HISTORY

Of the mod Remarkable

Peflilential Diftempers

That have appeared in Europe

for Three Hundred Years la ft pa ft ;

WITH

What proved Successful or Hurtful in their CURE.

TOGETHER

With the Method of Preventi on and Cur e of the PLAGUE.

Founded upon the Experience of thofe who were Practitioners when it raged.

Laid down in fuch a Manner, that the Generality of People may be able to manage themfelves.

By R. S COOKES M. D.

The Sweating-Sicknefs*****4tf;w mofi probably of a Foreign Original, and no other than a Plague abated in its Violence ly the mild Temperament of our Climate .

Mead's Short Difcourfe.

The Second Edition Corre&ed, with a Postscript.

LONDON:

Printed for A. Corbet, at the Old Hand and Pen> over againft the Chapel in Ruffe l-Court, near Covent-Garden ; and J. Robe rts, near the Oxford- At ms in JYdvwkhr Lane* M.dcc.xxii.

(Price One Shilling.)

;)U T'^U

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Dr„ BAT hT.

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Sir,

FTER fome Deliberation with myfelf, to whom I fhould make a Prefent of thefe Sheets, both my In¬ clination and Judgment fix¬ ed upon you: For at the fame Time, that you have greater Abili¬ ties than others to judge of this Terr formance , you have Candour and Good- Nature enough to pardon its Faults.

You need not be acquainted, that Things of this Nature cannot be too Publick, when the Jpprehenflons and Fears of the Na-^ tion run fo high ; and confidering that if they fhould come to pafs, the Generality might probably have no other Ajjiftance than fuch as this : and if this fhall con¬ tribute any thing towards the Wellfare

A 2 of

4, The De d i c a t i o n.

of my Fellow-Creatures., I lhall have my End, and I know that you will not be difpleafed with any thing that looks like an Office of Humanity, who are yourfelf fo much concerned for the Good of Man- hind.

I would not have you to think, Sir, that I am going to fay any thing that looks like a common Dedication ; for if I did, your Generofity, 'Prudence, Learn¬ ing and good Senfe, would. afford Matter enough to work upon : But I know that you • would defpife whatever looks like Flattery ; fuch mean Arts could never be agreeable to a Soul like Yours.

v<

What therefore is defign’d for a Lejli- mony of my Refpef!, and not for a Cata¬ logue of your Praifes ; I doubt not but you will have Goodnefs enough to pardop, from,

SIR,

Your real Admirer, and very Humble Servant

R. Brooks,

I/O EVER writes with . any tolerable Succefs upon the Plague, muft found his Opinions upon the Ob- fervations and Experience of his TredeceJJbrs ; for they alone are able to inform us of the different Fortune of a various Er office j and the fever al Eryals that have been made to weaken the Force of fo formidable an Enemy ■ to Mankind \

If this be true , as undoubtedly it is ? the- Reader will not be dijpleajed to find that he has a good deal of Labour faved in turning over Variety of Books , and that he may behold with one View' Qbferva-

B tions

( <5 )

tions which before were [centered here azzd

there .

In tr (inflating what I here prefent you 5 tho* I have made confiderable Contratlionsy I have omitted no material Circtmftance that would either explain the Nature of the Difeafe , or the Manner of its Cure ; and if my Authors had bee?i more parti¬ cular I might have been fo too .

What I have / aid in the Second I* art, I have Authority for ; and I believe as good as any \ Perfon elfe can have .

In this Second Edition I have taken care to correct fome Overfights that were committed for want of due Attention ; and to make it as generally ufeful aslcazz, have added a probable Account of the Mazz- ner of its Trogrefs , together with fome farther Remarks upon the Method ^/Pre¬ vention and Cure.

I would not have the Reader mifiake this for an entire Hiftory of Peftilentiai Diftempers, but rather of the different forts of them ; tho* by the by, I fhall not be pofitive that any two that have yet ap¬ peared have been in all re [pedis the fame » let Authors have diftinguijhed between fome kinds of thefe IJifeafes and the Tlague itfelf, I have kept to that Difi mo¬ tion, without apprehending any ill Cozz- fequences from iu " ' ••

PART

PART I

A Aiflory of the moB Re¬ markable Peflilential Dif- temperSj fife.

HE Plague is a Subject of fo great Importance to Man¬ kind, that whoever flncerely endeavours to weaken its Force or flop its Progrefs , is fuffi- ciently excufed in the Attempt ^ tho' he fliould not meet with any extraordinary Succefs.

However fpecious or conclufive the Re a roll¬ ings of fome may be, yet they fatisfy us no farther than they have Experience for, their Foundation * becaufe whatever is not built up¬ on that, muft needs be uncertain and preca¬ rious. To fearch after the hidden Cauies of Things, to give piobable Gueffes in abftrufe Matters, may, indeed, anfwer the Ends of Oftentation and Vain-glory , and pleafe fome cu~ rious and inquifitive Minds but the Fears

B 2 and

and the Suffering? of Mankind call for fome- thing more : While a mod dreadful Enemy of Mankind rages, and imperioufly threatens the Death of Thoufands, there is no time left for empty Speculations and idle Amufements $ all Aids are to be fummoifd, all Methods try 3d, that if pofll-ble one way or other this De~ ftroyer of Mankind may he vanquifh d.

However, no one Method , how promiling foever, can be fecure enough wherewith to truft the Welfare of Millions of People, un- lefs that one Method were infallibly certain, which it is not poffible any fhould be that have not been try’d : Beiides, it is not f effi¬ cient, as fome People feem to imagine, to call a Deftrudlive Diftemper by the name of the Plague , and then to give the Remedies for that Diftemper in general. We cannot be fure that Di (tempers which to very difeerning Eyes feem to have the fame Symptoms, require the fame Method of Cure $ much lefs ought we to adhere to one uniform Way of Practice, where theDifeafe puts on Variety of Shapes : And if we may believe Dr. Mead *, the fame Dif¬ temper that is call'd the Plague in France , may put on another Drefs, and in England become the Sweating-Sickm fs.

It does indeed feem to be very probable, that the fame Diftemper may put on different Appearances, or in other words, that the fame Caufe may produce various Effects ^ for the fame reafon, that an equal Quantity of the fame Medicine has different Operations upon different Bodies.

To be well guarded therefore, we fhould be able to know and overcome our Enemy under

* See his Short Difcourfe, p. 6*

all

all Difguifes } at leaft under all thofe that we have had any Account he has yet appeared : This I take to be the moft cautious and pru^ dent Way of Proceeding ^ for let us be at¬ tack'd on which fide we will, we fhall in fome meafure be prepared to ward off the Blows, and defend ourfelves againft the Affault.

When any new Diftemper appears, Phyji™ dans are commonly at a lofs what to do, or how to proceed, till a fufficient number of Experiments have been try'd, which may ena¬ ble them to do more than guefs at a Method of Cure. But if they find any old Diforder to which they may compare the new, th o' not alike in every Particular, they with good reafon conclude, that what has prevail'd a- gainft that, is molt likely to prevail againft this.

I think then it is very plain we cannot be too well armed againft Contagious Dijhmpers of any fort, much lefs againft the moft de- ftruttive • and if I can give any tolerable HISTORY of them, the Prefer natives a- gainft them, and the Cure of thofe that were infefted, I fhall not contribute the leaft to¬ ward fo valuable a Purpofe.

And what makes fuch an Attempt more ne~ ceffary, is, that nothing is more common than to give the fame Names to Difeafes very un¬ like Thus Crato affirms, that after 30 Years diligent Obfervation, the Hungaric Difeafe never return’d with the fame Symptoms that it had before, as Dol&m * reports. Sennertus t makes it the Effence of a Plague to be Con¬ tagious and Mortal 5 fo that if it be attended with a Fever , Raving , Watching 7 Head-Acb ,

* Dolan Encyelop, p* 538^ | DeNatur, Peft. cap,. 1.

pro-

( 10 )

profound Sleep , Ulcers of the Mouth , ^iiinfy, Pleurify , Vomiting, Loojenefs , Jaundice, Buboes, Carbuncles and Spots of various kinds, yet he comprehends them under the general Name of the Plague: for, fays he, it is not th e@hiin- fy that fuffocates, the Fever that kills, &c. but the Plague.

Tk. Witts Hn his Defcription of the Plague brings in Buboes and Carbuncles, and yet with¬ out doubt that was properly a Plague which Heurnius t fpeaks of, which happened in the Year 1445, when People dropt down dead without fo much as a Fever , or any other Symptom.

The life of a Name, indeed, I take to be a matter of no great moment, provided it does not lead us into Miftakes, and if we do not attempt the Management of all Diftempers of the fame Name after the fame Manner. Eut before I profecute my main Deftgn, I fhall defcribe what I mean by a Plague or Pestilen¬ tial Dijlemper , and feme of its more ufual Symptoms. , I

ue The Plague then is an Epidemical Diftemper, Contagious , and very fatal to Mankind * it is often attended with Buboes , Carbuncles , Spots , Wheals and Pujlnlts .

Some Authors think that a Plague may exift without being Epidemical or common, and that there are Epidemical Diftempers that are not contagious ; and the Cough and Catarrh mention’d by j| Foreftus is brought as an In- ftance, which in the Year 15S0 fpread throughout Europe in fix Weeks time, and of which fcarce one in a thoufand died, tho3 whole Families were ill of if at once. How-

* Willis de Pefte. f Heurmi Inft. Med. p.200.

I! Foreftus, Lib. 6 . Qbfer. 3.

ever

( II )

ever juft the latter Obfervation may be, the former feems too trifling to infift upon.

Buboes are Swellings of the Glands ocra- Buboes fioned by the fharp Morbific Matter that is what‘ thrown upon them ; which fometimes increa- fing, fuppurates and turns into Pus. Thefe moft commonly appear in the Groin, fome¬ times behind the Ears, and in the Neck.

A Carbuncle is a fiery Swelling encompafled Carbuncles with the moft fharp and burning Puftules, in- what- fefting the Sick with intolerable Pain; if breaks out in any Place without diftinftion, does not fuppurate or turn into P«s, but creep¬ ing and enlarging its Bounds, throws out the eaten corrupted Fleih, which leaves a hollow Ulcer behind it as if burnt with an fifcba- rotic .

relates of an Accident which happened in the time of the Plague in the Lower Palatinate , is pretty remarkable : « A c certain Maid, fays he, had a Carbuncle on c the End of her Ring-Finger, and whether 4 becaufe Ihe was delirious, or through Ve- 4 hemence of the Pain, I know not, but Ihe 4 took a common Kitchen-Knife, and cut the 4 End of her Finger off ^ yet for all that Ihe 4 died the next da y, with her Finger and 4 Hand mortify hi/

The Spots , Wheals and puftules are of the Spots, fame fort of Swellings with thofe before i^Wheais, fcribed, and are only more malignant for be- PuftMles> ing lefsj for in thefe the Poifon being more^ aU difperfed, is more deadly and fatal than if it was thrown upon one Place.

Some have taken a great deal of pains to inform us when we are toexped that we fhall

f Dolasi Encyclop, p. 540®

be

,>

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■ ' . ( 11 ).

be vifited with a Peflilential Diftemper , but

with very little certainty • efpecially if what Dr. Mead * fays be true, That fuch Diftem- pers are not of Englifl Growth : but that, per¬ haps, we may confider hereafter.

Diagnofih Biagnofiic Signs indeed may be made better Signs ufe of, for thefe ferve to fhew when Perfons whau are afflidted with this dreadful Diftemper, and how we may know that they are fo ^ which being timely difeovered, any Help that can be got, is likely to prove moft beneficial. The chief .of which, as they are obferved by Authors of moft Note, are as follow.

T hePulfe fmall, weak, quick and unequal ^ a Pain at the Mouth of the Stomach , fome- tirnes great and infatiable Thirjl, Loathing of Food and all kind of Victuals • Vomiting * Shi¬ vering and Trembling * Wearinefs and Heaviness of the Body ^ Pains in the Head $ continual Waking and R -ving ^ fometimes extreme Hea¬ viness and Sleepinefs $ the Urine often like that of a healthy Perfon the Heat not ex- traordinary^ Redrtefs of the Eyes^ Buboes in feveral Parts of the Body, or Carbnneles, or livid and black Spots.

Thefe are the Signs ufually taken notice of, but do not agree with all Peftilential Diftem- pers, as you will find hereafter, but only to a Species of them. I Ihall therefore begin my Account of thefe Diftempers with that re- Sweating- markable Difeafe call d the 8 went i vg -Sick nej's : Sicknefs , This was firft obferved in the Year 14 86, i486. and becaufe it was fuppofed to be a new Dif- temper, and to take its Rife in England , it is call'd by Authors Sudor Anglic ns and Pefth Su~ dorifica Anglica it continued in England almoft

* See pag . 5. of his Short Difcourfe.

conftantly

( rj )

conftantly for 40 Years together, and tho’ the Cold of the Winter feerrfid to drive it away fometimes, yet it would return in warmer Weather with frefh Vigour. Itdeftroy d fuch vaft Numbers of People before there was a certain Remedy found out, that Foreigners hardiy believed there were fo many in the whole Ifland. From England in 1525: it took 1525. its Progrefs, and in five Years time march’d through Lower Germany^ the Low Countries ,

Holland , Zeland , Brabant t Flanders , Denmark ,

Norway and France .

