fluids, fomein their

the

Solids

are maintained

Contractions and Motions, until the Particles,

either

introduced

from Abroad,

or gene*

rated in the Body,

lated
into

which cannot be aflimuQualities,

homogeneous

are

thrown out of the Courfe of Circulation by the natural Difcharges-, by Tranfpiration, or by Abcefces ; and the animal
Fluids reftored to their natural State.

But
it

when Matters
Perfon,

are brought to this pals,

happens that the very Means of faving one

may prove

the Deftru&ion of

many

others;

1 3 others

The Caufes and Cure

^

becaufe
off

what

is

thus

critically

thrown
another,

by one, hath
it

a Faculty

of ex-

citing the like Diforders in

the

Fluids of

when

is

iniinuated into

them

as a very fmall

Quantity of fbme fermentwill

ing Subftances
cacies

communicate

its

Effi-

very

great

Way, and

put very

great Parcels of Flu'd into the like Agita*

tion.

And

this

is

the

Way
a

by which a
Contagion;
it
j

malignant Fever comes to be infe&ions, and

a
Teftilence

changes
largely

into

as

Bellini

more

explains

in

his

XXVIIM?

Tropfition
it
is

of Fevers

from the

whole of which,
hath expreffed
that the
it

manifeft, as Dr.

Mead

in his iifth EJJay of Poifons

Effctls of the

one are

the Caufe

and Be*

ginning of the other.

TO
and

bring then this nearer to the

Mat-

ter under Examination, the Plague in

166^
ftriftall

defcribed

by Dr. Hodges,
a
Contagion
-,

was

\y and

properly

and by

Accounts of the beft Authority, That which hath made fuch vaft Devastations in fome
Parts of France, and

now

continues to rage

amongft them, to the great Terror of their

Neighbours,
is

alfo

of the fame Kind

in

and

was brought to them

Merchandize, and
fick

by

a Ship's

Crew, who were

of a pefti*
lential

of peftileniial
lential Difeafe all their

Difeajtt.

3 5

Voyage
in

Home

from

lome

Parts of Turkey

neither of thefe

there being any

Manner of Fault chargeable

upon the Air, or to any other Caufes before

enumerated in producing a
fefillence.

THE

bell:

Account of that Contagion

Phyficians

now Abroad, we have from Three

of Eminence, who were fent by the Duke Regent of France to Mar[elites, both to give
proper Directions in that Exigency, and report their Opinions for the Information of
others
:

The

Infeled

they

divide

into

FiveClafTes, irritable to the different Aggra-

vation of their

Symptoms, and the

different

Methods they thereby require

in their Cure*

THE
the
firft

Firrc.

Clafs, obferved efpecially in

Period, and in the greateft Fury of

fiich as

the Difcemper, contains

were

affliEb-

ed with the Symptoms that were conftantly

followed by a fpeedy Death.

Thefe were
con-

for the moft Part irregular Shiverings, the

Pulfe low, Toft, flow,

quick, unequal,
in the

centrated

a Heavinefs

Head

fo con-

fiderable, that the

lick Perfon

could fcarce

fupport

it,

appearing to be feized with a

Stupidity

and Confufion,
,

like that

of a
dering,

drunken Perfon

the Sight fixed, dull, wan-

34

The Caufes and Cure

^
-

dering, exprefling Fearfuinefs and Defpair

the Voice flow, interrupted, complaining

the Tongue aimoft always white, towards

the

End
*,

dry,

reddifh, black, rough*,

the

Face pale, Lead-coloured, languiihing, cadaverous

a

frequent Sicknefs at the Sto*,

mach

mortal Inquietudes
,

a general Sink-

ing and Faintnefs

Diffraction

of the MLid ;

Doling,

an Inclination to vomit, Vomiting,

Perfons thus feized, periihed com-

&c.

The
in

monly
Night,

the Space of feme Hours,

a

of a
at

of

Day,

or of

two or three
*,

fartheft, as

by Faintnefs or Extinction

fome-

times, but
tions,

more

rarely,

in convulfive
*

Mo-

and a Sort of Trembling

no Erup-

tion,

Tumour
is

or Spot

appearing without.

eafy to judge

by thefe Accidents,
and even fuch, on
while after.

that the Sick of this kind were not in a Condition to bear Bleeding

whom
ufelefs,

it

was
and

tried, died a little

Catharticks

Emctich

were equally here

and often hurtful,

exhaufHng
were

the Patient's Strength, by their fatal overworking.

The

Cordials

and

Sudorifich

the only Remedies to which they had recourle,

which neverthelefs were

at the

of

no Service,

or

m oft prolonged the

Flours.,

lair

Moments but

tor a few

THE

of

peftilcntidl Difeafes.

i%

THE

Second Clafs of the Difeafed that

during

they attended,
Fatal Sicknefs,

the Courfe of this

firft

contains fuch as at
as

had

the Shiverings,

the preceding,

and the

lame

fort
}

of Stupidity,
quick,

and heavy Pain in

the Head

but the Shiverings were followed

open,

by

a Pulfe

and bold,

which
Arin-

neverthelefs was loft

upon

preiling the
S-*ck

tery

ever
a

lo

little.

Thefe

felt

wardly

burning Heat,

whilft the
,

Heat
the

without was moderate and temperate

Thirft was great and inextinguifhable

the the

Tongue white,
Voice hafty*

or of an obfcure

red

fiammering, impetuous*-;
;,

the

Eyes reddifh, fixed, fparkling the Colour of the Face was of a red fufEciently fren\
and fometimes inclining to
nefs at the
livid
j

the Sick-

Stomach was frequent, though

than in thole of the preceding

much
Clafs
*,

lefs

the Refpiration was frequent, labogreat and rare, without

^

rious, or

Coughing
bilious

or

Pain

Loathings

Vomitings,

greeniih, blackiih, bloody

the Courfes of
but

the

Belly of the fame Sort*

j

without

any Tenfion or Pain

Eeliria, the

Ravings, or phrenetick
fofne*
^

Urine frequently natural,

times troubled, blackiih, whitiih, or bloody

the Sweat feldom fmelt badly,

\^L

and was fa
xar

%.

n6
far

The Caufes and Cure

from giving Eafe to the Sick, that
it

.always

weakned them:,
fatal
-

in

certain Cafes

Hemorrhages,
proved always

which, however
7

moderate,
iii

a great
all,

Decay

the

Strength, and, above

fo ftrong of

an Apprehenflon

dying,

that thefe poor Crea-

tures were incapable of any Comfort,

and

looked on themfelves, from the

firfl-

Moment

of their being attacked, as deftined to certain Death.

But that which deferves to

and which has always
this
all

be well

obferved,

feemed to characterize and diftinguifh

Difeafe from all others,
is,

that almofr.

had

at the Beginning, or in the Progrefs

of

this Diftemper, very painful Buboes, fituated

commonly below the Groin, fometimes in the Groin or Arm-p ts, or in the Parotide,
;

Maxillar,

or

jugular

Glands

as Jikewife

Carbuncles,

eipecially

on the Arms, Legs

or Thighs, imall, white, livid, black PufMes,

difperied over
all

the Surface of the Body.

IT was very

rare to fee any

of the difealed

of this Second Clafs efcape,

fupported them elves
J

though they
longer

a
j

little

than

thofe of the preceding

all

they perifhed aimoft

with the Marks of a gangreifd Inflammaelpecially

iiui

tion,

in the Brain
.v;^

and Thorax
the

and

which

mofi lingular was, that

of
the ftronger,

peftilential Difeafes.
fatter, fuller,
lefs

and more vigo-

rous they were, the

they had to hope.

