A TREATISE OF THE PLAGUE CONTAYNING The Causes Signes Symptomes Prognosticks and Cure thereof Together with sundry other remarkable passages for the prevention of and preservation from the Pestilence never yet published by anie man Collected out of the Workes of the no lesse learned than experimented and renowned Chirurgian AMBROSE PAREY PSAL. 91. 5 6. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terrour by night nor for the Pestilence that walketh in darknesse LONDON Printed by R. Y. and R. C. and are sold by Mich. Sparke in the green Arbor Court in little Old Bailey at the blew Bible 1630. To the Reader REader for a publike good I haue aduentured to vndergoe a publike censure in those times totally addicted to criticisme induced thereto by thinking it better to helpe with those small forces I haue in this dangerusi nuasion than through feare of censures to be silent chiefly seeing those who at other times shew themselues prime leaders and souldiers to expell common and vsuall assailants become the first and cheife fugitiues in these cases of extremity And hauing found one whose knowledge and experience exceeds the greatest part of our common practitioners I make bold here to present him to thy eye and vse hee speakes plainely and honestly and handles not nice controuersies to small purpose nor tires with tedious and impertinent discourses wherefore if thou be destitute of counsell it shall not repent thee to vse his In which if thou finde comfort giue thankes to him to whom onely all praise is due who of his mercy diuert or if not assist vs in all times of his visitations farewell A Treatise of the Plague CHAP. I. The description of the Plague THe Plague is a cruell and contagious Disease which euerie-where like a common Disease inuading Man and Beast kils verie many being attended and as it were associated with a continuall Feauer Botches Carbunkles Spots Nauseousnesse Vomitings and other such maligne accidents This Disease is not so pernitious or hurtfull by any Elementarie qualitie as from a certaine poysonous and venenate malignitie the force whereof exceeds the condition of common putrefaction Yet I will not deny but that it is more hurtfull in certaine Bodyes Times and Regions as also many other Diseases of which Hippocrates makes mention But from hence we can onely collect that the force and malignitie of the Plague may be increased or diminished according to the condition of the Elementarie qualities concurring with it but not the whole nature and essence thereof to depend thereon This pestiferous Poyson principally assailes the Vitall Spirit the Store-house and originall whereof is the Heart so that if the Vitall Spirit proue stronger it driues it farre from the Heart but if weaker it being ouercome and weakned by the hostile assault flies backe into the Fortress of the Heart by the like contagion infecting the Heart and so the whole Body being spred into it by the passages of the Arteries Hence it is pestilent Feauers are some-times simple and folitarie other-whiles associated with a troope of other affects as Botches Carbunkles Blaines and Spots of one or more colours It is probable such affects haue their originall from the expulfiue Facultie whether strong or weake prouoked by the malignitie of the raging matter Yet assuredly diuers symptomes and changes arise according to the constitution of the Body of the Patient and condition of the humour in which the virulencie of the Plague is chiefely inherent and lastly in the nature of the efficient cause I thought good by this description to expresse the nature of the Plague at this my first entrance into this matter for we can scarce comprehend it in a proper definition For although the force thereof be definite and certaine in Nature yet it is not altogether certaine and manifest in Mens minds because it neuer happens after one sort so that in so great varietie it is verie difficult to set downe any thing generall and certaine CHAP. II. Of the Diuine causes of an extraordinarie Plague IT is a confirmed constant and receiued opinion in all Ages amongst Christians that the Plague and other Diseases which violently assaile the life of Man are often sent by the iust anger of God punishing our offences The Prophet Amos hath long since taught it saying Shall there be affliction shall there be euill in a Citie and the Lord hath not