So mercilefs was this Diftemper, that when it firft entered a City, it would feize five or fix hundred in a day, and fcarce fix recover'd.

Thofe that were taken with it, had nei- Symptoms ther Buboes , Carbuncles , nor Spots , but were exceifively weak and faint; they had TJnea- finefs at the Heart, Pain in the Head, thick, fwift unequal Fulfe, and great Papitation of the Heart, which would la it with fome that recovered two or three Years, and did not leave others all their Life long ; they were under a continual and plentiful Sweat , which did not end till the Diiiemper ceafed, which was in twenty four hours time. Thofe which did not farther their Sweating, nor ufed Cor¬ dials, and who, impatient of Heat , expofed themfelves to the cold Ai y all died fuddenly in the fpace of twenty four Hours : But after the Cure came to be known, and they forth fied the Sick with Cordials , and promoted their Sweating , not fo many perifhed.

The Caufe of this Diftemper was generally Caujh allowed to be fome Poifovous ml ty of the Air. Yet fome afcribed it to the malignant Influences of the Stars, among ft whom was Sennertvs ; but more efpecially Camden , who

C does

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“Diet to he nfed.

Tills.

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does not at all doubt but it owed its Rife to an Opposition of Saturn and Mars from the Zodiacal Constellations Scorpio and laurus7 as you ma)^ fee more at large in his Britannia .

But whatever the Caufe was, the Effects were fometimes foon over ^ for it ivas obser¬ ved by Tyengins to enter Amjlerdam with a mifty Air on the 20th of September 1529 after Noon, and after a ftay of five days entirely \ranifhed, and returned no more.

In the Year iyyo, England was again vi Si¬ ted with this Strange Diitemper*, it was faid to deftroy a great number of People in the Prime of their Age, and what is very remark¬ able that our Hiflorians relate, it a fleeted none but the EngliJI) in foreign Countries. Our Ambajfador at that time at Paris confulted three famous Physicians y Fernelius , Holler ius and Sylvius , for a Prefervative againft it.

They advifed him to drink moderately of ftrong Liquors, and to eat fuch things as were eafy of Digeftion, as Small Birds , Partridges 7 Pullets , Pheajants , young Hares , Conics and Kid 5 and thefe not boiled, but roafted. That his Body might be kept as free from Crudities as poffible, they order'd him to take two or three of the following Pills once or twice a Week, an Hour before any thing was to be eaten.

Take of the choiceft Myrrh two Drams of the belt Aloes Stalf an Ounce *, Saffron half a Scruple-, of the Leaves of the true, and of the Roots of falfe Dittany of the Roots of Betony and Tormentil , of the true Bole Ar?noniacy of the Sealed Earth of Lemnos , of each half a Dram. With new Oil of fweet Almonds and Syrup of Lemons

' - make

( 15 )

make a Mafs, to be wrapped in Leather and kept for Ufe.

They alfo commended the frequent Ufe of candied Citron Peel, Conferve of Rofes, Con¬ feree of Barrage-Flowers, Conferve of SplecJi* wort. Scabious , Succory , and Vormentil Root .

And alfo prefcribed die following Mixture, of which the Quantity of a Hazle-Nut was to be taken now and then, two Hours before Breakfaft.

Take of the Conferve of Rofes , Borrcge dMaxtuvc* and Buglofs Flowers, candied Citron, of each an Ounce • of old Venice-Treacle three Drams ^ of Bole Armoniac , Sealed Earth of Lemnos , of each two Drams : make a Mixture.

After the taking of a little of which, two Ounces of difhill d Wine was to be drank.

Whether or no any Preservative was fuffi-* cient to keep away the Diftemper, Authors arefilentj but as to the * Cure, not fo : the Cure* whole Secret of which confifted in covering the Sick in Bed, and not buffering the leaft Breath of Air to come near them. They would not buffer the Sick to leave his Bed upon the mod urgent Occafion, no nor fo much as to move themfelves ^ nor could this be obtain'd by any Prayers or Intreaties of the Sick. When the Sick was very hot, and wanted to drink, they gave him fome of the following Decoction, which refrefh'd his Spi¬ rits, and promoted the Sweating,

/ M

Take of the Flowers of white Water -Lillies Becoff'm, and Violets , of each half a Handful ^ ot

* Vida Fracaftorius lib. 2. cap. 5, de Morb. Gontag.

C 2 Car*

1

Fume.

!

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Car dims Beve&iSus, Pimpernel, Bor rage ^ glofs , ftonecl Raijins ; of each a Pugil of figs n° ten *, Lentils husked, wafhed Lack , of each five Drams * of Tragacanth three Drams, Zclo /y, Dittany, To nnentil -Roots, boil in a fufficient Quantity of Water of white Water "Lillies and Bn glofs, and make a Liquor to be kept for the Ufe above- mention'd.

They would alio fometimes give the Sick, Syrup of Citrons , Rome granites, or Sorrel , by way of Refrefhment. They alfo made ufe of convenient Smells, and held them to the Nofe of the Sick, or did as follows.

1 < ■ • • - . V

Take Rofe-Wcter three Ounces * Vinegar an Ounce • Cloves, yellow Saunders , of each half a Dram : mix and evaporate upon a flow Fire in the Chamber.

When the Sick has flept long and plentifully enough, he is to be uncovered by little and little, and at laft the Sweat is to be carefully wiped offi

It will not be improper to take notice, that thofe that were yet well would earneftly in¬ treat each other not to fufrer fuch of them that fhould fall fick to leave their Teds before the due 'Fime upon any account whatever ^ and yet thefe fame Perfons, while ill, would beg and pray with the moft moving Arguments they could think of, to be at liberty^, flrug- gling, and crying out in the moil pitiful man-* ner : which violent Emotions the Phyficians did not endeavour to pacify, imagining it haftned their Recovery. When the Sick did not fiveat freeljy they endeavour'd to pro¬ mote it with proper Medicines.

Schen*

o

( '7 )

Schcnckius * relates an odd fort of a Story of one that would not fubmit to the ufual Me^ thods of Cure, and in order to avoid it run away, and hid himfelf in an Oven from whence the Bread was newly drawn •, which giving him a. pretty plentiful Sweat, heat length crept out, with the ufual Signs of Re¬ covery.

I fliall now go back to that terrible Pejli-P eft Hence lence which raged in the Year 1548, in the witb In - Reign of Edward theThi-d, in which Year rained in England from Midjummer till Chrifl- °iJK^s mas. It was not only violent in our own 154s/ Country, but made dreadful havock all over 3 the World, fcarcely leaving the tenth part of Mankind alive. Where it began, and what was then imagined to be the Caufe of it, we have elegantly enough defcribed by Fracaflo- rlus in his Syphilis.

Bis centum fiuxere Anvi quum fiamnca Marte Lumina Saturno trifii immifcente per ovine s Aurora Populos, per qua rigat JEquora Ganges Infolita exarjit Febris , qua pe&ore anhelo Sanguincum Sputum exagitans, miferabileVifu ,

Quart a Luce frequens fato perdebat acerbo.

Which, for the benefit of my Englijb Reader^

X fhall thus translate ;

A Hundred Tears twice told have took their flight Since Saturn mix'd with Mars his hated Light Who with their baleful Influence did inf eft 7 The rich and potent Nations of the Ea It :

Hence rag'd a dreadful Peft, before unknown.

Which feiz’d the Lungs, and made the Breaft’hx Throne ^

* Schenckius ds Feb. Pe.ft, Obf. it 8*

Four

( l's )

Four Days it tyranniz'd with dreadful Sway , When Life in purple Streams broke out , and fled away.

It began in the Eaftern Parts of the Worlds and paffed on uninterruptedly to all the Coun¬ tries in the Weft • fo universal, fo great was the Deftru&ion, that it's probable no Age ever faw the like : Thofe indeed, fpoke of by Galen , Thucydides and Avenzoar , are terri¬ ble enough in themfelves contider d ^ but, when we compare them with this, our Admi¬ ration ceafes.

The Contagion was fo certain, that all friend¬ ly Offices were forgot among Mankind, the deareft Friends and Relations deferting each other and it was fomething rare, if the Dead, happened to have Survivors that would bury them : and there were very few, if any, that were feiz’d, that efcaped.

The Symp- When this Diftemper entered any Place, toms . for the fir ft two Months it was accompanied

with a Fever , Difficulty, of Breathing , and Spit¬ ting of Blood . The Difficulty of Breathing was fo great, that the Sick were obliged al¬ ways to be in a fitting Pofture, and could fcarce fwallow any thing of any kind $ they were exceeding reftlefs, their Cheeks red and fiery : at firft the}' coughed violently, but brought up no Blood, afterwards a little, and then a confiderable Quantity 5 in three days time they died. But after the aforefaid two Months, b elides the foregoing Symptoms, they had Spots and Abfcejfesj and died all in five days time.

In procefs of time, when the Fury of the Dileafe began to abate, the Lungs were af¬ fected no longer, but the morbifick Matter

was

( l9 )

was thrown upon the Groin , Armpits , and be¬ hind the Ears, and was not then ft mortal.

It lafted five Years in fome Places, in Eng¬ land nine^ there were fifty thoufand buried in 5o>ocohu~ one Year in the Chart er-fjaitje Churchyard at rre^ m one London . This was fucceeded with Murrain off™’/* ** Cattel, and Scarcity of all forts of Provifions. °n °n*

* Schenckius tells us, the Conjunction of the Planets, fpoken of before, happened on the 28th Da\r of March 1345, in the Sign Leoy too long before toperfuade many it was owing to that.

But with more Probability are thofe of this kind, which happened in Germany in the Years 155:7 and 1564, aferibed to the diffe- 1557. rent Conftitutions of the Air. The fir ft of which fucceeded a dry Autumn, followed by cold Northern Winds ; this was attended with a violent Cough, Difficulty of Breathing , and ob- Symptoms. tufe Pains in the Side : on the third Day, or before, their Spittle was bloody, on the fifth fixth, feventh, or at fartheft the eighth, they died. 1

Thofe who were let llooa on the fr ft or fe- Cure, coni Day, recover'd on the fourth or fifth y but if Blood-letting was negledled till the fourth or fifth Dajr, it did no Service +.

That which fell out in 1565, was preceded 15 <57. with a fharp Froft, which was more remifs in January , when the Diftempcr began, which was fuppofed to fill the Air with grofs Va¬ pours, the Caufe of this Diftemper. Thofe who expofed themfelves to the Air after Sun - fet, were fooneft feiz’d with it^ and, on the contrary, the Mid-day was lefs dangerous and good Fires beneficial

* DeFeb. Peft. Obf.127. t Dodonaei Obf. Med. c, zi»

** Schenckius de Feb. Peft, Obfer. 128.

Sen-

Symptoms* i Cure*

1510. Symptoms .

*557*

Symptoms .

( 10 )

* Sennertiis Informs us, that Meteors of va¬ rious kinds were feen in the Air all the time the Difeafe lafted, as well as a little before.

Thofe who were feized with this, had a Fe¬ ver 7 Co ugh , Ho irfenefs , Difficulty of Breathing, and obtufe Pains in the Side. The Cure, as before, chiefly depended upon Blood-letting *, which, if it was feafonable, to wit, the firft or fecondDay, feldom failed. The Bodies of feveral that died were opened, and there was found a true Peripneumonia , or Inflammation of the Lungs. *

I have one thing remarkable more to add from Sennertus , That the Women who had this Diftemper in the time of Me njlr uationy had intolerable Pains in the Bade and almoft all of them died.

Thefe Diftemper s were moft frequent in fome Parts of Germany ^ in which Country alfo, in the Year there was an Epidemical Head-

Ach , accompanied with a kind of Diftradlion and Giddinefs, with Swellings behind the Ears, which deflxoyed great Numbers t.

The like D flemper prevailed again in the Year 1 > ^ 7, throughout all Germany , though not fo mortal as that abovemiention d in the fameYear^ for none died of it but Infants. The Symptoms were Pains in the Head , Diffi¬ culty of Breathing , and Hoarfenefs in the be¬ ginning $ afterwards Shivering , a Fever , and fo violent a Cough , that it brought on a Dan¬ ger if Suffocating: at firft the Cough was dry, without Spitting * but after' the feventh , or fourteenth Day, the Spittle was much and viffi cid , tho fome had it light and frothy. As the

* Sennert. de Feb. Mai.

f Holler. Coalmen, m Coac. Hipp«

Spitting

*

1

( II )

Spitting inert afed, the Cough and Difficulty of Breathing lefTened. In all Stages of the Dii- eale, there was Weaknefs, IVearinefs , and Want of Appetite, together with Inquietude , Faint - nefs , and Watching , by reafon of the vehement Cough 5 fome were troubled with a Loofenefs 9 others with Sweating, towards the end L It raged only at one time of the Year, and feized on all alike, without diftindfion.

In the Cure of this, neither Blood-letting , C#r*. nor Purging , nor Ale xiphar macks were found of any fervice ^ but Armoniac , taken in

any Form, proved beneficial to appeafe the Cough, if joined to things that promote Ex * peroration : Broths , and moift Food was bet¬ ter than attenuating ^ for the former help'd their Spitting.

