sicknesse for the most part mortall wherein vsually there appeare certaine Tumors Carbuncles or spottes which the common people call Gods tokens which Plague procéedeth from the venemous corruption of the humors and spirits of the body infected by the attraction of corrupted aire or infection of euil vapours which haue the propertie to alter mans bodie and poyson his spirits after a straunge and daungerous qualitie contrary and mortall enemy to the vitall spirits which haue their residence in the heart by reason whereof it suddainly rauisheth shortly cutteth off mans life who for the most part is attainted with such a venemous contagion And for that we haue saide that the plague is a popular and contagious sicknesse it shall not be amisse to declare and plainly discouer what these wordes Popular and Contagious do signifie Popular and Epidemich haue one and the same signification that is to say a sicknesse common vnto all people or to the moste part of them Contagion is an euil qualitie in a bodie communicated vnto an other by touch engendring one and the same disposition in him to whom it is communicated So as he that is first of all attainted or rauished with such a qualitie is called contagious and infected For very properly is he reputed infectious that hath in himselfe an euil malignant venemous or vitious disposition which may be imparted and bestowed on an other by touch producing the same and as daungerous effect in him to whom it is communicated as in him that first communicateth and spreddeth the infection This sicknesse of the Plague is commonly engendred of an infection of the Aire altered with a venemous vapour dispearsed and sowed in the same by the attraction and participation whereof this dangerous and deadly infirmitie is produced and planted in vs which Almightie God as the rodde of his rigor and iustice and for the amendment of our sinnes sendeth downe vppon vs as it is written in Leuiticus the 26. Chapter and in Deuteronomy the 28. If you obserue not my Commaundements saith our Lord I will extinguish you by the Plague which shall consume you To the like effect is that of Celsus a man of famous memorie amongst our Phisitions who very learnedly saith that all straunge sicknesses befall mortall men by reason of the wrath and displeasure of the Goddes and that the necessary meanes to finde recouery and remedie for the same is to haue recourse vnto them by intercession and prayer◠The same also testifieth Homer the soueraigne of all diuine Science Poeticall perfection in the first booke of his Iliades Since therefore it is euident by the testimonies abouesaid that the Plague is a manifest signe of the wrath of God conceiued against vs the first and most wholesome remedie is to haue recourse vnto him who is the Father of mercy and soueraign Phisition of all infirmities imploring his grace and mercy by fastings praiers and supplications by almesdéeds good works and amendment of life to the ende we may appease and pacifie his wrath and reconcile our selues vnto him and obtaine his grace and mercy according to the example of penitent Dauid and the contrite Niniuites In imitation of whome if we shall haue our recourse vnto his mercy seat we may rest assured that he will beholde vs with his eye of pittie and graunt vs both health of soule and bodie according vnto his promises made vnto those who call vpon him in humilitie and sinceritie of hart and conscience Sée here the first rule CHAP. II. Of the causes of the Plague THose sicknesses which are contagious and pestilent euen as al other kinds of infirmities haue their causes For nothing may produce without an efficient cause that bringeth the same to effect The Plague then hath his originall producing causes from whence shée taketh originall beginning and is engendred by a certaine and more secret meanes then all other sicknesses For for the most part the causes of priuate sicknesses which are not infectious are either to great repletion or a generall deprauation of the humours which are in the body or obstruction or binding or putrifaction as Galen in his Booke Of the Causes of sicknesses hath very learnedly written But the Plague hath none of these aboue mentioned causes but only contagious and pestilent yet notwithstanding together with these causes of repletion Cachochimie obstruction putrifaction the Plague may bée annexed and vnited but yet in such sort as they be not the proper reputed causes which ingender the Plague for then if that should follow all sicknesses accompanied with such like causes might be reputed pestilentiall which were both vntrue and absurde It behooueth vs therefore to finde out a proper and continent cause of the Plague and such like contagious infirmities Let vs then conclude with Galen in his Booke Of Treacle to Piso and Pamphilianus that all pestilentiall sicknesses as from the proper cause are ingendred from the ayre depraued and altered in his substance by a certaine vicious mixture of corrupted and strange vapours contrary to the life of man and corrupting the vitall spirit which vnkindly excretion sowed in the ayre and infecting the same communicateth vnto vs by our continuall alteration of the same the venome which poysoneth vs. The ready and spéedy chaunges saith Galen which happen in the ayre through the euill corruption of the same produce the Plague which like a rauishing beast depopulateth and destroyeth diuers men by death yea whole cities because men hauing a necessitie to sucke in the ayre together with the