done it On which truly we ought alwayes to meditate and that for two causes The first is that we alwayes beare this in mind that we enioy health liue moue and haue our beings from God and descends from that Father of Light and for this cause we are alwayes bound to giue him great and exceeding thankes The other is that knowing the calamities by sending whereof the Diuine anger proceeds to reuenge we may at length repend and leauing the way of wickednesse walke in the pathes of godlinesse For thus we shall learne to see in God our selues the Heauen and Earth the true knowledge of the causes of the Plague and by a certaine Diuine Philosophy to teach God to be the beginning and cause of the second causes which well without the first cause cannot goe about nor attempt much lesse performe any thing for from hence they borrow their force order and constancie of order so that they serue as Instruments for God who rules and gouernes vs and the whole World to performe all his workes by that constant course of order which he hath appointed vnchangeable from the beginning Wherefore all the cause of a Plague is not to be attributed to these neere and inferiour causes or beginnings as the Epicures and Lucianists commonly doe who attributing too much yea all things to Nature haue left nothing to Gods Prouidence On the contrarie we ought to thinke and beleeue in all our thoughts That euen as God by his omnipotent Power hath created all things of nothing so he by his eternall Wisedome preserues and gouernes the same leads and enclines them as he please yea verily at his pleasure changes their order and the whole course of Nature This cause of an extraordinarie Plague as we confesse and acknowledge so here we will not prosecute it any further but thinke fit to leaue it to Diuines because it exceeds the bounds of Nature in which I will now containe my selfe Wherefore let vs come to the naturall causes of the Plague CHAP. III. Of the Naturall causes of the Plague and chiefely of the Seminarie of the Plague by the corruption of the Aire THE generall and naturall causes of the Plague are absolutely two that is the infection of corrupt Aire and a preparation and fitnesse of corrupt humours to take that infection for it is noted before out of the Doctrine of Galen that our humours may be corrupted and degenerate into such an alienation which may equall the malignitie of Poyson The Aire is corrupted when the foure seasons of the yeere haue not their seasonablenesse or degenerate from themselues either by
of his Beames haue wasted and dissipated into Aire this pestiferous dew hanging and abiding vpon boughes and leaues of Trees Herbs Corne and Fruits But on the contrarie that Pestilence which proceeds from some maligne qualitie from aboue by reason of euill and certaine coniunction of the Starres is more hurtfull to Men and Birds as those who are neerer to Heauen CHAP. VI. By vsing what cautions in Aire and Dyet one may preuent the Plague HAuing declared the signes fore-shewing a Pestilence now we must shew by what meanes we may shun the imminent danger thereof and defend our selues from it No preuention seemed more certaine to the Ancients then most speedily to remoue into places farre distant from the infected place and to be most slow in their returne thither againe But those who by reason of their businesse or employments cannot change their habitation must principally haue care of two things The first is that they strengthen their Bodyes and the principall parts thereof against the daily imminent inuasions of the Poyson or the pestiferous and venenate Aire The other that they abate the force of it that it may not imprint its virulencie in the Body which may be done by correcting the excesse of the qualitie inclining towards it by the opposition of its contrarie For if it be hotter then is meet it must be tempered with cooling things if too cold with heating things yet this will not suffice For we ought besides to amend and purge the corruptions of the venenate malignitie diffused through it by smels and perfumes resisting the Poyson thereof The Body will be strengthened and more powerfully resist the infected Aire if it want excrementitious humors which may be procured by purging and bleeding and for the rest a conuenient dyet appointed as shunning much varietie of Meats and hot and moyst things and all such which