Wierus + informs, usth at in 15:64, an Epidcmz- Epidemi¬ cal Difeafe afflicted Mankind, which was pre«- caiDifeafe^ ceded by the Small-Pox and Aleajles-, he fays it proved very fatal, depopulating Towns and Cities ^ of which Conftantitople , Alexandria ,

Leyden, London , Datitzick , Vienna , Cologn , and the whole Tradt of the Upper Rhine , even unto Bajil , were fufficient Teftimonies. In the Winter, in the Lower Rhine, People had Gta- dnloiis Tumours on the outfide of the Neck 5 in the Summer following, f^uivjies, dangerous, and of fhort Duration : The Contagion of its Malignity equalled the molt direful Peftilence j fome it deftroyed in one Day, others in two, three, four, fome few in feven , thofe that paffed the eighth Day, efcaped.

The Sick were firft taken with a Vomiting , Symptom* then a Swelling of the Tongue, afterwards Lois

* Valler in Appen. Loc.Com. cap. 2, f Lib. Obfer. Med. rar.

D

of

( 11 )

of Speech , and great Difficulty of fwallowing any thing in a liquid ; much more in a folid Form * after which, Suffiocation foon followed. No¬ thing extraordinary appeared on the outfide of the Neck. Our Author fays, that inward¬ ly there was a continued Defluxion of a viru¬ lent Humour , which occafioned a Phrenxy . Some¬ times the Difeafe, inftead of the Fauces , would feize the Pleura , or Lungs ^ whence deadly Pleurijies and Penpneiwionia\ would follow.

As to the Cure, Evacuations and Blood-letting were found to be dangerous ^ at leaf! the lat¬ ter was not fo fuccefsful as in the Year en- fuing, before taken notice of. Our Author fays, he made ufe of Medicines to ftrengthen the lower Parts againft the Defluxion, to break the Force of the Poifon, and to apply to the Part affected, but does not fpecify them ♦, in the room of which, I fhall pro¬ duce feveral Prefervatives , that were made ufe of, and collected that Year by eminent Physicians.

Bohemias Y Prefervative Electuary.

Take Myrrh , Aloes , Saffron^ Bone of a Stags Heart white Dittany , of each two Scru¬ ples and a half ^ white Ginger half an Ounce- Camphire a Dram and a half ^ Tor - mentil-Root an Ounce and two Scruples $ the Roots of Snakeweed and Pimpernel , of each a Scruple $ Zedoary two Ounces and two Scruples ; Venice-7 rcacle, Mithridate , of each three Ounces. "With a fuffleient Quantity of a Pejiilential Water make an EleBtiary , of which take the quantity of

* Matthiolus commands this miphti/y y hut whether jufUy or 910) I know rot,

a Hazle-Nut in a Morning for a Prefer - native *, but if infedted, a Dram.

Cafmerus’j Excellent Preservative FleCluary Family

for Families . Preferva-

Take Leaves of i?j/£ dry’d and powder’d, a Handful- of the fame, half a Hand¬ ful } Pimpernel- Foot dry’d and bruifed, an Ounce and a half • Gentian a Dram * Grr- damoms half an Ounce ; Juniper- Berries an Ounce •, Kernels of frejh Walnuts , an Ounce ; Laurel-Berries, the Out/ide be¬ ing taken off, half an Ounce $ Snakeweed two Drains $ Tormentil-Root two Drams and a half j prepared Bole Armoniac half an Ounce. Thefe being bruifed and re¬ duced to a Powder, add an Ounce of Ve¬ nice Treacle mix’d with half an Ounce of Vinegar of Rofes , and let them again be mixed and beaten in a Mortar. Take the quantity of a Hazle-Nut four Hours before Dinner.

Preferv alive Pills . P/77/.

Take Leaves of Water-Gerfnander a Dram and a half • the Tops of le/Jer Centaury,

Troches of Agarick , be ft Aloes , of each a Dram $ Tops cf Maudlin , Worm feed , Z?o- Coriander- Seed, Anif e-Seed. , Cloves , of each a Dram and 1 2 Grains *, calcined Harts-Horn , white Amber , Seeds of aSor- rel, of each half a Dram. Let all be powder’d by themfelves, and afterwards fprinkled with the Juice of Oranges mix’d with the lharpeft Vinegar and Rofe - Water in equal parts 5 then dry them9 and repeat the fpi inkling feven times : at laft add Saffron twelve Grains Musk,

D 2 Amber ,

( H )

'Amber , of each ten Grains •, with Syrup of Oranges make a Mafs of Pills .

^ Prefervaiive Infnjion.

Take Bole Armoniac, Sealed Earth, both pre¬ pared with Rofe~ Water and Vinegar, of each fix Ounces $ Roots of white Dittany , Pimpernel , Tormentil , Valerian, Zedoary ? Gentian, of each two Ounces $ Roots of Angelica, four Ounces 5 Betony, Scabious , Cardans BeneJi&ns, of each two Handfuls. Let the Herbs and Roots be wafhed in White-Wine, afterwards diced and in¬ filled in Vinegar and diftill d Wine, of each fix Pints. To this Infufion add of old Venice- Treacle a Pound. Dofe for Old Men two Ounces, for the Young an Ounce and a half.

I might add feveral more, but it would carry me beyond my Deffgn, without giving any Light into the Nature of the Diftemper * for we have no Account of the Succefs of thefe lad: mentioned Prefcriptions, tho’ it's certain they were much efteemed, and in fome cafes were probably of fervice : I fhall therefore only add one other made ufe of by a Canon of Lorain, which he made a great deal of Money of, but was at length, fa/s my Author, pur- chafed by a certain Prince at a great Price.

Take Galen s * Cordial Power, Sealed Earth, of each a Dram ^ of Bole Armoniac half

an

a.- _ , _ _ i i , ^ 1. , . . •

* Species Letitiae ■Galeni, or Pulvis Letificans Galeni, under which Pities you will pud it in mojl Diipenfatories, which take as follows :

Take cf Cloved Bafil-Seeds, of Saffron, Zedoary, yellow Sanders, Cloves, Citron-Peels, Galangals, Mace,

Nutmegs,

( *5 )

an Ounce ^ of Venice^Treade three Oun¬ ces $ Conferve of Rofes , Barrage , Buglofs , of each an Ounce . Syrup of Violets as much as is fufficient to make an EleBuary.

The next Peftilential Diftemper I fhall takeHun notice of, is the Hnngaric Difeafe, call ’d in Latin, Morbus Hurigaricus and Lues Pannonica . '

It began in the Year 15:66 a tComorra^ and increafed at Gewer in Hungary , where the Ghriftian Powers were afiembled under Maxi- wili an II. againft the Turks . When the Sol¬ diers were disbanded, they diftri bated the Contagion over aim oft all Europe, but chiefly at Vienna , through which they moft of them paft. They fo infeded the Families where they lay, and died fo faft themfelves, that the Streets were foon filled with dead Bodies, which contributed very much to fpread the Contagion .

Tho’ this was fuppofed by J or Ramis * and others to be the firft Appearance of this Di/L eafe, yet Langius t, who was prefent at an Expedition againft the Turks fome Years be¬ fore, defcribes a Diftemper which raged in the Emperor s Army, and which ]| Sennertus imagined to be the fame we are now fpeaking

Nutmegs, Styrax, of each two Drams and a half ; Ivory Rafpings, Ariifeeds, Thyme, Dodder of Thyme, Bone of a Stag’s Heart, Pearls, of each a Dram ; Amber- greafe, Musk, Leaves of Gold and Silver, of each a Scruple: make a Powder.

You have this in the new Edition of the London Dilpenfa- tory , with the addition of half a Dram of Pearls and Camphire , and only half the Quantity of Gold and Silver.

* Cap. 19. de Peft. Phaenom. t Epift. 4. Par. 1. in Cur. Cauf. li Senner.de Morbo Ungarico.

/C of.

( *6 )

of. And if fo, I wonder he did not obferve that the fame Author mentions it as having appear'd feveral times before : take Lavgins s own Words * c This, fays he, is the Difeafe c which in the Autumnal Scafon has lately fo c often fubdued the Soldiers in Hungary , and c which raged fo popularly amorigft the Bor- £ derers upon the Rhine

Symptoms, The Symptoms of this Difeafe in the Year above-mentioned were as follow t. About three or four of the clock in the Afternoon it began with Cold and Shivering, about a Quar¬ ter of an Hour after Heat fucceeaed, which lafted the following Days. Their chief Com- .plaint was of a Pain in the Head ^ they would alfo point with their Finger to that part of their Breaft directly again# the Orifice of their Stomach •, the Outfide was hard, and would not abide to be touched : the fiift Days they had an unquenchable Thirft • the fecond Day, or at fartheft the third, they grew de¬ lirious, which lafted a considerable time : they grew worfe about Evening, and in the Night the Difeafe recovered lirength $ the Tongue was dry, the Lips chopt ; fome fpit Blood, others had a Critical Loofenefs. Deaf- nefis was a Sign of Recovery; Swellings be¬ hind the Ears were frequent : The worft Crijis was Tubercles on the Top of the Foot, which being open'd, fpread themfelves, and after¬ wards being neglected, a Mortification en- fued. Some recovered on the fourteenth Day, others on the twentieth, the/ but few ^ all

* 4 Hie eft ille Morbus qui Autumni tempore in Pan- i nonia Milites prseteritis annis toties debellavit, & ere- 4 bro populatim in Rheni Accoias fsevit.’ t Jordan, de Peft. Ph^nom.

who

( 2-7 )

who did not abftain from Wine perifhed. All had Spots like Flea-bitivgs, fome bigger, fome lefs, chiefly on their Breafi: and about their Back-Bone, fome all over their Bodies, fome on their Should: rs.

Some think that the grofs Hungarian Air, Caufe^ the Filth of the Camp, their eating great Quantities of Fiji) and grofs Beef, their drink¬ ing unwholefome Water, and Hungarian Wine too immoderately, gave Rife to this Diftem- per.

The Havock that this Difeafe made, caufed Cure. various Remedies to be invented : Some took the White of one Egg, or more, and having beaten it into Froth, would add half a Dram or a Dram of Saffron in Powder, and drink it in two Ounces of Spirit of Wine or Brandy, and then wafhed their Mouths with the fame, rubbing their Gums and Tongue till the Blood carnet this Method was fometimes repeated in the Evening, never oftener.

The following, fays Jordanus , has an Au¬ thor of greater Fame, who ufed it with good Succefs ; He took twenty Leaves of the greater Houjleek , and carefully prefs’d out the Juice, to which he added a Scruple of Sal Armoniac 9 or a little Camphirc, with a Pint and a half of Spring-Water $ which he gave to the Sick to drink cold at pleafure, adding fometimes a little Powder of the Florentine Orris .

The Hungarians take Lovage newly digged up, and walh and beat it with Blog’s Greafe freed from Films and wafhed cold} then fhave their Heads, and anoint them with this Mix¬ ture : afterwards they take a large Linen Cloth dipped in Wine or Brandy, and cover the Sick all over, who being laid down in his Bed, is caufed to fweat plentifully, not with¬ out

i

( 18 ) -

out Pain. Befides, they take Garlick fteeped in Vinegar , and rub the Balls of their Hands and Soals of their Feet very hard, thinking to divert the Difeafe, tiling nothing befides.

The Regular Phyjicians firft ufed gentle Eva¬ cuations •, for which Intention they chiefly commend Agarick in Variety of Forms •, of which take the following, as grateful as any:

Take of Pulp of Tamarinds two Drams 7 Mama and Cajjia , each three Drams*, Tro¬ ches of Agarick , Rhubarb , of each a Scru¬ ple ^ with Syrup of andSwgtfr, nertus fays a Bolus mud: be made : but it mult be confefsM it will be the largeft I have met with. The following is more agreeable to that Form

Take of Troches of Agarick four Scruples • Oxymel flniple, Conferve of Rofes0 of each a little- Sugar as much asfufficient: make a Bole ,

The Troches of Agarick you’ll find in any Edition of the London Difpenfatory, and there¬ fore needs not to be repeated here.

Blood-letting was alfo prefcribed the fir ft or fecond Day, but after that was thought dan¬ gerous: For Diet they ufed tart things, fuch as four Grapes and Pomegranates . Some reljFd much upon the following Prefcription :

Take Venice-Treacle , Mithridate, of each three Ounces • Zedoary7 an Ounce ; white Ginger , half an Ounce ^ of the Roots of Torment il, Snakeweed , Pimpernel7each three Drams, , Camphire two Drams , Myrrh , Saffron , Bone of a Staffs Heart , Dittany , of each two Scruples and a half.

They

( *9 )

They ufed to take a finall Quantity diffol * ved in equal Parts of Water and Vinegar : which way of taking prefnppofes the Ingredients to be powder d and mix'd with the Treacle and Miihridate , tho not mention'd by our Author.

There were feme that only ufed to give Ze- doary in fome Cordial Water with Succefs.

Others gave the diftilfd Water or DeCo&ion of Vervain Morning and Evening till the Dif- eafe was conquered.

For Drink they had Mixtures of a Decoc¬ tion of Earley or Hart s-horn, and Juice of Pome¬ granates or Citrons 3 or Spirit of Vit/iol , at pleafure.

Scb rot eras, ProfeRor of Medicine in the Univerjity of Jena in Germany , when this Dif- eafe was rife, preferibed the following Prefer - Ptefetva-

. * „ fives,

natives*

A Prefer native Powder* Powder*

Take of Zedoary Roots, of white Dittany ,

Gentian , Leaves of Water -Germander , Car- duns BenedittiiSj Sorrel , of each alike , make a Powder. Dofe a Dram in a Morn¬ ing failing in Car duns Benedichis Water, or in the Winter in White-Wine .