AS
at

to the Remedies, they bore Bleeding

j

no better than thofe of the Firft Oafs

leaft
firft

if

they were not blooded at

the

very
it

Inftant of their

being taken Sick,

;

was evidently hurtful to 'em

and
fell

they grew
their;
into.

pale,
firft

even in the

Time of

Bleeding,

or a little while after,

fuch Paintings, as could not in moft of them

be imputed
Diftruft,

to any Fear,

Repugnance, or

fmce they demanded with Earneftr

nefs to

have a tyem opened.

A L I,

Emetichy

excepting

Ipecacuanha,
5

were very often more hurtful than ufeful

caufing fuch fatal Irritations and ExceiTes in

operating, as could neither be moderated or

ftopped.

The

Cathartkh that were a

little,

ftrong and aftive,

were attended with the

fame Inconvenieneies.

Such

as

they preas

ferred in the Form of a laxative Ptifan,

well
as plentiful Draughts.,

that

were di-

luting, nitrous, cooling,

rial,

and gently alexite-

gave forne Relief, but did not hinder

All Cordials
fort, gentle,

the Return of the Symptoms.

and Sudori^ch, if they were not

and benign, did nothing but promote the

Ftp-

J
fhort, if
rare,

The Caujes and Cure

In

Progrefs of the inward Inflammations.

any one efcaped, which was very

he feenfd to

external

owe h's Cure to the Eruptions, when they were very

:,

much

railed

either folely

by the Force of

Nature, or by the Aillrrance of Remedies,

as well internal as external, that determined

the Blood to difcharge on the Surface ef the

Body, the noxious Ferment wherewith

it

was

infected.

THE
preceding;
Sicknefs,
a

Third
for

Clafs

contains

the

two
the

during the Courfe of

great

Number of
with
in

Perfons were

attacked

fuccefiively

the

different

Symptoms enumerated
CiaiTes,

the two former

that the moil

in

fuch a manner,

Part of

the Signs defcribed in the Second,

the Forerunners of
in theFirft:,
latter

were commonly
appearing

thofe

which were mentioned

of thefe

and the
de-

Symptoms
In

nounced
Sorts

an approaching Death.

thefe

of Cafes they varied their

to

Method
fo that

according

the Diverfity of Indications,

or of the moft urgent

Symptoms

without

being

obliged to

enter into far-

ther Particulars, a Judgment

may

be formed

of the Event

of the Malady,

and of the
Sue-

of

peflilential Di/eafes.

39

Succefs of the Remedies,

from what was

before obierved on the

SubjeO: of the dlf-

eaied of the two preceding Claffes.

THE
attacked
thole

Fourth Clafs contains the Dileafed

with
the

lame Symptoms with

but thefe Sorts

of the Second,
lerTened

of

Accidents

or difappeared

the feor in

cond

or

third

Day of

themfelves,

Confequence of the Effets of the internal

Remedies, and at the fame time in Proportion

to

the

remarkable Eruption

of the
the

Buboes and Carbuncles, in which the noxious

Ferment that was

ther
-

difperfed through

whole Mafs, feemed to be

7

collected togeriling

fo that

the
at

Tumours

from
and

Day

to Day,

length being open,

coming

to

Suppuration,
that

the

Infe&ed

efcaped the Danger

threatned them,

provided they had fome Alhftance.

THE
ble or

Fifth and Laft Clafs contains

all

fuch infe&ed Perfons, as without perceiving any Emotion, or there appearing any Trou-

Hurt of
and

their natural Function, have

rile

Buboes and Carbuncles, which

and
little,

by

little

eafily

turn to Suppuration,
is

becoming lometimes fchirrous, or which

C 4

more

40
more

The Caufes and Cure

rare,

difiipate

infenfibly,

wichouc
-

leaving any bad

Effeft

behind

them

fo

that without

any

Lofs of Strength,

and

without changing their manner of Living,

thefe infefted Perfons went about the Streets

and pubiick Places, only ufing themfelves

fimpie Piafter, or

asking of the Phyficians

as are neceffary

and Surgeons fuch Remedies

to thefe Sort
u

of fuppurating or fchirrous

Tumours.

>

AKD
Tcfttlence

thus

>"we

have

fuccind;

View
is

of the Sicknefs now

in France,

which

from

Contagion:

Becaufe

then

there

is

fuch a vail Difference between a

afiiing
drc.

JPxjrJence

from

ailignable Caufes in
a Contagion ,

the Air,

and a F eft Hence from

Means efpecially againfl \them and that what we are now in moft Apprehenfion of, is of the latter Kind , it mofr.
as to the prefervative

concerns us to

s?be

well acquainted with the

Manner of

Infection, as far as

we can

reafon

about Agents fo extreamly minute and lubtJe.

How all other Antecedents

to a Feft Hence exert

themfelves in their Influences over the animal

O Economy,
mo. iftration
:,

Bellini

has brought even to a De-

tho' indeed as to a Contagion,

he

is

lb

very fhort, that

we may

venture to

infect

it

here, as introductory to the following

Remarks.

AS

of pefcikntial Dijeafes.
f
f

41

As

this Coagulation

and Fufion may go

and perfpire

on

lb far as to let at Liberty,

5
c

through the Surface of the Body, or with

the Breath in Refpiration,
Particles,
clive,

many noxious
and a-

c
c

which may be

fo fubtil

as to

enter the cutaneous Pores

of

other Perfons, or

mix with that Air which they draw in Refpiration, and when got into the Body, be able to make the fame
in the Blood,

c '

Change

both as to
it

its

Coa-

gulation and Fufion^ hence

comes that

5
:

fuch a Fever proves

contagious,

which

is

an infeparable
Fever.

Requifite

to

a feftilential

But this

is

not only thus brought about

but alfo the diffoived, and difperfed Particles,

may

longer adhere

to

fome

inani-

mate Bodies than others, as to Woollen and Linen Cloaths, Papers, &c. and thefe
Particles

may, by the Steam of a

living

Body, or by the Means of any other Heat,

be put into Motion, fo as to breath out of
thofe Lodgments, where they quietly resided,

and obtain fb much

on
all fides,

Liberty, and

A fl ion
e

as will carry

them

into

the cutaneous Pores of any Perfons within

their Reach,

and

infect,

them , and on
c

this

Account a TeftiUnce may be brought from

ver y

42
* c c

The Caufes and Cure

Time

very diHant Countries, lying a long

infuch Manner concealed, and then fudden\y breaking out-,

with many other Cir-

cumftances of like Nature.

BUT

if thefe fubtile

and

aftive Parti -

cles

be of that Nature, that they can pe~

netrate the Pores of other

Animals, and

6 c c

occafion a like Coagulation of their Bloody

not only

Men, but Brutes

d.Pefiilence\

alfo,

will

be

feizedwith

but this does not

c
4

always very neceffarily

the Blood of Animals
is

happen
different

becaufe

from huthefe Par-

*
c
1

mane Blood,

fo that although

tides are fuppofed to get into

it,

it

does

not therefore neceiTarily follow that they

c c c

muft vitiate
Regla

it,

any more than will jtqua

kinds of Metals^
kinds, or

diilbive

all

but

yet Brutes
only,
will

oi' all

lome of them
with Men,
Ferment,
is

c
*

be feized equally
fubtile

whea
which

this

and

alive

.penetrates the Surface,

of that

c
*

Nature, as will taint the Blood of other

Animals with thole pfiilential Requisites.

c

AS

this

kind of Contagion then can an

infe&ed
Perfbif

c
c

eafily

proceed from

at a great Difhince, as often as the noxi-

ous

Particles can reach

another Perfon,
*

and

of
Fufion, as

peflikntial Vifeafes.