are easily corrupted in the Stomacke and cause obstructions such as those things which be made by Comfit-makers we must shun satietie and drunkennesse for both of them weakens the Powers which are preserued by the moderate vse of Meats of good iuice Let moderate exercises in a cleere Aire and free from any venemous tainture preceed your Meales Let the Belly haue due euacuation either by Nature or Art Let the Heart the seat of Life and the rest of the Bowels be strengthened with Cordials and Antidotes applyed and taken as we shall here-after shew in the forme of Epithemes Ointments Emplasters Waters Pilles Powders Tablets Opiates Fumigations and such like Make choyce of a pure Aire and free from all pollution and farre remote from stinking places for such is most fit to preserue life to recreate and repaire the Spirits whereas on the contrarie a cloudy or mistie Aire and such as is infected with grosse and stinking vapours duls the Spirits deiects the Appetite makes the Body faint and ill coloured oppresses the Heart and is the breeder of many diseases The Northern Wind is healthfull because it is cold and dry But on the contrarie the Southern Wind because it is hot and moyst weakens the Body by sloth or dulnesse opens the Pores and makes them peruious to the pestiferous malignitie The Western Wind is also vnwholsome because it comes neere to the nature of the Southern wherefore the Windowes must be shut vp on that side of the House on which they blow but opened on the North and East side vnlesse it happen the Plague come from thence Kindle a cleere Fire in all the Lodging Chambers of the House and perfume the whole House with Aromaticke things as Frankensence Myrrhe Benzoine Ladanum Styrax Roses Mirtle-leaues Lauender Rosemary Sage Sauory Wild Time Marierome Broome Pine Apples peeces of Firre Iuniper Berries Cloues Perfumes and let your Cloathes be aired in the same There be some who thinke it a great preseruatiue against the pestilent Aire to keepe a Goat in their houses because the capacitie of the Houses filled with the strong sent which the Goat sends forth prohibits the entrance of the venemous Aire which same reason hath place also in sweet smels and besides it argues that such as are hungry are apter to take the Plague then those who haue eaten moderately for the Body is not onely strengthened with Meat but all the passages thereof are filled by the vapours diffused from thence by which otherwise the infected Aire would find a more easie entrance to the Heart Yet the common sort of People yeeld another reason for the Goat which is That one ill sent driues away another as one wedge driues forth another which calles to my mind that which is recorded by Alexander Benedictus that there was a Scythian Physition which caused a Plague arysing from the infection of the Aire to cease by causing all the Dogges Cats and such like Beasts which were in the Citie to be hilled and casting their Carcasses vp and downe the Streets that so by the comming of this new putrid vapour as a stranger the former pestiferous infection as an old guest was put out of its Lodging and so the Plague ceased For Poysons haue not onely an antipathy with their Antidotes but also with some other Poysons Whilst the Plague is hot it is not good to stirre out of doore before the rysing of the Sunne wherefore we must haue patience vntill he haue cleansed the Aire with the comfortable light of his Beames and dispersed all the foggy and nocturnall pollutions which commonly hang in the Aire in dirtie and specially in low places and Valleys All publike and great meetings and assemblyes must be shunned If the Plague begin in Summer and seeme principally to rage helped forward by the Summers heat it is the best to performe a Iourney begun or vndertaken for performance of necessarie affaires rather vpon the night time then on the day because the Infection takes force strength and subtiletie of substance by which it may more easily permeate and enter in by the heat of the Sunne but by night Mens Bodies are more strong and all things are more grosse and dense But you must obserue a cleane contrarie course if the malignitie seeme to borrow strength and celeritie from coldnesse But you must alwayes eschew the Beames of the Moone but specially at the full For then our Bodyes are more languid and weake and fuller of excrementitious humors Euen as Trees which for that cause must be cut downe in their season of the Moone that is in the decrease thereof After a little gentle walking in your Chamber you must presently vse some meanes that the principall parts may be strengthened by suscitating the heat and Spirits and that the passages to them may be filled that so the way may be shut vp from the Infection comming from without Such as by the vse of Garlike haue not their Heads troubled nor their inward parts inflamed as Countrey people and such as are vsed to it to such there can be no more certaine preseruatiue and antidote against the pestiferous