A Preservative EUSuary for poor Women with Electuary.

Child.

Take of Torment ii-Roots and Elecampane - Root } each fix Drams ^ Anife and Car away- Seeds (of each an Ounce and a half : with clarified Honey make an Ele&uary.

A Prefervative Elixir. Elixir .

Take cinnamon an Ounce Rofemary , Wood- Sorrel, Water-Germander , of each half a Handful, Angelica-Root , Red Rofes, Lig -

E num

JE Uftufiry*

( ?0 )

mm Aloes, of each a Dram 5 yellow Sanders, half a Dram Mace, of both forts of Car* damoms , Cloves, Seeds of Sorrel, Carduus Beneditfus, Citrons, of each a Scruple *, Mush, eight Grains ^ redified Spirit of Wine xxii Ounces : let them be al- moft continually fhaked for fifteen Days in a Gl&fs Yefiel clofe hopp'd ^ then flrrain, and add Syrup of Citron-Peels, Marmalade of fiances, of each two Oun¬ ces and a half.

A Prcfervative Nnt-Ele&uary.

Take twenty Walnuts *, twenty “five Figs of long and round Biithwort, an Ounce and a half-, white Dittany ♦ Roots of Tormen* til and Pimpernel, of each two Drams and a half ^ Leaves of Wormwood 9 Rue, Sca¬ bious, Afarabacca, of each a Handful , Bay-berries, Citron-Peels, GAangals, Mace, pf each a Dram *, Borrage-Flowers, two Drams ^ Bone of a Stag s Heart, Myrrh , of each a Dram ^ clarified Honey, a fuffi- cient Quantity to make an Eleduary, of which the quantity of a Chejhut is to be taken every Morning.

I fjiall conclude what I have to fay upon this Diftemper, with obferving, that * Cor - vax thinks they are guilty of very great Er¬ rors who do not attempt the Cure of it with proper Evacuations and Blood-letting, rather than Sweating 5 for, fays he, if we obferve Nature, we ihall find that (lie often gets rid of her Enemy by a Hemorrhage of the Nofe, by Stool, by Urine, and Abfcejjes , and but feD (lorn by Sweat .

^ ' ' _ _

* ConC JVled. Enchirid. lib. z. cap. 9.

In

( )

In the Y 'ears 15:96 and 1 J 97, a Diftemper i 59^> was very rife in the Diocefs of Colvgn , Weft- l59i>F*~ phalia , the Counties Watted , and Wittenftein fr(:on~ and Hejfte , which * Sennertus calls Febris ma¬ ligna cum Spaftmo , that is, a malignant Fever with Convulfons $ tho he himfelf fays, it was fometimes with and fometimes without a Fever.

It begun with Twitching and Numbnefs in Symptoms* the Hands and Feet, fometimes on one fide fometimes on both ^ afterwards it convulfed their Fingers and Toes, and crept by degrees up their Arms and Legs, till at length it feized their whole Bodies * and the Sick was either rolled up like a Hedgehog, or lay ftretched out at full length without Motion*

Thefe Convulsions were attended with violent Pains, which forced Cries and Shrieks from the Sick. It would take feme unawares at the Table, and, as it were, ftrike Knives and Spoons out of their Hands. It would attack others at Plough , or about any common JBuil- nefs, without any previous Notice. Some alfo would be feized with Vomiting at fir ft.

The Sick would remain Teveral Days in the Condition above defcribed ^ yea, fometimes whole Weeks without having their Heads mo- lelfed ^ and, moreover, not at all, if fit Re¬ medies were feafonably given : But if thefe were neglected, it advanced to the Head $ the Falling- Si chiefs fucceedcd • after a Fit of which, the Sick would lie as if they were dead for fix or eight Hours. It render d fome ftu fid or foolijh, fome lethargick , others deli¬ rious ^ fome would remain fo four Days, others longer , and when they recovered, it was with Deaf refs , or Weaknefs of the Eyes, if

* De Febre Malig. cum Spafrn*

E 2

not

Caufe*

f

Care*

c ji )

not the Palfy, When the Fit was over, they were all infatiably hungry, greedily devour¬ ing Victuals of all forts *, to which a Loofenefs would fucceed $ and the more fparingly they ate, the greater it was. Some had their Feet and Hands fwelfd, others had Tubercles full of a feroits Humour. They never fweated.

Experience plainly {hewed that this Difeafe was contagious ^ for thofe that were conver- fant with the Sick, feldom or never efcaped free, tho the Contagion did not prefently ap¬ pear : for fome were ill of it, tho not even till twelve Months after.

This Difeafe was hard to cure , for thofe that were Tpileptick , had now and then a Touch of it ever after : Thofe that were ftu- pid, remain'd fo till Death, without ever re¬ covering their former Vigour of Mind. And tho fome lived fifteen Years after their Reco¬ very, yet every Year, in December and Ja~ nuary , they perceiv’d fomething of the Dif¬ eafe.

The Reader may ohferve, that I fay little or nothing of what Phyficians call the proxi¬ mate Caufes of thefe Diftempers 5 and there¬ fore when I talk of Caufes, I muft be under- flood to mean what is called the Procat ar tick Caufe : In this Senfe the Dearth that was in thefe Parts, which obliged Men to eat un- wholefome Food, may be faid to be the Caufe of this Difeafe.

The Manner of Cure you fhall have from the Method of the Phyficians of the Univer- flty of Marpurg in Germany : Firfi: they gave an Ounce of the following purging Ele&uary, and four Hours after, Broth , wherein Rojema- ry , wild Thyme , Sage, and Savory were boiled $ this they repeated thrice.

Take ’

Take of Diaphscnicon, four Ounces * Electua¬ ry of the Juice of Rofes , two Ounces 5 Powder of HermodaBils , white lurbith. Spurge, cleaned and cor re died, of each a Dram * Diagrydium , Caff or , of each two Scruples * Cojhnary , Ginger , Cloves , of each a Scruple* Seeds of Rue and Cummin, Saf¬ fron , of each half a Scruple * with Syrup of Rofes folutive make an Eledtuary.

The Eledhiary of the Juice of Rofes you will find in the new London Li fpenf at oryy theDia * pb&nicon in the old.

After the Purgation was ended, for fix Days after the Sick took of the following Powder againft ConvuMons.

Take of Roots of Swallow-wort, Elecampane , Devils Bit , Clove July-F lowers, Peony, . of each an Ounce and a half * Bay* Berries, an Ounce * Tops of Sage , jp/Zi Thyme, Rofemary Flowers , of each two Drams * Species Diamofchu dulcis , Species Pliris Ar- chorticon , and Dianthus , of each a Dram and a half. Make a Powder.

The Species PI r. Arch .if you pleafe, you may fee in the Auguftan Uifpenfitory-, the Dianthus is in the new Edition of the London one * but the Diamofchu is only in the old.

The Day after either of the Quarters of the Moon, they again took a Dole of the Purging Elecluary , and then the Powder again for fix Days more, and then again the purging Elec¬ tuary, obferving the Pbafes of the Moon for a Month. Afterwards every Month, the Day before the new Moon, but efpecially in De¬ cember and January , they took a Dram of the

Powder

\

Spotted Fe¬ ver*

(34 )

Powder againft Convulflons. Their Drink was medicated with Roots of E ecampane, Pe~ city , Sage, Rue , Jumper-Berries.

They ordered Flowers of Lavender and Prim - rofes , Betony , Cajlor , to be ffeeped

in Spirit of Wine* with which their Limbs were fuppled after they had been rubbed with a hot Linnen Cloth. If the Convulfions of the Feet were vehement, they were to be wafh’ d in Lotions made of Betony, wild Thyme, Ca¬ momile Flowers and Frimrofes .

In the Time of the Fit they made ufe of the Infufion and Linnen Cloth before men¬ tioned *, but if that did nor do, the Limb was bound hard till the Convulfion ceafed. They alfo at the fame time exhibited to the Sick a Dram of the Powder, or half an Ounce of the following Antidote againft Convulfions.

Take of Peony-Roots, of Mijletoe, each two Ounces *, Cajlor, Scge 9 of each an Ounce * Bay-Berries, Matt s Skull prepared, of each two Drams *, Venice-Treacle , Mithriiate, of each a Pound ^ clarified Honey, two Pound ; make an Ele&uary.

The Day following they took half an Ounce of the Purging EleSuary , and continued the Cure as before.

I cannot perfuade myfelf to pafs by that Diftemper called in England the Spotted Fever, becaufe * Fracajlorius mentions it as a new Difeafe, which as he imagined made its firft appearance in Italy in the Year and re¬

turn’d 1528, and thought it came nearer to the Nature of Malignant than Pcjlilential Fe -

* bib, a. cap, 6, 7, de Contag. Morb,

vers :

• ( 35 )

vers : But Y Lavgius cenfures him for it, and not only denies that this is a new Diftemper, but alfo affirms that all others which are faid to be fo, are no more than old ones revived, which had lain dormant for fome time.

This Difeafc is contagions , but not quickly Contagious, fo, nor at a diftance- but only by touching of the Sick. It was fo mild when any body was fir ft taken, that the Sick would fcarcely ad¬ mit a Phyfician, and the Phyficians them- felves were not feldom deceived with it.

But after a while the Signs of a malignant Symptoms. Fever began to difcover themfelves ; The Heat, indeed, was not fenfbly great, but the Perturbation which the Sick felt throughout his whole Body was very evident, which was attended with a great Wearinefs like that of a Perfon tired. The Sick lay fupine in their Bed, their Heads were heavy, their Senfes dull, and after the fourth or feventh Day they began to talk wildly and much, their Eyes being red and fiery. At firft their Urine was wbitijh, afterwards red and troubled : The Pulfe was flow, the Excrements corrupt and fetid. On the fourth or feventh Day little red Spots like Elca-bitings began to appear on their Backs, A ms, and Breafis . They had little or no Thirfi , their Tongues were foul * fome were wakeful, others fleepy. Others a- gain both by turns. This State iafied in fome tc the feventh Day, in others to the four¬ teenth or longer.

It was fatal to a few Women, to a very few Old Men, but not one that was a Jew pe¬ ri fhed. Toting Men and Boys had the greateffc fhare of its ill EfFe&s, and amongfi thofe the wealthier fort.

* Lib, 2. EpilL 1 5.

If

. (3<S)

If the Sick felt his Strength to fail on a - Bidden, if after a Crip no Alleviation of the Symptoms follow'd, if there was a Stoppage of Urine, if the Spots lay hid, or came out flowly, or were livid ^ if any or all of thefe Signs happen'd, the Sick were judged irreco¬ verable : but the contrary, if the contrary Signs appeared.

As Authors are divided about the proximate Caufe of this Diftemper, fo they are about its Cure. Riverius * thinks if you know how to manage this, you will know how to deal with the plague and all other PeJHlential Dijlempers , and for that reafon only iniifts upon this. Some are for Evacuations , fome for Alexiphar- micks , and others for both ^ of this laft fort is Sentient us , whofe Method of Cure I will pre- fent you with. Only obferve by the way, that Langius t fays he himfelf cured three Per¬ rons of this Diftemper only with gentle Gr- thartich and a proper Diet.

The above-mentioiftd Author advifes fir ft to loofen the Belly with Syrup of Rofes Joint ive9 Ilifufion of Rhubarb , Cream of Tartar , Extra bl of Rhubarb , to any of which a little Camphire may be added, or with the following potion.

Take Roots of Viper-Grafs , half an Ounce ^ Leaves of Sorrel , half a Handful ; Car- duns BenedUhis , Water Germander , of each aPugil ^ Leaves of Senna , half an Ounce- half a Dram of Rhubarb ^ Zedoary , Citron - Seeds, of each half a Scruple ^ Cinnamon , a Scruple ^ of the Cordial Flowers , each a Pugil. Infufe in a fufficient Quantity of Water, ftrain and diffolve in it half an

* DeFeb. Pell. f Lib. 2. Epift. 15,

Ounce

( n )

Ounce of Manna $ to which add half an Ounce of Sy up of Rofes fol, and two Drops of Spirit of VitiioL

\ l ' '

He leaves Blood-letting to the Judgment of the Ph'y/ician, but would not have it meddled with after the fourth Da y : he would have the Sick be kept in a pretty warm Room, and make ufe of the following Sudorificks .

Take of the Seeds of Navew , or long Turneps, a Dram $ of Citron and Cardmis Benedithis Seeds, each half a Dram 5 Cardmis Bene - dittus Abater, three or four Ounces: make an Enniljion ^ to which add Syrup of the ] nice of Water Germander half an Ounce. Or,

Take Seeds of long Turneps, a Dram 5 Citron and Ca.rduus Benedi&us Seeds, calcined Harts-Honi , of each half a Dram $ Bone of a Stag's Heart , Zedoary , of each a Scru¬ ple : make a Powder, of which give a Dram in any convenient Vehicle, Or,

Take of Bole Armoniac . fealel Earth , Tor - vientil- Rooty Roots of Butter-burr, Phnper - ?/c/, Water-Germander , calcined Harts- Honi prepared, of each a Dram : make a Powder.

In fhort, he concludes, that whatever is of ufe in promoting the Small-Pox^ in the Cure of the Plague and Peftilential Diftempers, will be of fervice here.