same sucke in the infection and venome By this it appeareth that the proper and immediat cause which ingendreth the Plague is the attraction and in breathing of the ayre infected and poisoned with a certaine venemous vapour contrary to the nature of man To his effect before his time the great M. of Physique Hipocrates writeth thus in his Booke Of Humane Nature The cause saith he of the generall pestilence which indifferently attainteth all sortes of men is the ayre which we sucke that hath in it selfe a corrupt and venemous seede which we draw with our in-breathing Now the causes which engender such vapours in the aire are diuers and of different kindes for sometimes such a vapour is lifted vp into the ayre by reason of the corruption stench of dead and vnburied bodyes as in places where any great battell haue béene fought it often falleth out according as diuers Histories testifie It is ingendred also through euill vapours that issue from the earth or certaine Caues thereof which yéelde foorth exhalations full of corruptions that infect the ayre where it contracteth by an euill qualitie It happeneth likewise by a loathsome steame of certain Marsh in plashie Fennes full of mudde and durt as also from diuers sorts of Plantes and venemous beastes whose euill qualitie may produce such an effect in the ayre But the ancient Physitians and Astrologers as namely Auicen with diuers others report that the Plague hath two
caliditatis This Antipathie in Arsenick experience doth allow authoritie doth confirme and reason which is an other of the feete whereon Phisicke walketh as Galen testifieth doth assist it which he may easily perceiue that readeth Mercurialis in the place afore alledged But for that I intend onely to iustifie mine owne actes not to impugne others let this suffice And to conclude if any man in the ripenesse of his iudgement be more oculatus in this cause then either these Fathers of Phisicke or my selfe am I enuy him not but leaue him to his better thoughts till I may be more fully satisfied Thus committing you to him on whose mercy I depend I take my leaue of the gentle Reader desiring no other reward at thy hands but a fewe deuout praiers for me which I wil pay thee againe with double vsury whilest God lendeth me life Vale. Thine in all friendship Thomas Lodge The causes and cures of the Plague CHAP. 1. Of the nature and essence of the Plague THe Diuine Philosopher Plato declaring vnto vs in diuers of his Dialogues the perfect way and path whereby we may rightly intreat and skilfully procéede in the discouery of any thing saith That it behoueth euery man that indeuoureth by Art and methode to attaine the perfect knowledge of that whereof he standeth in doubt or is desirous to instruct an other in any Science whatsoeuer to begin with the definition of the same without the perfect grounds and vnderstanding whereof nothing may be either worthily knowne or truly explicated which lesson of his both Tully in his Offices and Gallen in his Booke of the differences of sicknesses haue very carefully obserued Since therefore in this Treatise of mine I am purposed by the grace and assistance of Almightie God to manifest vnto you the nature malignitie and accidents of the Plague to the intent and purpose that I may instruct you after what manner you may withstand a sicknesse so gréeuous and accompanied with so diuers and dangerous accidents by those meanes and medicines which God of his mercy hath left vs by the noble Art of Phisicke it shall not be amisse if for your better vnderstanding what the plague is I take my beginning from the definition of the same But before I prosecute this my intended purpose let vs inuocate and call vpon that diuine bountie from whose fountaine-head of mercy euery good and gracious benefit is deriued that it will please him to assist this my labor and charitable intent and so to order the scope of my indeuour that it may redound to his eternall glory our neighbours comfort and the speciall benefite of our whole Countrey which being now vnder the fatherly correction of Almightie God and punished for our misdéeds by his heauy hand may thorow the admirable effects and fruites of the sacred Art of Phisicke receiue preuention of their daunger and comfort in this desperate time of visitation To him therfore king of kings inuisible and onely wise be all honor maiestie and dominion now and for euer Amen The Plague then as Galen witnesseth is a pernicious and daungerous Epidemie that is to say a generall or popular sicknesse which violently rauisheth all men for the most part to death without respect or exception of age sexe complexion gouernment in life or particular condition whatsoeuer And therefore is it worthily called pernicious because there can be nothing more daungerous then the same which by the malignitie and violence therof inforceth sodaine death and by the proper nature proprietie and contrarietie it hath with our bodies killeth mankind no lesse readily then violently But that you may more exactly vnderstand what the plague is you ought to note that there are diuers sorts of sicknesses that is to say Epidemick Endemick plague and priuate disease as Galen witnesseth in diuers places An Epidemick plague is a common and popular sicknesse hapning in some region or countrey at a certaine time caused by a certaine indisposition of the aire or waters of the same region producing in all sorts of people one and the same kind of sicknesse as namely burning Feuers Tertian Agues Opthalimes