Fogges or Mists and the nocturnall obscuritie then to take it in the morning with a draught of good Wine for it being aboundantly diffused presently ouer all the Body filles vp the passages thereof and strengheneth it in a moment For Water if the Plague proceed from the tainture of the Aire we must wholly shun and auoid Raine-water because it cannot but be infected by the contagion of the Aire Wherefore the Water of Springs and of the deepest Welles are thought best But if the malignitie proceed from the vapours contained in the Earth you must make choyse of Raine-water Yet it 's more safe to digest euerie sort of Water by boyling it and to preferre that Water before other which is pure and cleerer to the sight and without either tast or smell and which besides suddainly takes the extremest mutation of heat and cold CHAP. VII Of the Cordiall Remedies by which we may preserue our Bodyes in feare of the Plague and cure those already infected there-with SVch as cannot eat without much labour exercise and hunger and who are no louers of Breakefasts hauing euacuated their Excrements before they goe from home must strengthen the Heart with some Antidote against the virulencie of the Infection Amongst which Aqua Theriacalis or Treacle Water two Ounces with the like quantitie of Sacke is much commended being drunke and rubbing the Nose-thrils Mouth and Eares with the same for the Treacle Water strengthens the Heart expels Poyson and is not onely good for a preseruatiue but also to cure the Disease it selfe For by sweat it driues forth the Poyson contained within It should be made in Iune at which time all simple Medicines by the vitall heat of the Sunne are in their greatest efficacie The composition whereof is thus Take the Roots of Gentian Cyperus Tormentill Diptam or Fraxinella Elecampaine of each one Ounce the Leaues of Mullet Carduus Benedictus Diuels-bit Burnet Scabious Sheepes Sorrell of each halfe a Handfull of the tops of Rue a little quantitie Mirtle Berries one Ounce of Red Rose Leaues the Flowres of Buglosse Borage and S t Iohns Wurt of each one Ounce let them be all cleansed dryed and macerated for the space of 24 houres in one pound of White Wine or Malmsey and of Rose Water or Sorrell Water then let them be put in a Vessell of Glasse and add thereto of Treacle and Methridate of each foure Ounces then distill them in Balneo Mariae and let the distilled Water be receiued in a Glasse Viall and let there be added thereto of Saffron two Drammes of Bole Armenicke Terra Sigillata Yellow Sanders Shauings of Iuorie and Harts-horne of each halfe an Ounce then let the Glasse be well stopped and set in the Sunne for the space of eight or tenne dayes Let the prescribed quantitie be taken euerie morning so oft as shall be needfull It may be giuen without hurt to sucking Children and to Women great with Child But that it may be the more pleasant it must be strayned thorough an Hippocras Bagge adding thereto some Sugar and Cynnamon Some thinke themselues sufficiently defended with a Root of Elecampaine Zedoarie or Angelica rowled in their Mouth or chawed betweene their Teeth Others drinke euerie morning one Dramme of the Root of Gentian brused being macerated for the space of one night in two Ounces of White Wine Others doe take Worme-wood Wine Others sup vp in a rere Egge one Dramme of Terra Sigillata or of Harts-horne with a little Saffron and drinke two Ounces of Wine after it There be some that doe infuse Bole Armenicke the Roots of Gentian Tormentill Diptam the Berryes of Iuniper Cloues Mace Cynnamon Saffron and such like in Aqua Vitae and strong White Wine and so distill it in Balneo Mariae This Cordiall Water that followeth is of great virtue Take of the Roots of the long and round