4;
;

and give that Degree of Coagulation and

is

neceffary to a Pcftilence
will be this

the

more aggravated then

ty,

Calami-

and more

eafily fpread,

when

a health}

ful Perfon is near to

one already infefted

if it is

and yet much more worfe,

in

Con-

tad with thofe

tifully,

Parts,

which more plenImpetus,

and with a greater

breath

out infected Steams, as if the Air arifing

from the
Carbuncle
for in
will

Mouth and
when
it is

Lungs, wrr.ch muft

be extreamly hot, or the Perfpiration of a

greatly

inflamed}

this

Cafe the exhaling Particles

greater!

be

in their

A,tivky

when

nearer! the

recipient
is,

Body, and likewife

more

denfe, that

more numerous, and

consequently of greater! Efficacy.

UT

it is

not every one that

is

feized

*
*
*

with a

Tefillence

from Contagion, by Means

of Steams exhaling from any particular

Parts of the

Body

but only
it

when
it

thefe

*
c

Steams, and the Air

with, and
tides
this

felf^

hath joined
Par-

hrerfperfed
vitiated

through

of

Faculties^
will eafily be

and

then

*
c

Kind of Fever

cated,

and neceiiarily enfue,

communinot only oy

c *

Account of what gets into the Body with

the infpired Air, but becauie alfo the whole
*

Body

44
*

T^ e
is

Caufes and Cure

Body

furrounded with fueh an Infection^

floating a-

wherein the noxious Particles

bout on
trace
all

c c c

Sides, will endeavour to pene*

through the Pores upon the Surface,

and get that

Way

into the Blood

is

for al-

c
c

though the Skin

thicker upon the Sur-

face of the Body, than that Pellicle cover-

ing the Veflels in the Lungs, and for that

Reafon

it

requires

longer Time, for fuch

f Particles

to get that

Way

into the Blood,

it
is

and the Habit of the Body, yet

no

c
c

Argument that they cannot

at
all,

get that

Way

and be admitted into the

Juices,

BY

this

we

are able to gather, that

when

a Fever from fome Faults in the Non-naturalsy

comes to the higher! Degree of Malignity,

it

makes fuch

Change

in the

animal Fluids,

as renders

fome Parts of them poifonous, and

the
like

capable of exciting

fermentative

Motions, wherefoever they come, into a pro-

per Subject, without any of thole procatan*

Qlc Caufes

as gave Rife to the

Fever of the

Srii perfo.ii ieized.

OF
may
its

what Nature then

this Poifon

is,

we
of

conjecture from

the Circumflances

Production.
iefs

All animal Bodies do

j

more

pr

generate a Salt

or rather, in Pro-r

portion

of peftilential Difeafes.
portion to the Strength of their

4^
digefHve

Powers, do they more or

faline Particles

lefs fubtilize

the

which

are taken in with their

neceffary Nourifhment.

This

is

abundantly

manifeft in the Diftillation of

Subftances,
Salt.

many animal
of this,
is

which

plentifully yield a volatile

in the Coinpofition

But indeed
natural
a

in

and healthful State, there

fubtilized

joined

very

Sulphur or Oil-

which contempers and

nefs for the

foftens it into a Fit-

Purpofes of the

O Economy
it

And

under this Modification,

becomes

the Principle of Vitality, and the chief Inftrument of animal Aflion- not unlike what
this is conceived to be,
volatile
is

the

common Sd
Spirits

oleofum,' or

any other

drawn

from odorous Bodies.

IT
Body
}

matters

not

what

Names

Ferloiis

pleafe to ditHnguifh this by,, in an

humane
is

but that fomewhat of this Kind

its

naturally the Produce of

ers, in

digefHve Pow-

the

nigtieff:

Degree or Comminution
no one

or Subtilization they are capable of bring-

ing any

Thing

to,

will queftlon

and

that thofe

minute
is

Threads or Fibres, of
a Composition, are ani-

which the whole

mated by
to
it

it

or, to

fpeak more flricHy,

owe

their ElalHcity and motive Faculties.

IT

4<>

Tk
T
is

Caufes and Cure

hoped, that no one

who hath

been

accuflomed
will find

to Reafonings of this

Nature,

any Difficulty in conceiving fuch a

Difference

of Principles,

lb finely blended

together, as here fuggeft ed, of a faline, and

an oleous, or humid Subftance

foever reads
Bellini^

or any others

And whowho have

Principles,

wrote

in the

fame Manner,

will find conti-

nual Regard had to thofe

two
\

even in the animal Sp

rits

for without it
is

there can be no Notion had of what

frequently

fo

mentioned, and which by their

find

Eife&s

we

muft be
dry, hot,

true,

of them, that
fiery,

they are too

the
like;

;tive,

and

or too

humid, vapid,
is

iluggifh,

vifcid, rc.
nifest,

And

it

farther equally

ma-

that in Proportion to the greater or

leffer

Degrees of Motion

in

thofe

Fluids,
is

from

whence
and

this

fubtile

Compofition

generated,
fine

the

Concuilions
it
is

of

thofe,

Threads into which

Separated,

will it err in

one or other of the foregoing

Extremes.

IN
tion,

a Fever therefore,

where the animal

Degree of Agita-

Fluids are in the higheft

and from Caufes too of a coagulating

it

Nature,

ought to be no Wonder that even

of
this fubtile

peftilential Difeafes.

47

Union fhould be
and
exhaled,
rigid

in

fome Men-

Hire diffolved, and the fofter and

Parts broke
leave the
fo

more humid

much

as to

mare

and

faline

ones not

only unfit to lubricate thofe Elaftick Threads,

wherein they

refide,

but iharp and pointed

contraft,

enough to fHmulatej

and harden

them

into

all

Lofs of Motion,

AS

the Deftru&ion likewife of this Nexus

in fo fubtile a

Fluid leaves the faline Parts

capable

of injuring even that

it

OEconomy
its

which gave

Exiftence, fo

may

Volati-

lity favour its

Efcape in a great Meafure by

Tranfpiration, fb as to affect alfo other Perfons within

its

Reach

and Thefe, with

all

other Particles of like Nature, which hy an

Over-Agitation, and fermentative Motion of

the animal Fluids, are feparated from the

fofter

and

lubricating

Compofitions
joined,

with

which they
which by
in the

were

naturally

and
float

their Volatility tranfpire

and

Air,

we

take to be the

true conta-

gious Miafmata, that convey, propagate,

and

continue a Pcft Hence, after the Caufe. Erfl raifing it ceafes.

NOR
are

will this

feem itrange to any

who
Sub-

accuftomed

to refleft,

how may

it a nee?

48
ture,

7be Caufes and Cure

Nawhich before were not only
of
inoffenfive,

fiances are changeable into a poifonous

but ufeful to the Purpofes

Life.