or inflammation of the tunicle of the eies Carbuncles or Collicks or general and gréeuous coughes accompanied with shortnes of breath or disenteries or fluxes of blood which vniuersally and very often times raigne in some countries about the end of sommer All which sicknesses when as they are common in any particular place or region are called Endemick which is as much to say as sicknesses happening publikely popularly in the same region or country by a certaine euil qualitie of the aire that raigneth therein and produceth such like infirmities in mens bodies For as both Galen and the diuine olde man Hypocrates do testifie euery sicknesse that procéedeth from the aire infected with a venemous qualitie that is the cause which produceth and begetteth the same is in his essence Epidemick popular and pestilentiall Thus farre according to the fathers of Phisicke haue I truly discouered what Epidemick is Endemick is a common sicknesse and yet for all that proper to some one country or region which is as much to say as a regional or prouincial sicknesse For there are certain regions and places which by a peculiar propertie in themselues engender certaine kindes of infirmities which are particular only to the inhabitants of that region either by occasion of the aire or the waters in that country As in the new found land discouered by the Portugalls and Spaniards in that Iland which is called Hispaniola and other places of India there raigne certaine pustules or broad seabs not much vnlike the French poxes wherewith almost all the inhabitants of the country are infected the remedy whereof they haue gathered from the infusion of the wood of Guaiacum whence the vse thereof with very fruitfull successe hath bene discouered and proued forcible here in Europe In Sauoy and the valley of Lucernes the most part of the inhabitants haue a swelling in the throate In Pouille and Calabria for the most part all the inhabitants haue the Iaundis And such sicknesses as are these are called Endemiques prouintiall or regionall infirmities yet for all that they are not to be accounted pestilentiall or contagious The Plague as I haue said is a pernicious Epidemie that is to say a common and popular sicknesse which is both contagious mortall A priuate sicknesse is that which is particular proper to any one in priuate procéeding from particular indisposition of the body of him that is attained or by reason of some disorderly dyet by him obserued or rather by some excesse committed by him or through the corruption of the humours in his bodie yet not contagious but such an infirmitie as neither is frée from daunger nor exempted from mortalitie These are the differences of such sicknesses as serue for our purposes to declare the nature of the Plague which in her proper signification is a popular and contagious
originals and sources from whence as from a Fountaine shée taketh her beginning The first is in the indisposition of the earth ouerflowed with too much moysture and filled with grosse and euill vapours which by vertue of the Sunne béeing lifted vppe into the ayre and mixed with the same corrupteth the nature and complexion thereof and engendreth a certaine indisposition in the same contrary to our substaunce from whence it commeth to passe that they who sucke this infected aire are in daunger to be attainted with this contagion and sicknesse of the Pestilence Especially if they be of an euil constitution of body repleate with euil humours men of vnbrideled dyet sanguine and such as haue large and portuall pores They likewise who are weake and delicate are men ready to be surprised and infected An other cause of the Plague saith Auicen procéedeth from the celestiall formes that is to say the starres and their configurations and malignant aspects which by their influences cause such sicknesses full of contagion and Pestilence as in generall all other Astrologians testifie But in truth as touching mine owne opinion which is grounded vpon the diuine determination of Plato in his Epinomides and his Timaeus of Plotinus his chiefe follower of Iamblichus Proclus Mercurius Trismegistus Aristotle and Auerrhois I finde that this opinion is both false and erronious as namely to thinke that any contagion or misfortune incommoditie or sicknesse whatsoeuer may by reason of the starres befall man Because as Plato witnesseth in his Dialogue intituled Epinomis The nature of the starres is most goodly to behold wel gouerned in their motions and beneficiall to all liuing creatures bestowing on them all commodities of generation and conseruation If then the nature of the starres be so good that it meriteth to be called diuine as in the same place Plato intituleth it and yéeldeth so many benefites to these inferiour bodies how can it be that the starres infuse such infection and contagion vpon the earth and earthly creatures whereas it is manifest that no cause can produce such effects as are contrary to it selfe If then the good of inferior bodies procéedeth from celestiall bodies as namely the generation production of fruites and riping of the same yea and the conseruation of euery ones vertue as in truth it doth It shall neuer be truly and possibly concluded that the corruption and extermination of bodies procéedeth from the starres And therfore Aristotle very aduisedly saith That this inferiour world is very necessarily coupled and ioyned with the superiour to the ende that all the vertue therof might be conducted and guided by the same If the starres