Aristolochia Tormentill Diptam of each three Drammes of Zedoarie two Drammes Lignum Aloes Yellow Sanders of each one Dramme of the Leaues of Scordium S t Iohns Wurt Sorrell Rue Sage of each halfe an Ounce of Bay and Iuniper Berryes of each three Drammes Cytron Seeds one Dramme of Cloues Mace Nutmegs of each two Drammes of Masticke Olibanum Bole Armenicke Terra Sigillata Shauings of Harts-horne and Iuorie of each one Ounce of Saffron one Scruple of the Conserues of Roses Buglosse Flowers Water Lillyes and old Treacle of each one Ounce of Camphire halfe a Dramme of Aqua Vitae halfe a pint of White Wine two pints and a halfe make thereof a distillation in Balneo Mariae The vse of this distilled Water is euen as Treacle Water is The Electuarie following is verie effectuall Take of the best Treacle three Ounces Iuniper berries and Carduus Seeds of each one Dramme and a halfe of Bole Armenicke prepared halfe an Ounce of the Powder of the Electuarie De Gemmis and Diamargariton Frigidum the Powder of Harts-horne and Red Corall of each one Dramme mixe them with the Sirrupe of the Rinds and Iuyce of Pome-citrons as much as shall suffice and make thereof a liquid Electuarie in the forme of an Opiate let them take euerie morning the quantitie of a Filberd drinking after it two Drammes of the Water of Scabions Cherryes Carduus Benedictus and of some such like cordiall things or of strong Wine The following Opiate is also verie profitable which also may be made into Tablets Take of the Roots of Angelica Gentian Zedoarie Elecampaine of each two Drammes of Cytron and Sorrell Seeds of each halfe a Dramme of the dryed Rinds of Cytrous Cinnamon Bay and Iuniper Berryes and Saffron of each one Scruple of Conserue of Roses and Buglosse of each one Ounce of fine hard Sugar as much as is sufficient make thereof Tablets of the weight of halfe a Dramme let him take one of them two houres before meat Or make thereof an Opiate with equall parts of Conserues of Buglosse and Mel Anthosatum and so adding all the rest dry and in Powder Or take of the Roots of Valerian Tormentill Diptam of the Leaues of Rue of each halfe an Ounce of Saffron Mace Nutmegs of each halfe a Dramme of Bole Armenicke prepared halfe an Ounce of Conserue of Roses and Sirupe of Lemons as much as will be sufficient to make thereof an Opiate liquid enough Or take of the Roots of both the Aristolochia's of Gentian Tormentill Diptam of each one Dramme and a halfe of Ginger three Drammes of the Leaues of Rue Sage Mints and Peny-royall of each two Drammes of Bay and Iuniper Berries Citron Seeds of each foure Scruples of Mace Nutmegs Cloues Cinnamon of each two Drammes of Lignum Aloes and Yellow Saunders of each one Dramme of Male Frankincense i. Olibanum Masticke shauings of Harts-horne and Iuorie of each two Scruples of Saffron halfe a Dramme of Bole Armenicke Terra Sigillata Red Corall Pearle of each one Dramme of Conserues of Roses Buglosse Flowers Water Lillyes and old Treacle of each one Ounce of Loafe
Sugar one pound and a quarter A little before the end of the making it vp add two Drammes of Confectio Alkermes and of Camphire dissolued in Rose Water one Scruple make thereof an Opiate according to Art the Dose thereof is from halfe a Dramme to halfe a Scruple Treacle and Mithridate saithfully compounded excell all other Cordiall Medicines adding for euerie halfe ounce of each of them one Ounce and a halfe of Conserues of Roses or of Buglosse or of Violets and three Drammes of Bole Armenicke prepared Of these being mixed with stirring and incorporated together make a Conserue It must be taken in the morning the quantitie of a Filberd You must choose that Treacle that is not lesse then foure yeeres old nor aboue twelue That which is some-what new is iudged to be most meet for Cholericke persons but that which is old for Flegmaticke and old Men. For at the beginning the strength of the Opium that enters into the composition thereof remaines in its full vertue for a yeere but afterwards the more yeeres old it waxeth the strength thereof is more abolished so that at length the whole composition becommeth verie hot The Confection of Alkermes is verie effectuall both for a preseruatiue against this Disease and also for the Cure The quantitie of a Filberd of Rubarbe with one Cloue chawed or rowled in the Mouth is supposed to repell the comming of the pestilent Aire