Riverine * propofes to encounter the Fever with cooling and moijlening Medicines , the fup-

* De Feb. Peft,

F pofed

( )

pofecl putrid State of the Humours with Eva¬ cuating and Alterative , and the malignant Qua¬ lity with Alexipharmicks , or Expellers of Poifon.

Tho, notwithftanding his firft Intention he allowed the Ufe of Wine to thofe whofe Tongue was moift, and who were not thirfty, with good Succefs : and moreover he fays he did 6z«y this in the Year 1623 at Montpellier, where after the Siege a Difeafe raged of fo great Malignity, that it wanted nothing but Buboes in the Groin to mate it a true Blague *, for there were not only Wheals and Spots, red, livid and black, but Swellings behind the Ears and Carbuncles : it deftroy'd at leaft a third part of thofe that were feiz7d with it. Thofe who had an intenfer Fever , whofe Tongues were dry , rough or black , or who were thirfiy , he forbid the Ufe of Wine to.

He afterwards relates an Experiment which he made upon the following Occaiion. He obferved that all thofe that had Parotides , or Swellings behind the Ears, which would ap¬ pear on the ninth or eleventh Day, died in two days : thefe upon trial would neither yield to Sudorificks nor Topicks } which caufed him to think of fome other Method. After reafoning with himfelf he refolved upon Blood-letting but being fearful of the Event, he only ventured upon two Ounces at firft, and finding the Succefs anfwerable, he or¬ dered fix more to be taken away, which ap¬ peared to be corruj^t 5 the next day he pre¬ ferred a loofening Medicine, which com- pleated the Cure, and delivered the Sick from the Confines of Death.

The

<3-

( 39 )

The Summer of the Year 1585 * being hot 158- and dry, it was fucceeded with a Difevtery or 1^fepery Bloody Flux of a malignant nature, which fpread in Germany far and near, and Jafted to the End of the Autumn. It was obferved chiefly to infeft Boys^ of whom many died j it alfo laid hold of a great many more advanced in Years, but thefe with proper Remedies moftly recovered. The moft gentle Purgatives and Clyfters were found profitable: Great num¬ bers alfo made ufe of calcined Har ts- Horn and Bole Armoniac. Wine was hurtful by reafon of the Fever. When the Evacuations were too great, Extratt of Opium was found of fervice.

When the Stools were extremely bilious, and in great plenty, together with want of Ap¬ petite and Vomiting, there was little Hope !eft.

Dr. Willis t obferves, that Malignant Fevers Malignant of late Years have been greater Strangers in Fever, England than the Plague itfelf • and he faj^s, the only one that he obferved begun in the Army in the Year 1649, when Reading was befieged by the Earl of Ejfex. It took off a great many of the Earl of Effex* s Army • nor did it fparethe Ring s, while it was quartered in and about Oxford: at laft it grew rife a- mong the Citizens, and infefted the Villages ten miles round. After the Simmer Soljlice it raged moft, and the Symptoms grew worfe, in- fomuch that the Number of thofe that were well, were fcarce enow to wait on the Sick: it was moft fatal to the Old and Unhealthy, tho it took off of Boys, Young Men and Mid¬ dle-aged Perfons, not a few.

•r

* Schenckius Obferv. de Feb. 1 3 1. t De Febribus.

F 2

At

I

Symptoms*

i

Cave*

\ (40 >

At firfi: it appeared like a putrid Synochust, and when a Sweat or Loofenefs had feemed to carry it off, it would prefently gather ftrength again. Often when the Deflagration of the Blood had continued for fix or feven Days, it would remit, and inftead of a Crijis, the adult Matter was tranflated to the Brain, which held the Sick a long time, fometimes with Madnefs , but oftener with Stupidity, great Weaknefs and convulfive Motions, fo that at laft they hardly efcaped. About the middle of the Summer the Signs of a Peftilential DiA temper began to appear plainly 5 for tho it was contagious and mortal before, yet now Spots and Puflules began to appear. Some had a weak, unequal, irregular Pulfe, without any great Fever , attended with a fudden Dejection of Strength . Others, who were taken after the fame manner, had Spots appeared upon them, fometimes little and red, fometimes broad and livid *, and many had Buboes as in the Plague , fome of whom without any appa¬ rent Fever and without ftruggling died lud~ denly and at unawares, while others would rage and ftruggle as if under frightful Agonies . Thofe that eftaped, not having any laudable Crifes , were affedted with Dullnefs of the Sen- fes , Tremblings , W'eaknefs of the Limbs and, Convuliive Motions for a long time.

While the Dog-Days lalted, this Difeafe was fo fatal, that it was not treated as a le¬ ver*, but as a milder Plague, only with Alexi - pharmicks . Blood-letting was believed to be fatal , Vomits and Purgatives were fometimes ufed, tho not often. But the Cure chiefly de¬ pended on Alexiterials, and promoting a fea- fonable Sweat. 'Twas now the Countefs of

Kent's

( 4i )

Kent s * Powder began to be in great Efteem in this Country •, and alfo another of an Afh- colour, which a certain Perfon who was at Oxford accidentally, gave with good Succefs, and fo'd at a great Price. After the Sick had drank half a Dram of this Powder in any Li¬ quor, they were wont to fall into a great Sweat, and fo were delivered from the Viru¬ lence of the Diftemper. This Powder, as Dr.

Willis was afterwards inform'd by a Kinfman of the Man's, was the Powder of a Toad clean- fed with Salt, and wafhed in good Wine, and a little calcined in an Earthen Pot. Before the Autumnal Quarter was ended, the Difeafe , abated much of its Fury * as fewer were fick of it, fo alfo more of thofe few that were iick recovered : till at length the Winter came on, and the Fever almoft wholly vanifhed, and the former State of Health return'd, both in the City and the Country round about it.

Sennertus t takes notice of Fevers of this inland kind, which appeared in 155*1 and 1580,1580. which did not only over-run all Europe, but

* The Powder is made as follows :

Take the black Tips of Crabs Claws gathered in June, Contrayerva-Rcot, of each two Ounces ; Pearls, red and white Coral, Crabs-Eyes, all ground with the Juice of Lemons , of each an Ounce ; white Amber and Chryftal ground very fine in RoJ e-Water and dry d , of each an Ounce ; Harts-Horn calcined to the greatefi White - nefs, and ground with the Juice of Citrons well Jhar- pened with the Spirit of Vitriol and dryd , an Ounce ; Oc¬ cidental Bezoar, Earth of Lemnos, of each an Ounce and a half ; Cerufs of Antimony, two Ounces ; Am- bergreafe a Dram and a half ; Musk, half a Scruple : let all be Well mixed together with Jelly of Vipers Skins and Harts-Horn, and made with Carduus- Water, and a little tinged with Saffrop : divide it into little Balls , dry carej ully and keep fir XJfe, i Senn. de Febrijb.j

* » y' '

almoft

1572.

UeBck Teg Hence ,

I525-

■ ( _

C 4Z )

almoft all the World 3 and again in 1616, which was preceded by an extraordinary Heat : he fays it was Epidemical to all Germany , and at Wittenberg there was not a Houfe that did not feel the Effects of it, even in fome Houfes they would be all ill at a time 3 and yet tho3 this was both Contagious and Epidemical , there was fcarce the fix hundredth died.

Our Author, as well as Willis , lays the greateft ftrefs upon Sudorijich in the Cure * and if he advifes other things, it is upon particular Occafions, and for the Succef s of them appeals to Experience, Horfiius * com¬ mends Opiates in Malignant Fevers of all forts, and would have no AlexipharmicJzs compound¬ ed without them.

Platerus t mentions a malignant Fever which raged at Eajil in 1572, which was chiefly fa¬ tal to Men that were of robuft Conffitiitions, rarely meddling with Women, the Younger Sort, or Infants. It feized Men with a hid¬ den Weaknefs, after it had imitated a continual putrid Fever, and was fatal to moft$ who, be¬ fore their Deaths, had Spots appeared on their Bodies. There were no Buboes or Carbuncles found in any. The Intemperate were fooneft infe&ed. Thofe that it was fatal to, died on the tenth, eleventh, or twelfth Day, fcarce any reached the fourteenth 5 thofe that eva¬ ded, were fix Weeks before they entirely re¬ covered 3 and the Fever difappeared in about half that time.

Montnus , li in his H/loJis Febrium , gives us an account of a Difeafe, which he calls a Hec-

* Jud. de Chir.Infuf. p. 83. I Obferv, lib.2.

SI Lib. 7. cap. 1.

tick

(

/

( 4 3 )

tick PefUlence , in the Year i£C>, which raged at Leyden and Vienna $ the Fever was but little, and the Sick imagined they had none at all.

The PulJ'e was moderate, and the Colour and Confidence of the l Tine not bad ^ neverthelefs they all died.

At * Venice , in the Year 1576, there was 15l^* a Pejlilential Diftempet\ in which fome of the Sick voided Worms , as well upwards as down¬ wards, and were more difficultly cured than others^ Carbuncles appeared on foine, but were neither red nor black, but the Part was much pained, and the Skin was livid, under which the Carbuncle was fomething deep. Verjrfew of thofe efcaped Some that feemed to be re¬ covered for feveral Months, relapfed again ^ yet even fome of thefe were cured. It was likewife found, that black Spots were worfe than either Carbuncle or Bubo . Blood-letting was found to be hurtful * but the Application of Leeches to the Hemorrhoidal Veins was be¬ neficial. It is alfo worth obferving, that many who were about the Sick fer twenty Days, or a Month, and lived with them, and felt no Damage, would be afterwards feized with the Difeafe, and die fuddenly. Blood¬ letting was often beneficial, by way of Pre¬ vention, but Lenitives , and Sudorifcks , and A- lexipharmicks never failed.

* -

Having now gone over the mod: remarkable Peflilential Diftempers that Authors have ta¬ ken notice of, it will not be amifs to fubjoin fome Obfervations concerning the Nature of

Con-

* Schenckius Ohf, de Feb, i$tf.

( 44 )

Contagion , which may ferve the better to ex¬ plain the Nature of the Pefiilence itfelf.

Benedittus * a Phyfician of Verona , informs us, that in the City of Venice , in the time of the Plague, a Quilt was thrown into a by¬ place, and being fought again feven Years after, the Servants that found it were imme¬ diately infected with the Plague.

In the Year 1511, when Verona was held by the Germans, there arofe a Pefiilence, which deftroy’d ten thoufand Perfons ; and no lefs than twenty-five Germans were infedted with one Leather Garment, i Our Author fays, He himfeif remembers, that when a cer¬ tain Woman brought fome Clothes out of Zea¬ land to Alcmeria, a Town in Germany, and ha\Ting expofed them without the Walls to the Sun, fome Children that plaj^ed upon them were infedted, and all died.

At |1 JitJii nop olis in Italy, after the Pejlilence had ceaied, fome Cords that were made ufe of about burying the Dead were thrown behind a Box in fome part of the Church, which be¬ ing cleanfed, about twenty or thirty Years after, upon fome particular Occafon, theC<Ws were again brought to light, which a Servant took up, as thinking them fit for Bell-Ropes, and by that means fell into a PeJHlential Fe¬ ver, which infedted others, which was fuo ceeded by the Death of ten thoufand Perfons.

Forefius ** tells us of a Man that was in¬ fedted by touching a Spiders Web, which oc- cafioned a Pujhile , and thence the Peftilence 3

* Lib. de Pefte, cap.;, t Foreft. Schol. ad Obferv. 22. lib, 6, de Feb.

|i Trincavel. lib. 3. Confil. 17.

** Obfer, lib. 6. Obf. 22.

and

( 45 ) ,

arid this, tho there was no Perfon died in the Houfe fix Months before, and the Houfe had been cleanfed in all Places but that.

In the.' Year * i ^42, a t Brejlau, 5900 died of the Plague in twenty-two Weeks time, which lay hid infomeLinnen 14 Fears, which being opened at another Place, again fpread

the Infection. * - •

, Some Authors have feemed to reftrain the Return of the Plague to fome Places to a cer* tain Number of Years * but this is a mere Fan¬ cy, and contrary to Reafon and Experience. The Account that Platerus + gives of the Re¬ turn of the Plague to Bajil feven times in fe- venty Years, feems moii to favour this Opi¬ nion of any thing that I have met with : But Platerus , with good reafon, afcribes this to the Confluence of Strangers to that City, amongft whom infected Perfons might probably come.

It happen’d in England in 1603, and re¬ turn d again, in 16*2 fa in which Year there died of it 41,319 Perfons, being the fame Number that were deftroyed in the afore¬ mentioned Year 5 and, what is as remarkable, they were both faid to begin in the fame Houfe, and on the fame Day of the Month. Forty Years after, to wit, in the Year i6df, began that extraordinary and memorable Plague , which in a little above a Year killed 100,000 Perfons*, fince which time, which is nigh 6c Years, we have been fo happy as to be free from it : which makes it plain, that there is no Rated Period of its Return, asji Sy¬ denham feemed to intimate.

* Sen. de Feb. f Plater. Obfer. lib. 2.

|| Huncorbem noftrum Britannlcum Peftis vix frequen- tius, quam poll annorum circiter quadraginta intervalla fummo Perniciei Vi gore, ac tota furiarum Acie adoriatur.

G Of

( 4<5 )

Of this laft mentioned Plague I need not fay any thing, becanfe there are Accounts of it lately publiihed ; and it is not my Defign to interfere with any body,

I < ! ’ . v '

PART

PART IL

Of the Methods to prevent,

' or cure the Plague.