by their vertue conserue all the creatures in this world how can they by corruption venome and contagion dissipate and destroy them The saide Plato also calleth all the Planets and starres sisters for their accord in good doing and saith that it is a great folly in men to thinke that some Planets are euil and malignant and the rest good whereas all are good For as Calcidius the great Platonist saith in his Commentaries vpon Platoes Timaeus No euil may either procéed or take beginning from the heauens because in that holy place all thinges are good and such as resemble the diuinitie and nothing that sauoureth of malice may abide and haue place neither saith he can the starres chaunge their nature because it is simple and pure neither can they degenerate from the simplicitie and puritie which by the Almightie power hath bene bestowed vpon them Why then shall we attribute vnto them a malignant pestilent and contagious qualitie and such as rauisheth and spoyleth all liuing creatures by a venemous and pestilent influence For if contagion be as badde a thing as may be as in truth it is the most disordinate and contrary to nature or rather enemy to life the source and originall of which contagion is nothing but very infirmitie putrifaction and corruption in matter how dare we attribute to the starres heauen which is the beginning of all generation such an erroneous and vnnaturall accident Wheras the Planets are Celestiall bodies well disposed powerfull without vice corruption or matter subiect or inclining to any contagion And therefore Auerrois the chiefe Commenter vpon Aristotle saith That whosoeuer beléeueth that Mars or any other Planet disposed in any sort whatsoeuer doth hurt to any inferiour bodies the same man in sooth beléeueth such things as are estraunged from all Philosophie And the same Author vpon the ninth of Aristotles Metaphisiques saith that the Celestiall bodies which are the beginning of all things are eternall and haue neither euil error or corruption in them for corruption is of the order of such things as are euil And therefore saith he it is impossible to know that which the Astronomers say that there are some fortunate and some vnfortunate starres but this only may be knowne that whereas all of them are good that some of them are better then other some Behold here the worthy and true opinion of this excellent Philosopher which before him in as much as concerneth the first part of this sentence Aristotle in the ninth of his Phisiques Chapter 10. had testified The wise Philosopher Mercury Trimisgistus in his Dialogue intituled Asclepius saith that all that which descendeth from heauen is generatiue if then in respect of vs the influence of heauen be generatiue as in truth it is for as Aristotle saith Sol homo generant hominē it cannot any waies be possible that it can corrupt or cause the confusion of mankinde The like also is confirmed by Proclus who interpreteth vpon Platoes booke de Anima Demone The Celestiall bodies saith he by a soueraigne harmony containe all thinges in themselues and perfect them and conforme them among themselues and to the vniuers If then it appeareth that the Celectiall bodies perfect all things and both confirme conserue them as in truth they doo and this Author witnesseth how can these engender contagion and infection in vs which abolishe our perfection and integritie and destroy vs by rauishing our liues To speake truth as me séemeth it were a thing impossible For it is contrary to the nature of contagion that it should descend from heauen because contagion is no other thing but an infection procéeding from one vnto an other by communication of a pestilent and infected vapour and by this meanes if the Plague and contagion procéeded from the starres it should necessarily follow by the definition of contagion that the starres were primarily or formerly infected if by their influence they should send a pernicious contagion among vs. But this in no sort may be graunted because the starres by being Celestiall bodies pure diuine and estranged from all corruption receiuing and containing no infection in them being no materiall bodies apt to transmutation or chaunge as Aristotle and Auerrois in his Booke de Caelo est mundo doo learnedly alledge cannot be capable of infection or contagion neyther communicate
stench corruption putrifaction and euill qualitie For which cause it is necessary to make good fumes in our houses of swéet and wholesome wood as Rosemarie Iuniper and Lawrell or Bayes and to perfume the whole house and chambers with the fume of Rosemary Iuniper the parings of Apples Storax Beniamin Incence dried Roses Lauender and such like both Euening and Morning It is not amisse likewise at euery corner of the stréet at least twise in the wéek to make cleare and quicke Bonefires to consume the malignant vapours of the ayre according as Acron the great Phisitian commaunded to be done during the mortall plague in Greece As Paulus Aegineta testifieth in his second Booke Chap. 35. It is good also to weare swéet sauors and perfumes about vs such as in Winter time are Marcorame Rosemarie Storax Beniamin or to make a Pomander after this sort that ensueth and to weare it about vs to smell too vpon all opertunities Take of the flowers of red Roses of Violets of Buglos of each halfe a little handfull of the thrée Sanders of each a Dramme of the rootes of Angelica Gentian and Zedoary of each foure scruples of white Encens Cloues Nutmegs Calamus Aromaticus of each a dram of