Some

Minerals, whofe faline Parts in their Production

good Quantities of Sulphur, are harmlefs, and ufeful Alterants , but when by any Means thofe
Principles are feparated, the faline Parts be-

are

naturally blended

with

come

ftrong Emetich and Cathartich, even to

the Degree of a Poifon.

that Antimony
Quantities

Who
any

does not

know

may

be taken crude in large

manifefi:
Effecl,

without

but that the Chymift can take fomewhat

from

it,

that in

few Grains
or.

fhall

operate

beyond the Power

to bear
?

a fh*ong Constitution

THOSE
that

Arrows of Death therefore

dreadful

make

fiich

Slaughter
Salts

in a

Contagion.,

are the

animal

of infected

Per fb 11s , fet loofe from their natural Combinations, and fjbtilized into the higheft

De-

gree of Volatility, by the Agitation and fer-

mentative

Motion of

Fever.
in a

And the
are

Buboes, Carbuncles, <&c*

?eft Hence,

nothing elfe but Collections of Particles, or

Coalefcences, formed in fiich irregular
t'ons,

Mo-

and thrown out of the Courfe of Cir-

culation

by

thofe necefTary Laws whereby

every

4$ of peflilenthl Difeajes. every Thing is rejefted, that cannot be anlmilated into homogeneous and like Properties:

The Matter of which

Excretions

is-

likewife of fo fubtile and fermenting a

ture,

Nathe

that if introduced into the Fluids oi

it

another well Perfon,

excites

there

fame Motion and Diforden

THIS Change of
a Poifon,
is

animal Subftances intd

to want

too

any Atteftation

common a Truth to thofe who have

been but

indifferently converfant
ries.

in Natural Enqui-

And

it

is

greatly to our Purpofe, that

even thofe Creatures,

which

are generally

deemed poifonous, do require of Heat, and animal Action,

juices to fo high
as to
aft as

certain Degrees

to exalt their

Degree of Volatility^

put on the Properties of a Poifon, and

fuch upon other living Creatures
it is
;

in-

fomuch that

not only a

common Obfer-

vation that thefe Animals lofe their poifo-

nous Nature when remov'd into Climes colder than what

alfo
is

natural to them,

but that

they are not fo venomous

in their

own

Climates, at the cooler Seafons. of the Year 3

as in the

moft

fultry.

BUT

the Cafe of a

mad Dog
from

entirely
a Fever.

comes up to that of

a Contagion
JD

This

50
the Year,
a Fever
free
^

The Caufes and Cure

in

This Animal,
is

the
to

hotter Seafbns

of

fubjel

be
for

thrown

into

which Fever,

Want

of fuch

Vent through the Pores of the Skin as

in a

Man,

critically difcharges a great deal

of morbid Matter
unto:
this

by

the Glands about

the Mouth, Lungs, and Parts leading there-

And
is

it

is

very well known, that

a poifbnous Nature,

Matter

of fuch

that where by a Bite or a

Wound

otherwife

made,

it is

infufed into the Juices of other

it

Creatures,

will excite in

them the fame

a poifonous

kind of Diftemper.
this Fever,

But the Dog, before

had nothing of

Na-

ture in him,

and therefore the Venom ge-

nerated

by the Fever muft be from iuch

an Alteration made upon the animal Juices,

as changes

them from
into

fmooth,
dry,
is

foft,

and

InolfennVe,

a fiery,

Simulating

Nature.

So that there

nothing

more

happens in this Cafe to the Dog,

a

than to

Man

in the higher!

Degree of a malignant

Fever.
a Poifon

The fame

Caufe in both generates

one

is

where there was none before, only more naturally vented by the Glands
and the
other by the

about the Mouth,

whole Surface.

THIS

of

peftilenltit Difeafes.

THIS
illuttrated

Theory

like wile

might be further

by many Infhnces from inanimaby a very fmall Portion

ihall

ted Fluids, which are capable of being put

into Fermentation

of Matter, and which

tation from

new

Particles,

by fuch an Agior MolccuU having

not

Properties of communicating the fame Effects'

to another quiefcent Fluid

much unlike

what we

fee in the

Communication and Prois

pagation of Fire, which

ried on in proper Subjects

excited and car-

from the minuter!

alio In
its

Beginnings,

and increasing

owri

Force as

it

fp reads.

WHENa Perfon
Degree of Malignity
in a

therefore

falls

into a

Fever from any epidemic,

or other

more

private Caufe, and that Fever rifes to fuch a

as
is

always fuppofed
Effluvia

F eft Hence ,

as far as

any

do exhale
be laid to

from that Perfon,

fo far

he

may

have round him a contagious and poifonous

jitmojphere
}

becaufe there tranfpires from

as will

him fuch Particles

Animals of
mentative Motions

excite in

other

like Conftitution,

the fame fer-

as thofe to

which they

owe

their

own

Origin.
in the Begin-

ALTHOUGH therefore,
-

ning of epidemical Difeafes,- and during the'

Sufc

j2
Subfiftence

The Caufes and Cure of their common Caufes,

parti-

had to thefe Caufes, and the Manner whereby they affect the People 5 yet when it is come to this pafs, that
cular Regard is to be

the Fever

it felf is

productive of a Poifon, or
difagreeable, that

fomewhat intirely
nicates

commuCaufe,

the fame Impreilions upon others,

firft

without any Concurrence of the

then fuch a Fever
Contagion,
is

truly a Peftilence

by

and

all

precautionary Regards
fuited, to prevent its

ought peculiarly to be
Infection or Spreading
j

either

by keeping

the well Subjects clear from the Sick, or de-

itroymg the Influence of the poifonous Exhalations, or fortifying the found againfHt.

But to thefe Ends,

it

is

neceffary

to have

fome tolerable Notion of the Manner how

thefe fecret

Deilroyers are continued,

and

conveyed to great Diiiances.

THE
which

moft

common Manner of
Contagion,

convey-

ing and fpreading a

obfervable

in the preceding hiftorical Collections,

alfo
is

and

the Cafe of our prefent

is

Apby

prehenfions from Abroad,

fons and

by infected Per-

Merchandize

it

being attefted

too

many

Facts to admit of the leaft Doubt,

)

that

even Packs and Bails of Goods carry

the poifonous Mlafmata about with them;

and

of

peftilential Difeafes.
'

53

and from the Nature that we here fuppofe

this Poifon to be of, nothing
is

more

likely
as

to preferve

it

than animal

Subftances,

Hair, Wool, Leather, Skins, &c. becaufe the

very Manner of its Prodution> and the Nature of

Affinity
its

Origin, feems to give

it

a greater

with

fuch

Subftances
it

than

any

other, and to difpofe

to reft therein until

by Warmth, Ventilation, or any other Means of Diflodgeme nt, it is put into Motion, and
railed again into the ambient Air.

TO
lueh

know how

thefe Effluvia

come

to have

fatal Influences

over Mankind,

and to
firft

underftand their Progreffion

Seizure, to the

from the

End of

that Diftemper they

gave Birth

to, requires

too

many

Precognita

from the Mechanifm of the animal OEco-

nomy, and the Agency of fuch minute

ft ruments,

Li-

to be particular
limited.

about,

in the

Compafs here

The Reader

there-

fore muft be fatisried with thofe fhort Hints

here given, unlefs for more particular Infor-

mation he pleafes to turn to and Dr. Mead of

Poifons,
all

Bellini

of Fevers,
will find

where he

how

the Blood, and

the Secretions there-

from,are affefted and changed by fuch Caufes.

WE

fhall

here therefore only fuggeft fome

their
Sei-

Thoughts concerning the Suddennefs of

X)
-

14

ffc Caujes and Cure

Energy of Operation. And

Seizure, and their

this will not be difficult to conceive

by thofe
lefs

who

are acquainted with that univerfal Proit

perty of Matter, whereby

is

more or

determined to draw, and unite again, when

ieparated
into
Parcels,

according

to the

greater or leiTer Affinities of their Figures,

Solidities,

and Quantities of Motion.

is

As
Cafe

nothing therefore in Nature

'bear a greater Similitude,

fuppofed to
in this

than

the natural animal Salts do with what hath

been fiibtilized and

it
is

fet

on Float in the Air,

can be no

Wonder

that

when the Ambient

they are received
fupported by the

fated with

the latter, they readily join

as foon as

with the former,

into the Body.

And thi's is
Belling

Authority even of
the
Beginning

who

allows,

in

of his

XXVllhh

Tropfition,

that the Antecedents

to a peftilential Fever

do lometimes
in Quality.

vitiate the Spirits

immediately

AS

the ordinary Courfe therefore of prois

ducing Fevers
in Quality,
it,

by diibrdering the Blood

firft

with inch Mixtures

as

as coagulate,

that

is,

make

it

unequally fluid, fome

Farts being thinner, and others thicker than

natural

fo.

by thele extreamly fubtle

Efflu-

^a, in a Contagion, the Spirits are deftroyed

in

of
in

peftilential Difeafes.