CANNOT tell how tocalHt the Unhappinefs of the Phyficians of the prefent Age, that they treat of a Diftemper which they them-

- felves never had the Opportunity

of obferving: But this I muft fay, that it they did not wholly depend on the Fait u nefs and Abilities of others, they might, with, fomething more of Certainty, eftablifh a e« thod of Cure. There would indeed be no great reafon to fear the Accounts which others give of the Progrefs of the Difeafe, and the buccefs of Remedies, if they had not been Favourers of fome Hypothecs or other, whole Foundation, to fay no more, is very uncer-

tain. . . . t> •

All that I fhall do therefore in this 1 art, is

to examine the Writings of different Authors

and faithfully relate what they have agreea

to be beneficial-, and which they declare ^

be fo, not from uncertain Gueffes, but from

often-repeated Experiments* ^

G 2

( 48 ) .

. 9ne §reat Property of the Plague, is, that It is contagions ; which leaves us no room to doubt of the Exigence of fomething which has the Effedls of Pofon ; what this is, or the. Nature of it, has not been fufficiently> ex¬ plain d by Authors. Some have thought it to be the Eggs of bfeffs ; others a Poifon, of the Nature of ■Arfenick. ; others again fomething anting from the Put refaction of a Human Body. However, this is certain, that it is fomething very fine and fubtle, and that it will lie lodged in Clothes, or fuch like things forfe-

veral Years together. ‘

Ve may farther obferve, that Authors ge¬ nerally talk of a PutrrfaSion, or Stagnation of the. Air, and a Difpofition of the Air to Con¬ tagion , ox clfe Jay they, it cannot be con¬ ceived how the Plague would ever end with¬ out the total Defiruction of the whole Nation where it raged. But it feems pretty eafy to me to conceive, how Particles of different Na-

wCbS ni5htnab09ld 111 the Air fucceffi vely

of JhT aC- herrtih/ Corn'l)tioib or Stagnation f the Air itfelf ; and moreover it may be

2nded° ’ nW ?e Co'r*Pt!o* ^ the Air is ended, as well as how the Plague would end

helmTaS n0t, ™’pted- A11 that Experience fielpsus m this Cafe, is, that in the Heat of

»L " S“ m°"

as* ,o berai>i!hi' otmSSg

sr°r„«ia,fc°‘ ,ing 1" ve

efcaped ;

( 49 )

e leaped : Thus * Schenckius tells us of a Child that flicked two Nurfes, which died of the Plague, and yet never was infe&ed with it. And befides, we find, that when the moft: dreadful Plagues have raged, there has ftill fome one or another been found hardy enough to wait on the Sick, without any ill Conse¬ quence. Fallopius + fays, that fome Fellows that attendee! upon the Sick, in the time of the Plague, ufed no other Prefervative than chewing a little Ginger in the Morning, then drinking fome Wine, and afterwards chewing Zedoary the reft of the Day. Droetus II, a French Phyfcian, alfo tells us, that there were fome Villains condemn'd to Death by the Ma- giftrates of Lions for propagating the Plague , who confeffed when they came to die, that they ufed no other Method to preferve them- felves, than the eating of a roafted Walnut .

If fuch a 7iecejjary Predijpojition of the Body to receive Infection be allowed, as there is all the Reafon in the World to believe there fhould, it would be a Matter of the greateft Moment to know what the cojitrary Difpofition to that is, and the certain Means how to'pre- ferve it : But feeing this is at prefen t but guefs d at, I fhall advance what feems to come moft near it, and is moft likely, and what is allowed on all hands to be ferviceable and that is, To keep the Mind as chearful , and the Body as healthful as pojjibly we can.

This I take to be the moft certain Preferva¬ tive next to that of flying from the Place where the plague rages.

t Obferv. deFeb. 149.

J De Bubon. Peftilent. c tf CohfiL de pefi. cap. 10,

I T . m *» V *■ “

( 5° )

The way to keep the Mind chearful, is not to be over-anxious about worldly Matters or the Confequences of Things, and to banifli from the Mind, as much as may be. Fear , An * gery Hatred , Revenge , and all violent FaJJions of what kind foever.

As to keeping the Body healthful, every one fhould ftudy what is agreeable to his own Conftitution ^ but a Temperate Diet , Moderate Exercife , Reading aloud , or Singing and die ar* Ful Company, may be ferviceable to all.

To which may be added, drinking "Wine or other ftrong Liquors moderately $ but I except againft Brandy , and moft difdlled Waters, for their Effe&s are foon over, and the Dejedion of Spirits is greater after than before they are drank.

The Care of Clothing fhould at this time be more than ever, for fear of hindring Infenfi - He Perjpiration , or ill other words, for fear of taking Cold 5 and for the fame Reafon, Violent Motions and Excrcifes ought to be avoided, as well as Exceffes of all kinds.

As to the Medicinal Part , different Authors have recommended different things ; but I fhall recommend thofe that have had moft Ex¬ perience on their tide.

I do not know whether one Reafon that the Winter abates the Plague, may not be from the Quantity of nitrous Particles that abound in the Air then * for if we may believe Authors, Nitre has been found beneficial more ways than one.

Hence there is little Reafon to doubt, but Nitre or S alt -Pet re diffolved in Vinegar , and evaporated in an Earthen Pan over a Charcoal Fire in the middle of a Room, would be of fervice to purify the Air. And for the fame

pur-

( 5i )

purpofe, ; Rue fteeped in Vinegar , and fuffered to fume away till the Moifture was chiefly gone, in the fame manner as before, would doubtlefs be proper. In either of which, if a little Camphzre were added, fome think it would be fo much the better * * for * Camphzre has the Praifes of moft, upon fuch Occafions.

The following Compofltion is alfo recoin* mended by an Eminent Author.

Take Nitre , a Pound ^ Sulphur , four Oun¬ ces •, Benzoin and Styra*y as much as you pleafe : melt together, and form it into fmall Sticks^ to throw upon burning Coals when ufed.

, % * * , V ' .

As to Amulets $ ghiickfilver, Arfnick and Toads are moft remarkable. The afore-mentioned Droet us gives us an Inftance wherein Quick¬ silver has been found to be fuccefsful hung about the Neck in a Walnut-Shell.

Some Italian Phyficians thought nothing of greater Service than Arfnick carried about a Perfon* and afture us, that not one that did fo died, as t Piftorius informs us.

Thofe that ufe Toads either bore a hole through their Heads, and fo hang them about

* Particularly Matthiolus in his Italian Commentary upon Diofcorides, [peaks thus of ity after he had enumerated federal °f lt{ Virtues. ‘ Preferva dalle Putrifattioni, 6c imperp

* utilmente fi mettenegli antidoti, che fi fanno contra i veleni, contra la Pejief 6c contra i morfi de velenoft € Animali. Ha in lomma aflai altre Virtu ie quali per \ brevita lafcio da parte.’ That isy It hinders Putrefac¬ tion, and if mixed with Antidotes, is excellent again# Toifons , the Pejlile ncey and the Bi tings of Venomous Beafts. In a word, it has fo many other Virtues, that for brevi¬ ty fake I am forced to omit them. Vifcorp del Matth. nel L&' Liofcor. p. 8o.

t Lib.de Pe#, pag.34.

their

( n )

their Necks , or make Troches of them, as* Hejmont 5 or encompafs them with Ifing-glaft, and fo hang' them as before.

As to my own Opinion of the Matter, I can only fay, that if thefe, as we are told, have been ferviceable, 9tis probable they may be fo again, and I fee no manner of harm in the Trial : I am apt to think, the Toad will be the leaf!: faneyd of any of the three.

Before I come to Internal Prefervatives, I mult take notice of one Caution by the way. That Perfons with empty Stomachs have been more apt to receive Infection than others y which Ihould be carefully avoided by all that go near the Sick.

EtmuUer * tells us, that Jumper-Berries , Myrrh , Zedoary , are worth a thoufand other Compaction f, if iteeped in good Vinegar , and taken by way of Prevention. A little FeWce- Treacle diffolved in Vinegar , and t filtred, is alfo excellent. You may alfo diffolve a little' Camphire in Wine, and add to fome Vinegar at pleafure * for Camphire will hardty diffolve in Vinegar. Sylvius \\ fays, that when he ufed to vifit fick Perfons, he only ufed to foak fome foft Bread in a Spoonful of Wine-Vinegar , and ate it in a Morning before he went to fee them. Some commend Rhenifi Wine or a Draught of dale Beer in a Morning.

Acid or tart Fruits are alfo faid to be very good for this Ule, to be eaten fparingly now and then fuch as Citrons , Granges , Pomegra¬ nates , Currants , Apples } Seen

* EtmuUer. Opera, nbi de Pefte.

t Filtred, that fttjfercd t& rmn as much as mil through' htvwn Paper .

fl Pag. 275.

• I

I

( n )

I fhould have ohferved before amongft the Externals, that a Sponge dipt in Vinegar, and held, to the Noftrils, is of fervice 5 to which a little Camphire or Myrrh may be added at pleafure : as alfo that a little Ginger or Ze - doary Iteeped in Vinegar , and held in the Mouth or chewed, is very beneficial.

Camphire , as I faid before, ftands recom¬ mended very much in thefe Cafes ; and where hot things are found ferviceable, the follow¬ ing Compofition may not be improper.

Take Flowers of Sulphur three Drams 5 Myrrh two Drams ^ Aloes a Dram ; Saf¬ fron, Camphire , of each half a Dram : mix and make a Powder, or with the Pulp of Citrons make an El e Hilary.

But, according to my Judgment, what I re¬ commended before is moll: proper.

All violent Purges are to be forborn $ for they, infteadof refrefhing, weaken the Body, and dilfipate the Spirits: But if it fhould ap¬ pear that there is evident Occafion for fuch fort of Phyjick , the following Form from Bar~ hette will be proper.

Take choice Rhubarb , a Dram and a half $ Leaves of Senna pick’d, two Drams j Cream of Tartar , a Dram *, Roots of Viper-grafs , half an Ounce 5 Anife- Seeds y half a Dram 5 boil in Carduus BenediHus Water : ftrain, and to three Ounces of the Colatnre add Syrup of Succory with Rhubarb^ fix Drams * Spirit of Salt a little $ Confetfio Alhermt % a Scruple : mix and make a Draught.

Or this 3

Take^ of Leaves of Senna an Ounce and a

H half-

( 54 )

half 3 Mecbtiacdn , half an Ounce - Zedo- ary, Citron-Feels, Galangals , of each a Dram 3 of the Cordial Flowers a Pugil : pour on a fufficient Quantity of Rbenijb Wive-, let them hand a day, then Itrain, of which take four Ounces.

Some number Iff ues amongft the heft fort 6f Preservatives , amongft which ar eHildanus Ri¬ ve; ties, Horjlins . Lbdanus fays, that his Un¬ cle was at Morocco at a time when 8$ooc died of the Plague in live Weeks, and he perfuaded a Jew, who was a Phyjician , to make Iflues, and they all of them efcaped hut one, who re- fufed to have one made : and moreover, Lin - damis himfelf confirms their Serviceablenefs, and adds, that thofe that have Iflues feel a pricking Pain in them when they go near the Infected, which Hodges * alfo confirms.

I have not r^entured to fay any thing by way of Recommendation of the hotter fort of Antidotes , becaufe, as Sydenham t ohferves, if they were not follow d by a Sweat, they were generally noxious in the laft Plague at London : therefore with this Caution I fhali give you one of that fort.

Take Zedoary two Drams :> Wormwood } Dit¬ tany of Crete , of each half a Plandful 3 Water * Germander , Car dims Benedihhts , of each a Handful 3 Citi on-Peel, half an Ounce , pimpervel-Root , half an Ounce 3 Lie camp, me -Root, two Drams : let them be cut into Bits, and tyed up in a Linnen Cloth, and hung in Wine or Am, of which a Draught is to be drank after Breakfafi: or at Dinner.

* Pag. 241. dc Pelte. f Pag. 132.

Some

( 55 )

Some have recommended the Ufe of Abjbr- bents , filch as Bole Armoniac, Terra SigiUata , Pearls, Coral, Crabs-Eyes , C.r abs-Claws , and the like. Thofe who rely much upon Amulets, may wear the following, as good as any.

Take white Arfnick , half an Ounce ; Orfi- mcvt , a Dram and a half 5 Powder of dry & loads , two Ounces 5 reJ Sanders , a Dram : with Mucilage of Gz/w Tragacantb make an Amulet in the ufual Form.

Before I take my leave of Prefervatives , I'll give you as odd a one as I have read of. Lem- nhis * fays, his Countrymen, that is, the Rufticks and meaner fort, take Pieces of Skins, and Horns , and Bones fomething frefh, and call: them into the Fire, and fume their Cot- tages and Huts with them, and fo preferve themfelves from the Plague. Perhaps this may help us to account for what Palmarins t affirms to be true concerning the Leather -Dr effers at Paris ■: For he fays, that tho1 the Plague was great, and they lived inthemidft of the City, vet few of them were infected *, and thinks the Smell that is about their Houfes kept out the Plague : but fays, others imagine they are fo ufed to ill Smells, that the Contagion could not affedt them *, and adds, that the Cleanfers of the Streets and Vaults and Hofpital Ser¬ vants laugh at and defpife it.

Lemnius , whom I mention'd juft before, fays a Garifon that lay in the Caitle of Tour- nay freed the Town from a Peftilential Diitem* per, by firing the great Guns Morning and Night. So much for Prefervatives .