Storax Calumit and red Beniamin of each a dramme and a halfe of orientall Muske a scruple of Amber-greece halfe a scruple of Ladaum infused in Rose-water one ounce mixe all these together in Rose-water where in the Gum Dragacanth hath béene infused and with a little of Rose-vinegar make a paste of which you may forme certaine rounde Pomanders to weare about your necke and smell vnto continually Or take of Rose-water thrée ounces of white Vinegar of Roses ij ounces of white Wine or pure Malmosie two spoonfuls of the powder of Cloues of the roote of Angelica and Storax of each halfe a dramme mixe them all together and with this liquor it shall not be amisse to wash your hands bedeaw your forehead nostrils and the pulces of your armes for such an odour and of so wholesome a qualitie vehemently repulceth the venome that assaileth the heart and altereth the pestilence of the ayre It shall not be amisse likewise to carrie an Angelica roote in your mouth or a Gentian or Zedoary roote or else the rine of an Orange Lemon or Pomecitron which as Auicen testifieth haue soueraine effects in this case The continual vses of these good odors comforteth the heart and vitall spirites driueth away all venemous vapours and rectifieth the ayre that whirleth about vs as Auicen testifieth in his Booke Of the Forces of the Heart For which cause they which desire the continuance of their health ought neuer to be vnprouided of these things Amongst all other medicines that haue the propertie to comfort and reioyce the heart the Easterne Hyacinth béeing worne about the brest and next vnto the naked skin or else held in the mouth is very effectuall as Auicen testifieth in his Booke Of the Forces of the Heart in that Chapter wherein hée entreateth of the Hyacinth where hée saith that the sayd Stone hath not only a propertie to fortifie the heart and quicken the vitall spirites but also to resist all venomes For which I aduise all such as haue both meanes and maintenance to get such a iewel to carrie the same either in their mouthes or continually about their neckes neare vnto the region of their hearts by reason of that excellent propertie which all Authors by vniforme consent attribute vnto the same CHAP. V. The meanes and preseruatiues which are to be ministred inwardly against the Plague GAlen in his first booke of the differences of Feuers and in that Chapter wherein he intreateth of the pestilent Feuer saith That to preserue the body from infection it shall be very necessarie to clense and purifie the same from al corruptions and superfluities by sit purgations and to take away these oppilations and stoppings which are the meanes that naturall heat cannot bee dispersed to dry the body from humidities and to maintaine such bodyes as are drie in their Estates In imitation of whose opinion and direction it shall be good to euacuat and expell those superfluities of humours which abound according to there natures age complexion vertue quantitie and qualitie who are forced with the same superfluous humours It is therefore note worthy in suspected and dangerous times that no accustomed euacuations either by fluxe of Hemeroides or of the belly old vlcers menstruall blood itches or such like should be restrained For those purgations which are of this kinde doo clense the vnnecessary humours and by this meanes maketh the body healthfull whereas such humours being either repressed by astringent medecines or such like ointments might greatly hurt the principall members and produce strange sicknesses in the same And for this cause Galen and Hipocrates write That it is a good signe when as any defluxion is expelled from the inward and principall parts of the body where contrariwise if the same be transported from the outward to the inward parts it is a most euil and sinister signe For which cause in the Plague time it is the surest way rather to suffer those superfluities to haue their course then to stop or stay them by any medecine because by the voydance thereof the body is purged from the same superfluities which being retained might wonderful annoy it Which counsaile of theirs may serue for an aduertisement to all those that shall be so disposed and affected in the time of the Plague It behooueth therefore such as be Sanguine full in loue and youthfull in yeares to be let blood after a competent manner thereby to diminish their replexion and aboundance of blood Those that are chollerique ought to be purged with an infusion of Rubarb if they be wealthy and if poore with the Electuary of the iuice or Roses by taking thrée Drammes or halfe an ounce thereof in Sorrell Endiue or Purslane water or else by Diacatholium Diaprunis Laxatiue the sirope of Roses Cassia or the pilles of Rubarb Femetorie or those that for their gentle working are called by the Phisitians Aureae The Flegmatique ought to be purged with Agaric Diaphenicon Diacarthami the pils Aggregatine Cochiae according to the strength of their bodyes the qualitie of the humor which are offensiue at the discreton of the learned experienced Phisitians by whose directions and prescriptions such medecines are to be ministred not according to the custome of this time by foolish Idiotes and ignorant Emperiques Such as are melancholy should be purged with the infusion of Sena and Epithemum with a little Anice seede and Diacathelicon with the Confection Hamech Diasene Solutiue the pilles of Femitory and Aureae I forbeare to call the pils De lape Armeno and Lasuli into vse because they are too violent and scarcely well prepared Such as are weake and delicate persons As woman with childe children and aged people it shall suffice to purge them with an ounce of