5J

their

natural

Texture,

and the more^

rigid and faline Parts,

by

Combination with

the venomous

Spicula,

changed into Difpofithey

tions deftru&ive of

that ConfHtution

were before deftined to preferve.

ever then confiders

WhofoneceiTa-

what muft be the

ry Coafequences of fuch an immediate De-

pravation and Change in that Fluid, which

is

an abfolute Requifite to

all

animal AHon,

will not at all

ctions

wonder

at

any of the Affeas

whxh

are

commonly enumerated
*

the Concomitants of a Contagion

rable Acquaintance with the

and

a tole-

O Economy,

by

the Help efpecially of the Authors before

referred too, on Fevers and Poifons, will enable

any one to account fever ally for their Production,

THIS

then beins the Cafe of a

Contagion.

that a Perfon having a Fever, critically throws

off poifonous Effluvia,

which were generated

during fuch irregular Motion* of the animal

Fluids, infomuch as to diffufe for fome Dijftance

round, what will infet other. Perfons

within their Reach

got this Infection,
for
free

and that fo many have that no Part of the Air,

\

fome Trad of the Country together, from them

\

is

the poifonous Atmospheres,

if they

may be

fo termed,

of the

infected,

ex-

5$
common
vive,

The Caufes and Cure

Contagion
this,
I

extending and mixing into one univerfal,

\

fay, being the Cafe

here under Examination,

why

any

at all 'Sur-

muft be owing either to theGoodnefs

Infe&ion, or to conquer

of their Constitution, or to proper Means to

defend againft
its
,

it
'to

when received
confider thefe
V4tion

which naturally brings us

two important Ends, of Prefer-*

and

Cure,

AS

for the Firfi of thefe,

the

common

Experience, of meaner People being moftly

carried off, admoniihes
tritive
all

to live upon as nuas can be

and generous a Diet

as not

procured

and fuch Things

only yield due NouSpirits,

rishment, but Plenty

eafily perfpi.res.

of

and what

For there are many Things

light

of good Nourimment, that are not eafily perIpired

;

fuch as

all

and vifcid Subftanlike,

ces, as Pork, Fiih,

and the

which therewhatever

fore are very apt to go into Fermentation,

and generate Corruption

even the

in ihort,

common

People have Notions of,

as apt to bring Surfeits, ought to be avoided,

and fuch Means of Siibfirlance complied with,

as generate a

warm, rich Bloody and

in Pro-

portion to the

Ways of Living at other

times,

ihould every one, except thole

who accuftom

themieives to Jliot and Excefs, indulge himfelf at a higher Rate-,

ROAST-

of

peftilential Vijeafes.

57
preferred

ROASTED
to boiled
\

Meats are by

all

and if Pickles and high Sauces are

it is

ever to be encouraged,
ons
\

on thefe Occafl&c. are extheir

and

Garlicky Shallot, Onions,

treamly ferviceable, and preferable to the

hot, dry, fpicy
Seafonings,

becaufe

pungent Volatility feems naturally

covered

with a Softnefs, or balfamick Quality, more

agreeable to

the Nature of animal Spirits.

it is

To which
that in

Purpofe

very

remarkable,
Peftilences,

the Hiftories
is

of many

Notice

frequently taken of the Exemption

of

Jews,

Fare,

who deal much in fuch from Infetlion. And it is cuftomary

and People
Sailors,

with fome experienced

great
Stores

to

lay in
their

of fuch Things

againfl:

Arrival at infered, and unwholfome Countries.

THERE
to be

is

alfo a very

ftria

Regard
of

had

to the Firmnefs and Strength

is

the Solids, which

greatly affifted by

mo-

derate Exercifes, but carefully avoiding too

much, and every Thing that great an Expence of Spirits

this

occaiions too
at

Time
But to

and particularly by over- Warmth.

Purpofe
I

cannot conceive any Thing

more

ferviceable than frequent Immerfion in

c old

The Caufes and Cure

Good
firft

cold Water, fo that the Times of flaying in

are as ihort as polEble, the

received

hereby being chieily in

the

Shudder

and Confrriftion
5

and

it is

particularly to be
it

remembred, tho Dr. Hodges hath omitted

in his Account, that

Watermen, and others, whole Occafions imployed them much upon

the River, and
in the Cold, fuffered leaft in
'

the late Sicknefs.

The Ufe of

Vinegar,

and

other Acids, are alfo of Service for the like

Intention.

AS

to the Prefervative Means,

which the

Government have power to provide, there

is a Bill juft

now

palled in Parliament, under

the Direction of the beft

judges

fuch

Matters, and which feems to have omitted

no human Methods to guard

proaches of fuch
a

agaLfi: the
:

ApYet

dreadful Invader

in the Courfe of an accidental Converfation

little,

time

iince,
I

met with fomewhat

cannot

fuggefted,

which
fuch a

but

prefume,

would

-very,
is,

much conduce to
as

and that
Bills

End , Regulation of the common

this great

of Mortality,

might very nearly

alcertain the Difeafe,

of which every Per-

fon dies
is

for as they are

now

ordered, there

nothing to be depended upon from them.

this is propofed to be done, not only in

And

London,

of

pefllkntlal

Difcafes.

59

London^ and other great Cities, but through^

out the whole Kingdom, by obliging PhyficianSj

Surgeons, Apothecaries,

or

any th$

moft competent Judges,

the
Sick,

who

attend upon

or

can

be informed
it in

of the
Writing
for that

State of the Difeafe, to give

to

proper Regifter, confHtuted

purpofe.
pra&iied,

Such a Method

as this, if

duly

feems not only very effectual to

give timely notice of the approaches of any

Peftilential

or

Contagious

Diflempers, but

alfo

to

fupply

us with fuch Accounts of

the Rife, Progrefs, Aggravations, and Remifions

of other Difeafes,

as

would be of very

great Service to the Learned.

THERE may perhaps lie an Objection with,

fome
jt

againft this Practice,

from the hazard

puts the Reputation and

Memory

of fome

Perlbns to, whole Cafes will

not well bear-

fuch Inquiry

but

it is

to be imagined, that

fb private an Inconvenience

may

not be
:

made

bar to a

very

publick Benefit

Befides^

ways may poffibly be found to anfwer this main end, of knowing the K umbers carried off by certain Diflempers, without expofmg
the particular Perfons fo dying.

AS


60
The Caufes and Cure
to the

~
:

2 7

AS

great ufefulnefs of a Regulaof. Mortality,

tion in the Bills

every one

may be very well apprifed from the advantages made even from the wretched Account we are now fupply'd with And as to the Diflemper under Confideration, in particular, we
:

are able to trace in

grefs,

them

its
^

gradual Pro-

Height and Declention

which therefrom

fore ihall be here inferted, as extracted

the

Bills

of thofe calamitous Times.

Anno

1664..

Died of the VIague

From the 20th of'December , to the 27 The following Six Weeh From the 7th of February, to the 4th The following Nine Weeks
-

x
**

o
1

Anno 166$.

From the 8th of April, to the 25 th ~ 2 o The following Week From the 2d of May, to the 9 th 9 From the 9th of May, to the 6th 3 * From the 1 6 th of May, to the 23d 14 From the 23d of May, to the 30th 1 From the 30 th of May, to the 6th of June 43 From the 6th of June, to the 3th 1 From the 1 3th ofJune,to the 20th 168 From the 20th of June 7 to the 27th 267 From
1
t

>

of peftikntial Difeafes.