* De Occult. Nat. Mirac. lib. 2. cap. 10. d De Feb. Peft. cap. 1 5.

H 2

But

( )

But Before 1 come to the Cure of thofe that are infe&ed, it is proper to fay fomething of the ufual Signs whereby we may know the Event of the Difeafe ^ tho' you muft take no tice by the way, that the moft certain Rule in this Cafe may fometimes prove fallacious.

Tvogncfiks. If the Buboes or Tumors break out quickly, and the Symptoms then remit, you may hope for a good Event. A Plague with Buboes is the mildeft and leaft dangerous of all 5 that with Carbuncles is next , but that with Spots is worft of all. The more Buboes there are, the better the more Carbuncles , the worfe: Large f ee Sweating is a good Sign • a cold Sweat is a bad, as likewife if the Extremities of the Body are cold, particularly the Nofe. The Dropping of the Nofe is mortal. Tumors lying hid, portend Danger. It is a deadly Sign for Hiccupping to fucceed Buboes. Raving with fiery Eyes and a dry Tongue is a bad Sign. If a Carbuncle fucceed a Buboe , it is mortal. Car¬ buncles appearing on the Fingers are dange¬ rous, by reafon of the Tendons. It is better for Tumors to appear before than after the Fever. For Tumors to be a little inflamed, is not very dangerous •, but if a livid Circle furt ounds them, it is dangerous. If when a Blijlering PI a fie r is apply d, no Rlifter is railed, you may fafely fay the Sick will not recoven A Carbuncle with a Streak of yellow or red, is dangerous , but if the Streak grows white without the Decreafe of the Fever, there is little Hope left. If Buboes in the Neck, or behind the Ears, bring on Pains of the i'hroat, and Swallowing is hinder’d, with- out any notable internal Inflammation 5 the Sick will fcarce live fifteen or flxteen Hours longer. A Remarkable Fever without Anxiety

of

A 57 )

of the Heart 9 is lefs dangerous than Anxiety of the Heart without a Remarkable Fever \ Sometimes it happens that there ar e Carbuncles on the Eyes, Hands or Stomach , without any Hopes of Recovery. LiJcewife if Carbuncles fhould ^ happen on the Urinary Bladder, the Sick will die in very great Pain.

The chief Aim which Authors have had in Cum the Cure , has been to throw the Matter of Contagion out of the Body * which Method Nature feemsto have fuggefted, in endeavour¬ ing to expel the Poifon, as is evident from the Buboes and Carbuncles : And for this pur- pofe they have agreed that Sweating is nioft proper. And Etmuller would have no Sudani- jfick CompofiiJon be given without Qamphire •

Of which take the following Forms.

Take of Treacle W : iter lix Drams, or an Ounce ^ Saffron , about as much as a Pea* Camphire half a Dram : mix.

To an adult Perfon give all of it, to a younger half

Another . . '

Take Vevice-Treacle , two Scruples $ Flower of Sulphur , a Scruple 5 Camphire, fifteen Grains: mix. Give it all to an infected Perfon, expecting a Sweat.

N ext to Camphire, Spirit of Hart s-horn given to a Dram, is accounted excellent $ of which * Hodges gives an Initance. Ivy-berries given to a Dram in Wine, has been obferved to be profitable. In the Management of the Sick obferve the following Rules.

«

* Pag. 164. de Peftej

I. Tfo

( )

I. The Sweating Medicine is to be repeated every eight Hours, that the Sick may fweat three times a day . While there is a Remiffion of the Sweating, the Sick fliould be fupply’d with comfortable acid Liquors : if Buboes, Carbun - des , or Spots appear with forne Eafe, Sweating is to be continued. Regard is always to be had to the Strength and Conftitution of the Sick, as to the Degree of Sweating.

II. The Sick fbould not be fujfered to fleep while he fweat s . If you find the Sick inclina¬ ble to fleep, dip a Spunge in a little Wine Vinegar , and hold to, his Nofe *? if a little Cam - phire has been diffolved in it, it will be better.

III. While the Sick is fweating, take a fenny Loaf hot out of the Oven, and cut off x the bottom Cruft $ make a little hole in the middle, and put in two Drams of Venice Trea¬ cle, and apply it to his Navel. The Loaf is laid to draw out the Poifon.

IV. If the Sick is inclinable to be very wakeful, and thence delirious , a little Lauda¬ num fliould be added to the Sudorifick Medicine ? efpecially in the beginning, that the Symp¬ toms may abate, and after the Sweat is wiped off, a refreftiing Sleep may follow : But note, in wiping the Sick you mult take the greateft Precautions againft the cold Air j and the Lin¬ den that is ufed ihould be hot, and fumed with. Sul f hit r. Amber, Frankincenfe, or Myrrh.

V. The Plague is fometimes attended with a Burning Fever ^ and then Venue-Treacle , or Mithridate, unlefs corrected with Acids, is not proper.

VI. Acids are never to be omitted : For they are to be given with the Sweating Medicine in the Declination of the Sweat, and after the Sweat is over, to refrelh the Sick. But

#a

( 59 )

on the other hand, you fhould take care al¬ ways to corred the Acids with fomething that is Sudor iflck .

VII. BiiJlerivgPlaflers are ufedin the Plague with good Succefs : they may be laid to the Neck , Shoulders , or Calves of the Legs , and even to the Buboes too with profit. The fol¬ lowing Compofition was ufed in the great Plague at London .

Take of Tar five Ounces ^ Galbamim an Ounce ^ Bees -Wax an Ounce and a half ; melt them together, and remove them from the Fire, and then add Powder of Spanijh Flies an Ounce ; old Teafi , Seeds of Bijboffs-Weed , of each three Drams ^ Eu~ phorbium a Dram $ add a fufficient Quan¬ tity of Vinegar of Squills • let them be well mixed and incorporated till thejr are brought into a Mafs for Plafters.

The Part to which it is apply'd, fhould be firft rubbed till it is red$ and after the Plaf- ter is taken off, tiie Sore fhould be kept run¬ ning for fome time : To that end you may ap¬ ply Melilot Plafter fprinkled with Powder of Spanijb Flies. If an Inflammation fhould fol¬ low, you may apply Colewort Leaves . But you are not to ufe thefe Plafters to all indifferently, as where there is Heat or Incontinence of Urine , an Inflammation or Ulceration of the Sphin&er of the Bladder , or where there is bloody Urine , or Women are with Child or near Men ft? nation , or to very weak Patients, they are not to be ufed. * .

VIIL In the very beginning of the Difeafe, a Voinit is fometimes fuccefsful, the Poifon be¬ ing yet in prm’n Viis : But if the Sick is fo

troubled

( 6o )

troubled with Vomiting , that it will not fuffer him to retain any Medicines, then only cover him with Clothes, and try to make him fweat that way ; which will flop his Vomiting, and put him in a Condition to retain any thing.

IX. Blood-letting moft fay is hurtful, tho * Sydenham would fain perfuade us to the con¬ trary, and gives us a Catalogue of the Authors that have voted for it. But Parents 1 tells us, that in the Year 156?, when the Plague ra¬ ged throughout all France, Charles IX. being upon a Journey to Bayonne, he diligently en¬ quired of the Physicians and Surgeons how Purg¬ ing and Blood-letting fucceeded, who all an- fwered with one Voice, that they had ob- ferved carefully, and all who had Blood taken away freely, or were purged briskly, thence¬ forward grew worfe, and afterwards died ; and the reft who ufed only Alexitoials, almoft all efcaped. I could give other Inftances of this kind, and feme to the contrary; fo that all we can conclude from it, is, that th.o Blood¬ letting is generally bad, yet, in fome parti¬ cular kinds of this Diftemper, it may be ufe- fill

Before I have done with this Part, I will give you an eafy camphorated Compofition, faid to be of great Efficacy. _ Take of S ugar- candy three Drams; white Ginger two Drams 5 Camphire a Dram ; make a Powder : The Dole a Dram; to be taken in any convenient Vehi¬ cle. As to the comfortable acid Liquors be¬ fore mentioned, they are varioully compound¬ ed of the Ample diftiiled Waters of Sorrel, Scabious, Roj'es, and the Juices of acid Fruits, fuch as Otrons, Currants , Raspberries, Mulber-

* Obferv. Med. p*

■j- De Pefte, cap. 24*

nes

( )

rhs and Pomgranates , Syrups of the fame, and Wine, and a few Drops of the Spirit of Vi¬ triol, which the Compounder muft fo ma¬ nage, as to make them grateful and ageeahle. To make it cordial, fome add Extrail of Saf¬ fron ; but it muft be only a few Grains ; for -to be over-hot, is contrary to the Intention : for which reafon the Compound Waters are omitted, which are prefcribed in ordinary Juleps.

I now come to give fopie Rules concerning the relieving the Symptoms.

In curing Buboes , the Intentions are to draw out the Poifon, to ripen them, and to cleanfe and heal them.

To draw out the Poifon, fome make ufe of Onions roafted , and mixed with white Mu Jlar dr feed bruifed, and apply it after the manner of a P lilt ice ^ others, inftead of Mufiardfeed take Venice -Treacle, efpecially if the Buboes are painful, which alfo helps to ripen them. Pryed Toads foa.k’d in Wine are faid to be ve¬ ry ferviceable for this End, if apply d to the Buboes when they are foftened. Hog s-Greafe , mixed with roajied. Onions , has been ufed with Succefs. Some take the following Pultice to be very good.

Take white Lilly Roots and Roots of Marfa- Mallows , of each two Ounces •, Figs n° ^ two or three ^ boil in a fufficient Quan¬ tity of Oil of white Lillies to the Confif- tence of a Pit It ice, add fine Soot an Ounce $ Vecice-Soap fix Drams-, OH of Frogs two Drams $ mix and make a Pulthe .

I

When,

( 6l ) ’

When, by fuch means a? thefe, the Buboe \s ready to be opened, for it is dangerous tp ftay for a perfect Suppuration, you muft ei¬ ther make ufe of a Lancet , or a Potezitial Cau¬ tery *, or, in the place of both, you may ufe the following Plafter from Hodges .

Take Bmplaftrum Oxy croc earn three Ounces, ftrained Galbanum0 Gum Carannay of each an Ounce ^ Tar two Ounces*, melt them together, and with Oil of Camomile , pr Lillies , make a Mafs for Plafter s.

After the Buboe is opened any way, Balfam of Sulphur with Turpentine muft be ufed mixed with Unguentiitn Baftlicon and penice-Treacle } over which put a Plafter of Dzapompholygosy till the Ulcer be cleanfed and healed.

A Carbuncle being a Mortification begun, the firft Step towards the Cure, is tp ftop the fpreading of it} for which purpofe I need not mention any thing befides Butter of An¬ timony * for if a Circle be made round the Car¬ buncle with this, it will not only hinder its Progrefs, but caufe the mortified Part to fall out *, after which the Ulcer may be cleanfed and healed as that of the Buboe. Some ufe ftrong Bliftering Plafter s both to Buboes and Carbuncles , and afterwards heal them as before.

As to any other Symptoms that may arife, they are feldom fo much attended to, as to require a particular Cure } nor indeed ought any thing to be given which interferes with the main Intention of Cure : for if that goes on fiiccefsfully, the reft will all vaniftq of courfe } but if that be interrupted, relieving a prefent Complaint wjll be but a poor Satis¬ faction. *

P O S T-

( 6i )

* * V 4 ' •

H O5 I have, .in the preceding Difcourfe, faithfully related what Authors have recommend* ed to be of ufe in Peftilen- tial Dijlempers • yet I would not be thought to have faid every thing that is neceffary to be known in order to manage Perfons afflicted with Difeafes of this kind 5 nor indeed can any body fay fo much, as to render the Care and Advice of a Phyfi- cian unneceffary in fuch Cafes : for according to the different Seafons of the Year, and the different Cdnftitiitions of Perfons, Variety of Methods fhould be taken, which is always left to the Uilderftanding and Prudence of Practitioners in prefcribing •, and it would be happy for People in fuch Circumftances, if they could have honeft and able Phyficians to attend upon them. But the Knowledge pf the State of Things at fuch Times, in other Countries, and the Account that we have tranfmitted to us concerning them in our own, leaves us a great deal to fear, and but a little to hope in relation to that. Nor can it well be otherwife, confidering that Phyficians are obnoxious to Life & ion themfelves, and that there are v:tff Numbers feiz’d with the Dip temper at a time. Upon thefe Confiderat ions every one ought in fome meafure, for fear of the worft, to be acquainted with the ufual Methods how to preferve or cure himfelf, or

I ft others,

( «4 )

others, in Cafe of neceffity : for this Reafotf, I fhall add fomething farther concerning the Nature of Contagion, and fome general Re¬ marks concerning the Pr event ion and Cure.

The Matter of Contagion , without douht, confifts of fine and fubtile Particles,of whofe fpecifick Nature we are wholly ignorant. Hence it comes to pals, that we can never be certain a priori , whether any two infetti « otts Diflempcts are precifely of the fame Na¬ ture ; but where the Symptoms are alike, and the Effects not very different, we venture to conclude that their Natures are the famey and their Caufes not much unlike *, and con.' fequently that their Cure ought to be the fame too.