lenitiue and no sharp clisters and make him drincke barly water with sirrope of violets and moysten him with good brothes for the cramp very often commeth of emptines and is commonly mortall if the extreame partes be colde in a pestilent feuer or other sharpe sickenesse it signifieth the weakenesse and mortification of naturall heate and for the most part betokeneth death In this case we must minister vnto his handes and féete with hote cloathes and chafe them and giue him a little wine to quicken naturall heate and make him holde a clowt in his mouth and giue him the powlder of Diacameron or Diamoscum and kéep him warme in his bed and take héede that no colde touch him But when the poore patient is come to this estate there is litle hope of them as testifieth Hippocrates in the fourth of his Aphorismes Aphorisme 48. for it is a signe that death is at hand Chap. XVI The order and gouernment they ought to obserue who assist and serue those that are sicke of the plague IT is a matter most euident that they that dwell continually with those that are infected with the plague are in great danger to receiue the same infection from those that are sicke by reason they haunt with them night and day receiue their breaths and smell their corruptions and sucke the infected ayre of the infected houses wherein they conuerse which is a thing very dangerous as Galen witnesseth in the first booke de differentijs febrium cap. 2. For which cause they that are resolued to kéepe them that are sick of the plague ought to haue a great care of themselues for feare they be infected And first of all they must haue recourse vnto God beséeching him to preserue them to the end that being thus assisted by his grace they may the better accomplish this charitable office to the sicke and succor and serue them to their vttermost which is an action that pleaseth Almighty God Folowing then the order prescribed in the second third fourth and fift chapter of this treatise he shall vse those preseruatiues there described according to his complexion age strength and the nature of these humors that abound in him taking fit medicines or pills powlders opiates or tablets against the plague treacle or mithridate according to the forme we haue set downe in the places afore alleaged continuing the same without intermission When hee shall visit the sicke hée must not approch ouer néere vnto him for feare he receiue his breath but stand farre off him especially if he be fasting Also before he enter into the sicke mans Chamber let him perfume it and cause the windowes to be opened and make a good fire therein of rosemary or iuniper Hée shall holde in his mouth an Angelica or zedoary roote or a cloue or the rinde of a citron orenge or limon He shall wash his handes face forehead and temples with vineger and rose water and if he haue leisure doe the like vnder his arme-pits and in other emunctory places but this is not alwayes sure and easie to be done He shall oftentimes and almost euery day change his garments and linen and carry in his hand apples pomanders orenges or limons to smell to He shall holde a spunge steeped in rose water vineger white wine besprinckled with the powlder of cloues zedoary and Angelica to which hée shall often smell and with some of the same liquor he shal gargarise his mouth and throate He shall perfume al the house and chamber of the sicke thrice a day and oftner in summer because the dayes are longer When he commeth to touch the sicke he shall cause him to turne his face from him lest he breathe vpon him and he likewise that performeth this office shall doe the like for his better securitie he shall kéepe himselfe cleanely purge often with the pilles against the plague or other fit medicines He shall be sober in his diet and auoyde all superfluous meate and drinke he must be merry and lightsome and driue away all feare sadnesse and melancholy For those that are fittest to be imployed in this matter are such as haue a good courage and are merry pleasant and well complexioned that despise the danger of death and are ready to doe seruice to their parents and frends wiues or children These in trueth are they that in these times are in least danger and whom God foreséeing their good zeale protects by his mercy preseruing them from so great danger Neuerthelesse in this time men ought not to be too rash or hazardous nor trust too much to their complexions youth vertue and force of body For the secret venome of the plague preuenteth all this and except a man be wary and prudent it wil then seaze him when he least suspecteth because a venime of that nature is accustomed to lie hidden in the body a long time without any effect or at leastwise notable impression after the nature of the byting of a madde dogge which sodainely before it be discouered takes a lamentable effect For which cause men ought not to be so bolde and rash as to expose themselues to such dangers except necessitie constraineth them to succour their parents or faithful friends to whom by lawe of nature they are tied Neyther on the contrary side shoulde they be too feareful and so cowardly as to forsake their fathers mothers wiues and children for feare of death but both by the commaundement of God and law of nature they ought to imploy all their power yea to aduenture life and bloud to preserue those who next