6\
.

From the i^th ofJutie9 to the 4th of July 470 From the 4th July, to the 1 1 th 725 From the nth of'July , to the 18th 1082 From the 1 8th of July, to the 25 th **** 1 843 From the 25 th of July, to the ft of Au1

gufi

From the ift of Augufi, to the 8th 2817 From the 8th of Augufi, to the 1 5th 3880 From the 1 5th of Augufi, to the 22cL 4237 From the 22d of Augufi, to the 29th 6ioz From the 29th of Augufi, to the 5 th of September 69$% From the 5th of September, to the 12th 6 5 44 From the 12th of September, to the 19th 7165 From the 19th of September, to the 25th 5533 From the 26th of September, to the 3d of October 4929

2010

From the 3d of October, to the roth 4327 From the 10th of October, to the 17th 266$ From the 17th of October, to the 24th 1421 From the 24th of October, to the 31ft 1031 From the 31ft of October, to the 7th of 141 *~ -November
-

From the 7th of November, to the 14th 1050 From the 1 4th of November, to the 2 1 fr 652 From the 2 ft of November, to the 28th 333 From the 28th of November, to the 5 th of
1

December

*-*-*Jmim

210

From

6t
trom From
I

The Caufes dnd Cure

1

the 5th of December , to the

2th

243
281

the 12th of December, to the 19th

feems a Point yet in Difpute^ whe-

ther great Fires at ftich a

Time

are of Service

or hurtful, which to
ful,

me

is

fomewhat wonderand by what

real Service to

becaufe whofoever confiders the Neceffor

fity

Air in Refpiration,
it

Quality

becomes of fuch

the Prefervation of Life, cannot think fuch

Fires proper, becaufe they deflroy that very

Property in the

Air-,

which

is

demonstrable by

innumerable Experiments.
pation
their

As

to the

ili-

indeed

of

peftilential

Vapours,

or

Deflru&idn in any Manner, they un-

doubtedly

may do

Service, in

fome particu-

lar Circumftances.

And what Fires common

Subftances as abound

Occaiions require at fuch Times, are rather

to be

made with fuch

with, and yield a nitrous Salt, becaufe that

feems to be the chief Support of the vital

Property inthe Air, and fuch are our
Coals
all

for every one

common knows how much more

and give a
Spirits.

Wood-Fires are

fuifocating,

Languor, and Flatnefs to the

PRESERVATIVE
largely talked of

Fumigations are

by

all,

on thefe Occafions>

and they with good Reafon defer ve to be

pra&ifed.,'

of
in the Air,

pefiilentidl Difeafes.
is

67
on Float

pra&ifed, becaule while the Poifon

it

may undoubtedly
its

be entangled

fo as to lofe

Power of

acting as fuch

but then for this Purpofe fuch Things ought

to be ufed as exhale very fubtile Sulphurs
as the fpicy

Drugs and Gums.

fufpecl:

And on

this

Account

Wood-Fires to be bad
is

becaufe they raife into the Air a very grols

and vifcid Humidity, which

unfit to lay

not only very

hold on, and unite with, the ex-

treamly minute Agents that are to be provided

againft, but alfo carry into the

Lungs with

the

Air in Refpiration, fuch Particles, as

the Blood, as are the Production

difpofe of themfelves to VifciditieSj and fuch

Changes

in

of the worft Fevers, without any other co-

operating Caufe

for the Fire only forces out

is

that Moifture, which, while a Tree,

in its

Growth, naturally

perfpires

from

it

and

how

an Air fo impregnated

is like

to be of Service

againft a Peftilence, any one

may

foon be a

Judge,

who
are

confide rs thole Kinds of Fevers

which

molt commonly epidemical in

wood-land Countries.

SUCH

Drugs however

as

are

from

a.

vegetable Produclibn,and abound with fubtile,

volatile Parts, are Ol Service to be exhaled

into the Air. this

way, both by their Fitnels

to

64
that are on

The Caufes and Cure

float-,

to join with, and cover thofe venomous SpicuU

and to mix with the Ani-

mal Fluids by Refpiration and Inlinuation into the Pores, whereby they convey, as it
were, an Antidote, wherefoever the Poifon
able to
penetrate,
.

is

and which groifer Vapours can by no means do.

OF

this kind are chiefly Storax, Benjamin^

all

Franhncenfe, and

the Aromatick Roots and

all, I

Woods ; and amongft them

any Refpect.s,where
ly ofrenfive.
its

cannot think
inferior in

the Smell of Tar, Pitch, &c.

Scent
is

is

not particular-

And thefe Things fhould be burnt at fuch Difxances of Time from each other, that the Air may be always fenfibly impreg-

nated with them.

BUT
Reafbn, as

as

lome have fad Apprehenfions

ftill,

from the Air being

and

as

it

were

ftag-

nant at fuch Times, and not without good

it

favours the Collection of poifo-

nous

Effluvia,

and aggravates an Infection

it

for

the Prevention of whichj

certain
Intervals to
:

is

propofed at

fire off

great Guns, and

the

like
it

cannot but imagin, that for this

effectual to let

End,

would be much more

Parcels of the

off fmall

common

Pulvis Ful-

minansi in iuch Openings of a large

)

Town,

as

Squares

of

peftilential Difeafes.
-,

65

Squares and Market-Places

for

whofoever

hath been accuftomed to any Experiments with

a
this Compofition,

muft have perceived

its

much
\

greater

Shock given to the Air by

if

Explofion, than by the largeft Pieces of Ord-

nance
[ie

infomuch that

any Objection can of this in London,

it is

rgainft.

the Practice

mould there be Occafion,

the crafie Coir*

dition of -the City Buildings,

which perhaps
at a time.

may

not well

ftarid its

Shocks, were they to

be made with good Quantities of it

THE
in
Elaftich

Matter likewife of this Compofition

its

fome Meafure befpeaks

Force, becaufe

Ufefulnefs for
its

thefe Purpofes on other Accounts, befides

it

diiiufes into

the Air

great Quantities of that nitrous Salt,

is

which

known
:

to add

much

to

its

Serviceablenefs

in Life

And whofoever
is

cheaper this

how much to be procured, and how much

confiders

-eafier praclifed,

than the

firing off Guns, efpe-

cially in

the Middle of great Towns, cannot

it,

but be defirous to try

lamities as are

in

Cafe of fuch Ca-

now with too much Reaibn

not therefore be unaccepta-

feared

:,

it

may

ble to give its Compofition here.

Sd

66

The Caufes and Cure

iij.

g Sal. Nltri Partes

phur's P.
tcpefacloj
j

SaL Tart art P.

ij.

Sul-

optirne

mifceantur in Mortarlo^

farHm

& fervetur ad ujuum vafe bene obturato.

is

THIS
ax)t

order'd in

2l

warm

JMortar, and
is

to be kept clofe, becaufe the Salt of Tartar

to imbibe a Moifture
its

from the Air. which

hinders

Exploiion.