Thefe fulfil* Particles floating in the Air, may either in breathing pafs down into the Lungs , or by the Preifiire of the Circumam¬ bient Atjnofphere rufh into the Stomach, and fo feize upon the Mouth of it, where there is a coniiderable Plexus of Nerves, or deprave the Stomach, nr what ever is contained in it*

By either of thefe Ways, it is eafy to con¬ ceive how the Matter of Contagion will reach the Blood *, where being enter’d, it may bring on new CoheJionsy either by pricking and breaking the J mall Globules of theBlood mere¬ ly by the Shape and Figure of its Parts, or by the Force of Attraction wherewith it may be endow'd; ivhence a fort of a Fermentation will naturally arife, attended with a Separation of the more fluid and vifcid Parts, which we may call a Coagulation of the Elood. This State muft infeparably be attended with a quick, w*eak, and unequal Pulfe, as well from a want of Secretion of the animal Spirits , as from the different Fluidity of the Blood as it

pafles

( «5 )

paffes through the Heart. The Blood being thus differently fluid, the groffer Parts, muft of neceflity ftagnate in fome of the Capillary Yeffels, which abounding more or lefs with the Matter of Contagion, which we cannot help fuppofing to be of a fharp corroflve Na¬ ture, a violent Inflammation of thofe Parts will naturally follow •, whence again, a Gan¬ grene and Mortific ation will enfue. If it fall on the Glands behind the Ears, in the Groin, or under the Armpits , then they will fwell and be inflamed, and are called Buboes $ and if it falls on any other Part of the Body in parti¬ cular, then a Carbuncle arifes : but if it be thrown upon the whole Surface of the Body in general, then livid Spots or Wheals are produced, which are accounted fo deadly.

Befides the Way that I have mention’d, Perfons may be infeCted, by touching or wearing Clothes, or other things full of in¬ fectious Particles, which may pafs thro’ the Pores of the Skin, and fo into the Blood, and produce the fame Diforders as before.

A Fermentation being thus induced info the Blood, as was obferved above, and new Cohejicns confe'quent upon it, we may well fuppofe the contagious Matter to be aug¬ mented in the fame manner as Yeafl: is in the Working, ot Fermentation of Malt Liquors 5 which, in the laft Stage of the Difeafe, fly¬ ing off from the inferred Body, the Diftem- per gains new Strength, and confequently en-* creafes.

The contagious Particles thus increafing ad infinitum, let us confider how the Diftem- per ever can have an End : Now this may be either by having thefe Particles join’d to others, which may hinder ..their A&ivity, [as

per*

. .. (66 ) \

perhaps the nitrous Particles in Winter] or by having them difperfed wide and broad in the Air ^ dr Mens Bodies may by degree? be fo ufecl to them* as not to be capable of .being dif- turbed by them, for fiich the Cafe feems to be when universal Plagues happen.

Conliant Experience teftifies,that the Win¬ ter will abate the Fury of a pejlilential Dif- temper *, and that the active Particles of the Contagion are fome way or other clogg’d, I think, is beyond difpute and why it may not be from a Quantity of Particles, which are thought to be of the Nature of Sal- Nitre 7l cannot fee * efpecially finceCompofitions with Gunpowder have been found to be fuccefsfui in France , in which Powder, Nitre is a chief Ingredient. And why may not , this be the Reafon that Tournay was freed from a peftN lential Diftemper, by the firing of Guns from the Caffle ? It has been related by one whofe Veracity I fee no reafon to call in queftion, let his Skill have been what it will, that Sal-Nitre was an infallible Prefervative in the Time of the great Plague of London .

Whether my Reafonings upon thisSubject are true or falfe, cannot be abfolutely determin’d $ but this I dare venture to fay, that they have the Face of Probability, and no way difa^ greeable to the Philofophy in vogue * which, of all, is the mod confentaneous to Reafon.

I cannot blit mention it again, as a Thing well worth our Obfervation, and deferving a ftridt Enquiry, why the Force and Violence of the Diitemper bears a fort of Proportion to the Seafons of the Year, as you may fee in the following Account from Mefarla^ * from the time it began at Vicentia in Italy , to the Time he wrote his Treatife upon the Plague,

* Meffar. de Peile Tra&.Prim.

*n6i

( <h )

\ 7

jj7 6, Decern, died i In the Lazaretto and

isii,Jariuary - 2	Campo	Mart zo •
February - 5	Feb. -	- - 0
March - 5	March -	I
April - - 8	April -	1 0
May - - 9	May	• - IQ
June - 10	June	3
July - 22	jay -	- IO
Align fl - 1)6	Aug.	- 1 2 I
September 340	Sept. -	“ 303
0 Sober - 29 5;	OSvb.	** - 278
JVovemb . - 7?	JSfovem .	- - 182
December - 9	Decern,	- - 6 0

The Time that it raged molt, as you may perceive, was in the Autumnal Seafon t parti¬ cularly in the Month of September , and the Time that it very remarkably encreafed, was the Month of Align ft: in which part of the Year, the Conftitution of the Air is more hot and moift than any other, which may not only add to the Malignity , and increafe the Activity of the contagious Particles , as was ob¬ served before $ but by influencing our Bodies in a particular manner, may difpofe the Blood and Humours to run into preternatural Cohe - jions: For by relaxing the Fibres , the Spring of the Solids will be lefs than is neceflary to carry on a regular Circulation of the Blood, in which Life and Health confift: whence appears the Truth of what I advanc’d before, T hat to keep the Body in a due Temperament , is one great , if not the only Preferyative againfi the Plague. ' '

From this fhort Rationale of this Diftemper arife very natural Indications of Prevention and Cure, agreeable both to Re a fon and Ex- penenee . tJ1L

)

( fig )

The firft Indication of Prevention, Is to chafe the contagious Particles out of the Air, and to Jceep it in a right State,

The beft State of the Air appears to be that which is cold and dry f whence Salt-Pet re evaporated in a Room with Vinegar, does not feem the worft Compofition: and the more fuch fort of Particles abound in the Air, the better it would probably be to hinder their Activity, which is equivalent to chafing them out of the Air. .

The next Indication of Prevention is,, to keep up the Action of the Solids upon the Fluids and to hinder the Putrefaction of the Blood and Humours ; Hence appears the Excellency of Vinegar , corrected with Stomachicfs , fuch as Gentian , Lemon-peel , Zedoary , Juniper-bcr - riesy See . which by a moderately aliringent Quality brace up the Solids, and help to pre¬ vent irregular Cohefions of the Fluids.

Another Indication is, to hinder contagi* ms Particles from getting into the Lungs and Stomach ^ which fhews theUfefulnefs of chew¬ ing Alyrrh , Zedoary , fmoaking Tobacco , fmel- ling at Rue, Vinegar ,

Again, another Indication is, to hinder the Accumulation of fordid Humours in the Body, which fooner difpofesit to infectious Difeafes : whence is evident the Excellency and Ufe of Iffues, which, becaufe they have the Ex* periencc of great Numbers on their fide, and becaufe they have been fo earneftly recom¬ mended in a Latin Difcourfe before the Col* ledge of fhyjicians $ I ihall Ihew the making of them, leit a Surgeon fhould not be at hand, to thofe that may need them.

To make them, indeed, requires fome Know¬ ledge in Anatomy fo fnould not be attempt*

<ki,

/ • •

( <*9 )

fed, but in cafe of abfolute Neceffity, unlefs by (kill fill Ferfons. The Place is between two Mufcles, in feveral Parts of the Body 5 but commonly in the Arm, where, towards the outfide above the Elbow, by moving the Arm up and down, a Dent may eafily be perceived, which is the Place it is to be made in 5 mark it with Ink, take the Skin up in your Fingers, and divide it fo far that it may be big enough to hold a Pea, which you are to put in, and drefs as ufual 5 or, it may be made, with a potential Cautery , which is to be laid to the Place. After there has been a Plafter laid on, with a Hole in it of the Bignefs the IfTue is to be ; over this, lay a Bolfter and another Plafter $ and in about three Hours Time, more or lefs, take them ofF, and drefs the hfcharwith JDiapalma twice a day, that it may the fooner feparate. Note, You may divide the Skin as above, either with a Lancet or fharp Pair of Sc i (far s.

It is not feldom that Evils are produc¬ tive of good EfFe&s * which is alfo very of¬ ten experienc'd, by thofe that have running Sores in fuch calamitous Times, for thefe pre¬ vent Infection, by fupplying the Place of Ifies.

The only curative Indication _ is to dejlroy the contagions Particles in, or drive them out of the Body h which may be partly done by a Vomit , while the Sick is yet ftrong, and the Invafion of the Diftemper but very lately made, which may be known by Jhivering and trembling , perhaps attended with Cold: But afterwards, when the Difeafe is confirmed, and the Blood in a Ferment , they may be ve¬ ry dangerous,, but can be of no Service. For a Vomit, an Author whom I but lately hinted

K - at,

f

( 7° )

at, prefers two half Drams of white Vitriol, diilolved in as many Draughts of warm Water, or rather a Dram diffolved in the firft Draught, and half a Dram in the fecond h becaufe it is eajily got , is mild , and leaves an aftrittive Quality behind it, as well as ftrengthens the Stomach . He would not have the Patient in vomiting, to drink above three Pints of Wa¬ ter or PoiTet'drink, at moft.

When the Difeafe is confirm’d, then Sweat¬ ing takes place *, which, when other means are wanting, maybe managkPby covering the Sick Well, and fupplying with Sage-Vojfet Drink pretty hot. But, above all things rnuft be avoided fiich Medicines which increafe the inflammatory State of the Blood, as your hotter fort of things do. When the Spirits a^e low, in the Time of Sweating, fome Drops of the Spirit of Haj'ts-Horn may be u fed, with or without what was recommend¬ ed before ^ or, for want of all, Canary or Wine of any fort.

For Buboes or Carbuncles , or any Part that is very much pained, the famous Plafier of Angelas Sal a is very much recommended by Au¬ thors, for its Excellency inafluaging the Pain,

. and. drawing, out the Puifon • which take as follows.

Take Gitm} Sagapenum , Ammoniacim , Gab banian , of each three Ounces ^ boiledTur - perttine , white Wax, of each four Ounces and a half • of the Arfettical Magnet fine¬ ly powdered, eighteen Drams *, Powder of the Boot of Arum , an Ounces make a Plaiter according to Art.

The Gums fliould be diffolved in firoug White-Wine Vinegar, and then Brained thro

a

( 71 )

a linen Cloth * and afterwards boiled tip to their former Confiftence, melt the W ax and Turpentine together by themfelves ^ take them off the Fire, and ftir them till they come to the Confiftence of an Ointment, and then add the Gums and Arfenical Magnet .

/ -

The Arfenical Magnet is thus made .

Take of white Arfnick , Brim ft one , and crude Antimony in Powder, each alike ^ put them in a Vial, cover it with Sand, and apply Fire till they are melted, and ap¬ pear of a dark red Colour j let it cool, and keep for ufe.

This lofes its poifonous Nature, as may be eafily try ’d, by giving fome of it to a Dog.

I could, with very little Labour to myfelf, have fwelled thefe Sheets with great Num¬ bers of Compactions and Formula's, if it would have anfwer'd any valuable Purpofe $ but I have contented myfelf with fuch as have been often experienc’d, and not very hard to be compofed $ and have given j^ou a Method not ver}7" much differing from thofe of the moft fuccefsful Practitioners : But yet I am frill willing to hope, that the Vigilance and Care of the Government, will make any fuch Di¬ rections as thefe unneceflary, by the prevent¬ ing the fpreading of this direful Jjijiemper to this populous City, or any Part of this Ifland.

N, B. Since this went to the Prefs, I have met with a French Book, entitled, Les Secrets du Seigneur Alexis Fiemontois translated from

O * TJ

the

( 7 V/

the Italian, which has the following remark¬ able Pa/Tage in it 5 which take upon its own Authority.

Un Merveilleux Secret pour prefer ver la Perfonne de la Pejle, 8c a efte efprouve en Angleterre de toils les Medicins en icelle grandPcJle de Tan 1348, qui entrahit quafi toiit le Monde, et ne s*eft trouve Perfonne qui n’aye eite preferve de la Peffe, en ufant dudict Secret.

Prens Aloe epatic ou cicotrin, Conelle fine, 8c Myrrhe de chacum trois drachmes, Clouz de Girofle, Mads, Lignum Aloe , Majlic , Bole Armenia de chacun demie Drachme, Toutes ces chofes foyent bien eftamjiees en un Mor- tier net, puis ftieflees enfemble 8c apres gar- dees en un Vaiiieau bien ferre, 8c en mens toutes les matinees la Pefanteur de deux De- niers en 1111 demy Yerre du Yin blanc, ou il

7 ^elque pen d’eau, 8c le bois du matin a Taube du jour.

In Englijf) thus :

An excellentPrefervative again# thePlague , which has been experienc'd by all the Phy* ficians in England, in that great PLgue in the Year 1348. which, in a manner, invaded the whole World $ and there was not one infected that ufed this Secret.

Take Aloes epatic or fuccotrine, Cinnamon > Myrrh , of each three Drams •, Cloves , Mace , Lignum Aloes , Majlic , Bole Armowac , of each half a Dram-: Beat thefe wrell in a clean Mor¬ tar, mix them together, and keep them in a Yeffel clofe ftopt for ule. Take everjr Morn¬ ing at break of day, tile Weight of a twoPence,

in half a Glafs of White-wine mixed with a little Water.

F; I N, I S' ,