vnder God gaue them life being and liuing Chap. XVII The manner how to cleanse the houses and places that are infected the woollen and linnen and the moouables of the same And how long they may remaine infected if they be not well cleansed and in what time they may be reputed cleane I Haue héeretofore declared in the first Chapter of this Treatise that the Plague is a contagious sicknesse rauishing life by the malignity thereof and because that the contagion of the same which is no other thing but a like disposition by a certaine hidden consent communicated by touch vnto another it remaineth long time hidden in such things as may receiue the same such as are the aire of the house infected the walls the garments of woollen linnen cotten fether and such like it is therefore necessary to know how to clense the houses of those that haue bin infected with the plague to the end that after they that haue béene infected shall returne to their houses they may not be infected anew by reason their garments couerlets beds and such like haue not béene well ayred and clensed And therefore by way of aduertisement to all in generall euery one during the time of the plague ought to shut vp his best moouables in a place apart that is cleane neate and to forbeare the vse thereof I say they ought to shutte vp their linnen tapistry and couerlets
and onely reserue some to their ordinarie vse For where there is a pestilent sickenesse in a house it continually infecteth the ayre where it raigneth the garments couerlets bedding and shéetes and all things that are capable thereof or either receiue the breath sweat spittings or vapor that issueth from the sick and al things that are of a slender substance and full of pores are fit to receiue and that verie easily such infection as are woollen linnen cotten and feathers wherefore it behooueth aboue all other things that such houshold-stuffe be carefully cleansed aired washed and purged For if they be once attaynted they long time retaine the infection in them because the venime inbibeth and incorporateth it self in their substance very vehemently by reason of the spongines and thinnest of these things and as oyle pitch and rosin and such like norish conserue and augmēt the fire in that they yéeld it a conuenient matter so likewise doth woollen cotten fethers linnen and such like nourish and entertaine for a long time that infection which is imparted vnto them from the sicke retaining the pestilēt venime conceiued in them for a long time Euen as we sée chists and coffers where we lay swéet bags to perfume our linnen or garments doe long time retaine that odor which we laid on them as lauender roses oringes and such like which sort of odour is maintained a long time in these garments and linnen as experience teacheth vs which also we sée in Cotton wherein a man hath wrapped muske or ciuet which keepeth the said odour an infinite time The which the Poet Horace hath aptly expressed in this verse Quo semel est imbuta recens seruabit odorem Testa diu The vessel long time will retaine The odor which it first did gaine Since therefore such infection may long time remaine hidden in the things aforesaide wée ought very diligently to cleanse them after this forme that ensueth The garments of such as are dead of the plague if they be rich ought to be burned according as the custome is in Italy or if poore whose misery is such as they cannot buy new let the cloathes they haue vsed be bucked and washed in lie and oftentimes exposed to the northerly winde and sunne and perfumed with rosemary Iuniper and such like and in time of drith be exposed to the Northerne ayre which drieth al infectious vapors for the garments that are infected may retaine the same foure yeares nay the feather-beds seauen yéeres as Alexander Benedictus testifieth Note also that feather-beds cannot be cleared except the tikes be opened and the downe be ayred till a moneth or forty dayes be past in which time they may be purified Let each bench wenscote and other tables of the house be thorowly washed with water and vineger so that no sluttish corner be left Let the windowes by day be kept open to the north and shut when the south wind bloweth Thus in xxiiii dayes may the wooden implements be ayred If any sicke man hath afore worne a furr'd gowne let each man beware how he weareth it after for furre is too apt to take infection as appeareth in those xxv hie Almaines of whom Hierome Fracastorius maketh mētion who in the yeare 1511. in Verona died one after another til al were made away by wearing of that gowne The surgeon that hath assisted the sicke after xl dayes triall may be admitted to conuerse the Citty and so the rest after sixty so preseruatiues and purges haue béene obserued and especialy so mirth ioy and pleasure haue been their companions if men obserue these precepts they may by Gods helpe and by kéeping good order auoyde the plague by those meanes I haue discouered by which helps there wil be no humors capable of infection and where there is no matter fit to receiue the same there can it not surprise any man Generall rules to bee obserued by all men in the plague time FIrst must we call vpon God desiring him to defend vs secondly but especially when we are fasting we ought to flie from the conuersation of those that are infected Let the wind be betwéene thée and the person that is sicke or some perfume be kindled or hold in thy hand some odoriferous perfume Fly the narrow wayes and stréets where are dunghils hant no vaine