A Drachm
as poilible

or

two.

put

in as clofe a

Heap

upon an

Iron Plate over any Fire, will in a little

Time

go

off

with a Report and ConcufHon beyond

any

that

ol*

Gun

whatfoever
infefced

fo that in a

calm
vices

Seafbii,

and an

4ir, great Serits fre-

may undoubtedly

be had from

quent Practice,

YET

befides the

Helps for

this

End from

common Diet, and Way of Living, Aiiiftarr ces may alio be had from Medicinal Prefervatives, fuch as thofe
tldotesy

commonly termed

An".

confifdng of fpicy volatile Particles^

afford a natural Pabulum to the animal

which
Spirits,

and by carrying into the whole Habit

a fine fubtle Oil, the better fecure themagainfi:

thofe Contagious Spicula which are hi ReadineCs to

mix with them

and for this Purpole^

we

are furnifhed

with a moft elegant and

ufeful Medicine, fmce

many Authors of Note

have

of peftilentidl Vifeajes.
have wrote
Sal
Volatile

67
is

on

this Subject,
if
it

which

the

Oleofum,

be well

loaded
^

with the
although

eifential Oils

of Spicy Ingredients

indeed

with

fome

Constitutions
\

more
they

fetid Compositions are very Suitable

all

but

agree in carrying into the Habit Somerecruits,

what that both

ral Separations

and guards the Spirits

againSt any foreign Mixture, or

from unnatu-

of their

Saline
in

and humid Parts.

rpbuft Constitufare hard^

And
tions,

to the Same

End,

who have been accuStomed to

or

the Spirit

Oil of Turpentine

frequently

drank ih fmall Dofes might be

a great

Means

to prefer ve the poorer Sort from Infe&idn.

AS

to the curative Part in fuch a terrible

it

Visitation,

cannot be expe&ed that Rules

can be given fuitable to every one's Cafe but

by fuchas attend upon them-, and the moSt that

can be in general iaid down. to this Purpofe^

may
tife

be collected from the preceding Trea-

of Dr.

Hodges.

Although

as to

the

Choice 0^ Alexipharmich, they are certainly

beSt that are moSt Subtile^

and capable of be-

ing carried, by the Courie of Circulation, into

the
into

fineSt
it
is

Receffes of the Constitution, where-

manifeft the extream Subtilty of

:

the

pestilential Poifon is capable to enter

all

And amongft

of this Oafs,

take Camphlre

Ei

to

68
fore
I

The Caufes and Cure

more preferable ^ which theretill

to be much the

would propofe not only to be repeated

Dofes to an infecied Perfon,
is

hi proper

due

Crips

given to
vention.

now and then thofe who are well, by way of PreAnd becaufe fome Perfons will
obtained, but alfo

be pleafed with fome general Formula to thefe

Purpofes, the following are offered to be complied with, or varied, at every one's Discretion,

who is a

Judge of fuch Matters.

Spe-

J Conferv. Rui\t y Ft or. Rorifmar. ana

cies

j.

diamine
put v.

fine odoratis

5
j.

j.

Baljam.

JHecha
q. f. ut
JSF.

5
F.

fs.

Croci angl.

Syr,

Balfam.

'

Elet~luarium y cujus

fum. quant it at em

2H.

omni mane j

&

hora

Jomni fuperbibendo Hauftnvet Hlfpaniciy

tepefafiti.

lum Vini

alhi Lisboncnfisy

To

the Night Dofe of this,

may

be added

fometimes 2 or 3 Grains of Camphire y efpeciaily if a Per (on feels

any Indifpofition that

requires a breathing Sweat} fbine

may

per-

haps like the following better.

g Conf. Rut
Scordij 3
j.

5J.

Mkhrid. %

fs.

Tulv. Fol.

rad. Cantraycrv. Serpent arij Virgin, ana

is.

Sal. volat. Viper ar. Croci angl.

q. fi ut /. Elcik.

ana 9

j.

Syr.

Balfam.

fumend* eodem modo.

Or,

of

peftikntial Dijeafes.

6$

Or,

VZ Confeci.

Fracaftorij fine Melte, Mithrtd:

ma % is.

Boll veri, Terra japon. ana

j.

Caftor*
e

Sails fitccin. Croci angl.

ana 3). Confetl. Alkerm

fine odoratis q. f. ut F. Eletluarium

ad ufum fra*

diHum,

precipue h. fotnni.

SINCE
inquifitive
ters,-

the former Impretfion,

Have

received from a Friend,

who

is

both very

and communicative in thefe MatSurgeon of Note and Eminence^

great Experience
in peflilential

the two following Prefer ipt ions of one

a

Johnfon,

who had

DiftemperPj during a long Refidence ztTangieri

the Reign of King Charles

is

II.

The

firft

of

them

under the Title or Ele&uarlum Car-

diacum^ as follows

Bad.

ferp.

Vlrg.

Piper,

long.
j.

Valerian*
Is.

Angel. Hifp. Zedoar. Z. Z. ana ^

Impcrat.

Tetafit*

Conic.

Cinnarn. Aurant.

Sapajf.

Baec.

Lauri Myrrh. foL

hath,

Rut& Scord. Calaminth. Sch&~

Contrayer.
Vip. 3
i).

ana

j.

Rad.

Croc.

An? eh
ij*

Cochin,

ana 5

fs.

Pulp.

Camph.
vin.

cum
qi

melle Trip,

quant. Jiecier.

&

canarln*

f. f.

Elefh

\VITH

yo

The Caufes and Cure

this

WITH
in

the Author

reports

to
in

have done very great Service Abroad,

the

Fevers of the worft kind, and thofe deemed

higher!.

Degree

peftilential.

The

following

alfo

he ufed

in like

Intentions

with very

good Succefs, efpecially where

:

the Patient was threatned with Fluxes

g
Scord.

Ter.

Jafon.

Bol.

Ver.
J.

Cinnam.
fs.

jMenth*

Gum

Arab*

ana

jRad.

Torment.

quinquefol.

Piement. Cort. Aurant. Gland.

Querc
de

Sang.

Draeon.
q. f.

Z. Z. ana

j.

cum

Syrujo

mecon.

F. Eleft.

THE
that

fame Mr.

Johnfon,

who hath fmce

a
little

pra&iied in London

with good Reputation

Traft,

and Succefs,

publiilied in

perhaps few

have met
for

with,

fome

general Medicines

the fame Purpofes,

Infertion

which are thought to be worth

here.

An
I.

Alexiphkrmick Water.

Rad. Angelica,

Contraycrva y Serfentaria,

Virginiaj ZedoarU,
Cort.
exter.

Cort.

Cinnamomi ana J
.

vj.

auraniior.

Citri,

limon 7

witerian,

pmenti

of
ana
iiij.

peftikntial Difeafes.

yi

fimenti vel fiferis Jamaica,

rad. gentiana, Z* z.

Garyhil. macis, nucis,

mojhata, fern*

Cardamomi,
lauri ana

Cardui, Carui, Cubebar, Bac, Jmif*

iij.

Cochenela,
ij.

Croci

Br itan* Troth,

de Viferis
dicti,

ana J

fol,

angelica, Cardui, Bene-

dittamni Cret, galega,

majorana, mdijfsy
ant bos, Calm-*

mentha, fulegii,
dula,

ana m.i].

flor*

Centauri min. lavendula,

ana

rn,

j.

Camana

phora
lib.
ij.

Is.

mithriddtii,

ther*

Andromachi

Contundenda Cchtundantur,
beneditti,
lib.,

&

cum aqua

Cardui

fpirit.

Vini

rcht*

&

Wini

Conor* ana
toja, limon.

xij. aceti fior.

lib.
ij.

tunica, fuc. ace-

ana

in vas

idoneum immit-

tantur bene obturatum,

ut

per duos

hebdomadm

infolentur, vel in hypocauflo, vel B* fid* maceren-

tur

turn

demum

per

Alembicurn
paretur

diftillmtwr 5

&

hinc

inter

difiitlandum

Extraction}

affervandum
mart.

fub

nomine Extratti

Alexiphar-

THIS

Water

is

the beft

have met

with for the

Agreement

of

the fevera!
,

Ingredients in the fame Intention

is

as alio

the following a mofr efficacious Anodyne

and Sudorifick.

An

ft

The Cdufes and Cure

An
g
Spirit*

Anodyne Tintture.

vini Tartarifati
Caftorei,

lib. x.