As also this composition following Take of preserued Citron and Orange Pilles of each one Dramme of Conserue of Roses and of the Roots of Buglosse of each three Drammes of Citron Seeds halfe an Ounce of Annice Seeds and Fennell Seeds of each one Dramme of Angelica Roots foure Scruples Sugar of Roses as much as suffices Make a Confection and couer it with Leaues of Gold and take a little of it out of a Spoone before you goe abroad euerie morning Or take of Pine Apple Kernels and Fisticke Nuts infused for the space of sixe houres in the Water of Scabious and Roses of each two Ounces of Almonds blanched in the fore-named Waters halfe a Pound of preferued Citron and Orange Pilles of each one Dramme and a halfe of Angelica Roots foure Scruples Make them according to Art vnto the forme of March-pane or of any other such like Confection And hold a little piece thereof often in your Mouth The Tablets following are most effectuall in such a case Take of the Roots of Diptam Tormentill Valerian Elecampaine Eringoes of each halfe a Dramme of Bole Armenicke Terra Sigillata of each one Scruple of Camphire Cinnamon Sorrell Seeds and Zedoarie of each one Scruple of thē Species of the Electuarie Diamargariton Frigidum two Scruples of Conserue of Roses Buglosse preserued Citron Pilles Mithridate Treacle of each one Dramme of fine Sugar dissolued in Scabious and Carduus Water as much as shall suffice Make thereof Tablets of the weight of a Dramme or halfe a Dramme take them in the morning before you eat The Pilles of Ruffus are accounted most effectuall preseruatiues so that Ruffus himselfe saith that he neuer knew any to be infected that vsed them The composition of them is thus Take of the best Aloes halfe a Dramme of Gumme Ammoniacum two Drammes of Mirrhe two Drammes and an halfe of Masticke two Drammes of Saffron seuen Granes Put them altogether and incorporate them with the Iuice of Citrons or the Sirupe of Limons and make thereof a Masse and let it be kept in Leather Let the Patient take the weight of halfe a Dramme euery morning two or three houres before Meat and let him drinke the Water of Sorrell after it which through its tartnesse and the thinness of its parts doth infringe the force and power of the malignitie or putrefaction For experience hath taught vs that Sorrell being eaten or chawed in the Mouth doth make the pricking of Scorpions vnhurtfull And for those Ingredients which doe enter into the composition of those Pilles Aloes doth clense and purge Myrrhe resisteth putrefaction Masticke strengthens Saffron exhilarates and makes liuely the Spirits that gouerne the Body especially the Vitall and Animall Those Pilles that follow are also much approued Take of Aloes one Ounce of Myrrhe halfe an Ounce of Saffron one Scruple of Agaricke in Trochisces two Drammes of Rubarbe in powder one Dramme of Cinnamon two Scruples of Masticke one Dramme and a halfe of Citron Seeds twelue Graines Powder them all as is requisite and make thereof a Masse with the Sirupe of Maiden Haire Let it be vsed as afore-said If the Masse begin to waxe hard the Pilles that must presently be taken must be mollified with the Sirupe of Lemons Take of washed Aloes two Ounces of Saffron one Dramme of Myrrhe halfe an Ounce of Ammoniacum dissolued in White Wine one Ounce of Honey of Roses Zedoarie Red Saunders of each one Dramme of Bole Armenicke prepared two Drammes of Red Corall halfe an Ounce of Camphire halfe a Scruple Make thereof Pilles according to Art But those that are subiect or apt to the Haemorrhoides ought not at all or verie seldome to vse those kinds of Pilles that doe receiue much Aloes They say that King Mithridates affirmed by his owne writing that whosoeuer tooke the quantitie of an Hasell Nut of the preseruatine following and dranke a little Wine after it should be free from Poyson that day Take two Wall-Nuts those that be verie dry two Figges twentie Leaues of Rue and three Graines of Salt beat them and incorporate them together and let them be vsed as is afore-said This remedy is also said to be profitable for those that are bitten or stung by some venomous Beast and for this onely because it hath Rue in the composition thereof But you must forbid Women that are with Child the vse of this Medicine for Rue is hot and dry in the third degree and therefore it is said to purge the Wombe and prouoke the Flowers whereby