assemblies of feasts but if thy meanes be to follow Hippocrates rule Fuge longe cito Tarde or if thou must néeds stay be temperate aduised deuout and God shal blesse thée to whose mercy and thy harty praiers I humbly commend me FINIS A Table or Index A. ANgelica roote to prepare it fol. 7. Aptham how to helpe it fol. 26. B. BLoud when and where it is to be drawn fol. 17 18.40 Bolarmoniake how to prepare it fol. 19. Botch in the throte to cure it fol. 17. Botch how to know where it will be although no signe appeare fol. 18. Botch the generall cure thereof fol. 30. Botch that is hard and will not come to maturation how to helpe it fol. 32 Botch how to draw it from one place to another fol. 34 Botch when hee strickes in againe how to bring him out fol. 33. Botch how to draw him frō one place to another fol. 34. C. Carbunkle or blayne how to know him as also to cure it fol. 35. Carbunkle with paine and inflammation to helpe it f. 36 Chickens how to applie them fol. 17 Cordiall preseruatiues fol. 4. Cordiall to be taken after purging fol. 26. Costiuenes how to helpe it fol. 8.9 D. Digestiue for a botch how to make it fol. 30.31.33 Dyet to be kept in time of the plague fol. 11. Dyet for them that haue the small pockes fol. 41. E. EAres how to preserue them from the pockes fol. 41. Eares running of them what you must do to it fol. 47 Epithemation to comforte the harte fol 2.42 Epithemation for a botch fol. 34. Exercise and orders to be kept in the plague fol. 12. Eyes how to preserue them from the pockes fol 41 Eye paine and burning therein to ease it fol. 41 Eye perle or web therein to helpe it fol. 46 Eyes fastered and clong together to helpe it fol. 46. F. Faynting and pounding to helpe it fol. 23 Face how to preserue it from deformiting in the small pockes fol. 43. Face spotes therein and rednes after the pockes are gone to helpe it fol 46 Feete extreame heate in them with the smal pockes to helpe it fol. 45. Floures of wemen stopt to prouoke them fol. 10.11 Flixe how to stop it fol. 25. H. HAndes and feete extreame heate in them with the small pockes to helpe it fol. 45. Head lightnes and paine therein for want of sleepe f. 25 Holes in the face with the small pockes what is to bee done to it fol. 47 Hoarsnes remayning after the pockes are gone to helpe it fol. 48 I. Issues commended against the plague fol. 11. Iuleps Cordiall to make them fol. 22. Iulep to quench thirst fol. 23.24 L. LAske or flixe how to stop it fol. 25. Longs how to preserue them from the pockes f. 41. M. MAturatiue to ripe and rot a botch fol. 31.32.35 Mouth vlceration therin called Aptham to helpe it fol. 26. Mouth sorenes and vlceration therein with the small pockes how to preuent and cure the same fol. 45. Mundificatiue for a carbunkle or blayne fol. 36. N. Nodule against the plague fol. 7. Nosgaye against the plague fol. 7. Nostrels how to preserue them from the pockes fol. 41. Nostrels stopt and vlcerated with the small pockes to helpe it foll 47. O. Opiat good to expell the plague fol. 19. Oyntment to keepe on sollible fol. 8. Oyntment to prouoke sleepe and ease paine of the head fol. 26. Oyntment to keepe the face from pitting in the small pockes fol. 43. P. Parfumes against the plague fol. 3 Pilles to keepe one sollible fol 9. Pilles to purge the body fol 9. Plague what it is fol. 1. Plague cause thereof fol. 1. Plague forewarnings thereof fol. 2. Plague how to preuent it fol. 2 Plague how to cure it fol. 16. Plague how to expell it fol. 18. vnto 21. Pomanders against the plague fol. 6. Potion to purge the body fol. 10. Potion to expell the plague fol. 20. Preseruatiue against the plague fol. 4. Pouder to purge the body fol. 10. Pouders to expell the plague fol. 18.19 Pockes and measels whereof they proceede fol. 38 Pockes and measels how to cure them fol. 40 Pockes why they are infectious fol. 39. Pockes how to maturate them fol. 44. Pockes or measels that are slowe in comming forth to helpe it fol. 42. Pocks and measels how to vse them when they are come forth fol. 43. Pockes vlcerated how to cure it fol. 44. Purgation for a strong body fol. 24 Purgation for a plethoricke body fol. 24. Purgation for a weake body fol. 25. Purging when it is tollerable fol. 24 Q Quilte against the plague fol. 5. Quilte for the harte after sweate fol. 22. R Rauing and raging to helpe it fol. 26. Raysins laxatiue how to make them fol. 8 S Signs to know whē one is infected with the plague f 15 Signes of recouerie in the plague fol. 15 Signes of death in the plague fol. 15. Signes to know whē one is infected with the smal pox f. 39. Signes laudable and ill signes in the small pockes f. 39. Scabes which chance to come after the pockes are gone to helpe them fol. 48. Sleepe when it is tollerable fol. 23. Sleepe an oyntment to prouoke it fol. 26. Sounding how to helpe it fol. 23. Suppository how to make it fol. 8. T Thirst a Iulep to quench it fol. 23.24.43 Throte botch therein to helpe it fol. 17 Throte how to preserue it from the pockes fol 41. Throte vlceration therein to helpe it fol. 45. V Ventoses when and where to applie them fol. 18. Vessicatorie how to make it fol. 32. Vesicatorie of the sicke fol. 14. Vnguent defensatiue against the plague fol. 21. Vlceration of the small pockes to helpe it fol. 44. Vnguent for spots and rednes of the face fol. 47. Vomiting extreamely to helpe it fol. 28. W Water good against the plague fol. 20 Water for spots and rednes of the face after the small pockes are gone fol. 46. Y Yexing or yoxe how to helpe it fol. 28