Opii Theb t

lib. fs.

puL

Cochenels, Croci,

Garyo*

phll.

nucis mofchats,

nedoarls,

rad. ferpentaria
fulphurls
vltri~

Viro-'inU^

Camphors

ana ^

ij.

eli-%]. mifce$
Balnei
vefica

ac infolentur

aut hypocaufil,

ant

calore dlgerantur
claufo,
his

vafe vitreo,
indies

fubere
:

&
fiat

terve

agitand,o

exprejfio,

&
alfo

TinElura per reftdentiam

depurata^

fervetur

ad ufum*

HE

recommends a very warm Diathe following Manner

ij.
:

phoretic Extract in

I Opli They.
difiillato

lib.

fiat Tlnctura

cum Aceto
vini relt.

prlmum,
turn

deind,e
In

cum

jpirit.
'.

parata
lib.
ij.

"

dcmum
}

cU Tartar

per deilq.

diffioivatur

Jolutum perccletur, pofiquam

evaporation
in

facta

ad tepldum Balnei
coaguletur.
"fani

calorem,
*

formam
falls

Extratti

fal,

voiat.

Armoniaci,

C.

Cranii

humani,
Extract:

fucclnl,

Tartaric

viper arum ana

ij.

Caftorei Contrayervs,

Creel, gentians, ferpentans,

Virginia, fplc<z nardl per vini fpiriium arid

ill).

puL

fiez.oar.

Orlentls,

Bez^oar. mineralis,

Bez.oar.

folarls,

Camphors,

Cochenels,
fuc*

Coral,

rub.

mar-

geritarum ana

iij.

Kermes, Mlthridatil,

Therlaa

Thcriac.

of peftilentlal Difeafes. 75 Androm- ana lib. fs. ol. mads per exprefs*
%
).

Balf. de Gilead. ana

fs.

ol.

Chymic. Abfmhii
majorat*}

Cinarnomi) Garyophil.
rorifmar. fajfaphras

limon. juniperi,
fs.

ana J

affatim mifcemftwr^

& vafe idoneo optime claufo digerantur^ & ufui ExtraElum reponatur.

THE
yet

following Powder

is

alfb given

for

the fame Purpofe,

which

altho'
its

fomewhat

elaborate, and troublefome in

Preparation,

feems very well to deferve Recommen-

dation.

An

Anttfefiilentid

Powder.

Anthnonli per longas vena*

fcintillantis, falis

communisy

falis Tart or i,

ana partes aquales.

Amifevjim y

monium feorfim

teratur,

&

additis ceteris, Jlmul

:

redigantur omnia in pulverem

pulvis

ifle

feu partitis viciku, cum ccchleari vel alio quovis

infrumento commodo immittantur

candens
}

in

crucibulum
*2C

&
:

cum

univerfa fuerit deflagratio

ftndor

ccjfaverity

ah igne amove atur y ut quamprimum.

fcoriis libe-

refrigefcat

tandem confraElo vafe, a

pulverem reducatur.
in

retur,

&

in

Pulvis quinam
pura edul-

multiplice

ablutione
lento

aqua

tepenti

corandusy

calore

exficcandm,

&

ad ujwn

repencndm.

Tarn

hujus pidveris lib* fs. coche-

neUy

croci Brit an. fal. volat. falls

Armoniaci C. C.

am

74
ma
f
)'

T^ e

Caufes and Cure

Is.

Bezoar* miner alls ^

Betar. orient. 5

ij*

Camphors Z) mifcc,

fiat puL fubtiliflimm.

FOR thofe who feem to think thefe warm

Alexipharmich liable to overheat,
or rarifie

the Blood, and in Cafes where fuch an Excefs

befpeaks Reftraint,
the

fame

experienced

Perfon recommends the following

V Sprit.
fulphurls per
fpirit. vini

Nitri

reBificati^

fpirit.

falls,

oh

Campanam y
in

oL

vltrloll

ana

lib. fs.

reB- lib. hi), mlfce, fiat per fex fep*

vafe

timanas

digeftio

optlme

claufo,

faBa

agitatione frequently pofiea diftillentur per B.

*vafe

M.

in

vitreo.

think

it

not poflible to do any Service,

for

by

particular Directions

the

Ufe of
one

fuch Medicines as thefe, to every

who
will

may

be taken

fick

becaufe the Variety of

Circumftances in the fame Diftemper

always require the immediate Government

of competent Judges

moft of thefe there^

fore are here publifhed rather for the Re-

membrances of fuch, than

Lives upon their

for the

Encou-

ragement of unskilful Perfons to rifque their

own Management.

BESIDF^

"

of

peftilential Vijeafes.

7j

BESIDES
may
poffibly

the ufe

of

thefe, under the

Direction of thofe

who

are

proper Judges,
,

either for Prevention, or Cure

fome Security

be had from odorilerous Sub-

fiances tofmell to, efpecia'lly at a

Time of conefficacious^

verfing with the infe&ed

I

for

which Purpofe
and
impregnated

know of nothing

fo grateful

as the Volatile Sal Armoniac, well

with the
dients
}

eiTential Oils
it is

of Aromatick Ingre-

and as

to be procured dry, to be

kept in fmall Bottles, from a careful DifHllation of the

common
more

Sal Volatile Oleofum.

But

if in any Cafes

fetid Subftances are pre-

ferable, Compofitions

may be

eafily

made of

fuch from Rue^ Featherfew. Galbanum 9 AJfa-fatida9

and the

like

for thefe,

with lome Perfons,

-

agree better than more grateful Scents 7 befides,

in fultry Seafons

of the Year, and where Re-

frigeration

is

rather wanted, ailiilances

may

perhaps be better had from acid and cooling

Flavours, fuch as are afforded by

many Herbs

Flowers and Fruits,

FREQUENTLY
the
following
I

to diflblve In the or

Mouth

Lozenges.,

fbmething like

them,

alfo

imagine

efpecially to thofe

may be of Service j who are converfant in inJc Boll

fected Places,

?6

The Caufes and Cure^ &c.

oft.

J! Bolt veri
rub.
ol.

).

Terra Japon. 3

ij.

Coral.

Margar it.

opt.

lev gat. Flor. Benz.. ana

j.

j.

Is.

Clnnam. gut.

xij. Sacchar. albif. lib.

Mucelar*

Gum. Tragacanth.
Troch.
it,

in aq. JRcfar.

Dam.

q.

[.form, in
like

ad ufwn pradi&um.

For thoie who

^

may

be added fome. Ambergreafe

it.

enough

to give a light Scent of

PRESERVATORY
all

Evacuations of

kinds are

much

difputed in theie Cafes,

in

and not worth our particular Regard

this
all

Place

for thus

much

is

plain
in

to

who

are

competent

Judges

fuch

Matters,

that but

very few Circumftances

becaufe

can

juftifie

them

every

Evacua-

tion, unlefs that of Perforation, gives

more
is
^

Liberty

for

any Thing noxious

into
lefs

without,
there

to infmuate

the

Pores,

as
its

made thereby

Refinance to

Admiilion

not to fay any Thing of the Danger in fuch

a Practice, by lefTening at the fame

Time the

Quantities oi Spirits and Strength, which can-

not but be mifchievqus:

And

particularly

ouaht
lax a
thefe

all

Perfons at fach.

Temper of Body 7 prefervatory Means juft hinted at,moftly

Times to avoid too for which Purpofe,

tend to aftringe the Bowels, and increafe Perforation.

FINIS,

Ifoarvarfc

mnivereitp

3Librar of

Uhc

ZlDeMcal Scbooi

Gbe

(Sift of

lYvx-s

cJ^wxec,

<^\bc\i^6X\

COUNT WAY LIBRARY OF MEDICINE

RC 178 E3 H662 1721

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