the nourishment is drawne away from the Child Of such varietie of Medicines euerie one may make choyse of that that is most agreeable to his tast and as much thereof as shall be sufficient CHAP. VIII Of Locall Medicines to be applyed outwardly THose Medicines that haue proper and excellent vertues against the Pestilence are not to be neglected to be applyed outwardly or carried in the Hand And such are all aromaticall astringent or spirituous things which therefore are endewed with vertue to repell the venomous and pestiferous Aire from comming and entring into the Body and to strengthen the Heart and the Braine Of this kind are Rue Baulme Rosemary Scordium Sage Worme-wood Cloues Nutmegs Saffron the Roots of Angelica and Louage and such like which must be macerated one night in sharpe Vineger and Aqua Vitae and then tyed in a knot as bigge as an Egge Or rather let it be carryed in a Sponge made wet or soaked in the said Infusion For there is nothing that doth sooner and better hold the spirituous vertue and strength
of aromaticke things then a Sponge Wherefore it is of principall vse either to keepe or hold sweet things to the Nose or to apply Epithemes and Fomentationsto the Heart Those sweet things ought to be hot or cold as the season of the yeere and kind of the Pestilence is As for example in the Summer you ought to infuse and macerate Cinamon and Cloues beaten together with a little Saffron in equall parts of Vineger of Roses and Rose Water into which you must dip a Sponge which rowled in a faire Linnen Cloath you may carrie in your Hand and often smell to Take of Worme-wood halfe a Handfull ten Cloues of the Roots of Gentian and Angelica of each two Drams of Vineger and Rose Water of each two Ounces of Treacle and Mithrid te of each one Dramme beat and mixe them all well together and let a Sponge be dipped therein and vsed as aboue-said They may also be enclosed in Boxes made of sweet Wood as of Iuniper Ceder or Cypresse and so carryed for the same purpose But there is nothing more easie to be carryed then Pomanders the forme of which is thus Take of Yellow Saunders Mace Citron Pilles Rose and Mirtle Leaues of each two Drammes of Benzoin Ladanum Storax of each halfe a Dramme of Cinnamon and Saffron of each two Scruples of Camphire and Amber Greece of each one Scruple of Muske three Graines Make there of a Pomander with Rose Water with the infusion of Tragacanth Or take Red Rose Leaues the Flowers of Water Lillyes and Violets of each one Ounce of the three Saunders Coriander Seeds Citron Pilles of each halfe an Ounce of Camphire one Dramme Let them all be Powders and with Water of Roses and Tragacanth make a Pomander In the Winter it must be made thus Take of Storax Benzoin of each one Dramme and a halfe of Muske halfe a Scruple of Cloues Lauander and Cyperus of each two Drammes of the Root of Orris i. Flower de Luce and Calamus Aromaticus of each two Drammes and a halfe of Amber Greece three Drammes of Gum Tragacanth dissolued in Rose Water and Aqua Vitae as much as shall suffice Make thereof a Pomander And for the same purpose you may also vse to carrie about with you sweet Powders made of Amber Greece Storax Orris Nutmegs Cinamon Mace Cloues Saffron Benzoin Muske Camphire Roses Violets Iuncus Odoratus Marioram and such like Of which being mixed together Powders may be compounded and made Take of the Roots of Orris two Drammes of Cyperus Calamus Aromaticus Red Roses of each halfe an Ounce of Cloues halfe a Dramme of Storax one Dramme of Muske eight Graines Mixe them and make a Powder for a Bagge Or take the Roots of Orris two Ounces Red Rose Leaues White Saunders Storax of each one Ounce of Cyperus one Dramme of Calamus Aromaticus one Ounce of Marierome halfe an Ounce of Cloues three Drammes of Lauender halfe a Dramme of Coriander Seeds two Drammes of good Muske halfe a Scruple of Ladanum and Benzoin of each a Dramme of Nutmegs and Cinnamon of each two Drammes Make thereof a fine Powder and sow it in a Bagge It will be verie conuenient also to apply to the Region of the Heart a Bagge filled with Yellow Saunders Mace Cloues Cinnamon Saffron and Treacle shaken together and incorporated and sprinckled ouer with strong Vineger and Rose Water in Summer and with strong Wine and Muskedine in the Winter These sweet aromaticke things that are so full of Spirits smelling sweetly and strongly haue admirable virtues to strengthen the principall parts of the Body and to stirre vp the expulsiue facultie to expell the Poyson Contrarie-wise those that are stinking and vnsauerie procure a desire to vomit and dissolution of the Powers by which it is manifest how foolish and absurd their perswasion is that councell such as are in a pestilent constitution of the Aire to receaue and take in the stinking and vnsauorie vapors of Sinkes and Priuies and that especially in the morning But it will not suffice to carrie those Preseruatiues alone without the vse of any other thing but will be also verie profitable to wash all the whole Body in Vineger of the decoction of Iuniper and Bay Berryes the Roots of Gentian Marigolds S t Iohns Wort and such like with Treacle or Mithridate also dissolued in it For Vineger is an enemie to all Poysons in generall whether they be hot or cold For it resisteth and hindreth putrefaction because it is cold and dry Therefore in this inanimate Bodyes as Flesh Hearbes Fruits and many other such like things may be kept a long time without putrefaction Neither is it to be feared that it should obstruct the Pores by reason of its coldnesse if the Body be bathed in it For it is of subtile parts and the Spices boyled in it haue vertue to open Whosoeuer accounteth it hurtfull to wash his whole Body there-with let him wash but onely his Arme-holes the Region of his Heart his Temples Groine parts of Generation as hauing great and maruelous sympathy with the principall and noble parts If any mislike bathing let him annoint himselfe with the following Vnguent Take Oyle of Roses foure Ounces Oyle of Spike two Ounces of the Powder of Cinnamon and Cloues of each one Ounce and a halfe of Benzoin halfe an Ounce of Muske sixe Graines of Treacle halfe a Dramme of Venice Turpentine one Dramme and a halfe of Waxe as much as shall suffice Make thereof a soft Vnguent You may also drop a few drops of Oyle of Masticke of Sage or of Cloues and such like into the Eares with a little Ciuet or Muske CHAP. IX Of the signes of such as are insected with the Plague WE must not stay so long before we pronounce one to haue the Plague vntill there be paine and a tumour vnder his Arme-holes or in his Groyne or Spots vulgarly called Tokens appeare ouer all the Body or Carbuncles arise For many dye through the venenate malignitie before these signes doe appeare Wherefore the chiefest and truest signes of this Disease are to be taken from the Heart being the Mansion of Life which chiefly and first of all is wont to be assaulted by the force of the Poyson Therefore they that are infected with the Pestilence are vexed with often swoundings and fainting their Pulse is feebler and slower then others but some-times more frequent but that is specially in the night season they feele prickings ouer all their Body as if it were the pricking of Needles but their Nose-thrils doe itch especially by occasion of the maligne vapours rysing vpwards from the lower and inner into the vpper parts their Breast burneth their Heart beateth with paine vnder the left Dug difficultie of taking breath Ptissicke Cough paine of the Heart such an elation or puffing vp of the Hypocondria or sides of the Belly distended with the aboundance of vapours raysed by the force of the feuerish heat that the Patient will in a manner
seeme to haue the Tympanie They are molested with a desire to vomit and oftentimes with much and painfull vomiting wherein greene and blacke matter is seene and alwayes of diuers colours answering in proportion to the excrements of the lower parts the Stomacke being drawne into a consent with the Heart by reason of the vicinitie and communion of the Vessels oftentimes Blood alone and that pure is excluded and cast vp in vomiting and it is not onely cast vp by vomiting out of the Stomacke but also verie often out of the Nosethrils Fundament and in Women out of the Wombe the inward parts are often burned and the outward parts are stiffe with cold the whole heat of the Patient being drawne violently inward after the manner of a Cupping-Glasse by the strong burning of the inner parts then the Eye-lids wax blew as it were through some contusion all the whole Face hath a horrid aspect and as it were the colour of Lead the Eyes are burning red and as it were swolne or puffed vp with Blood or any other humour shed teares and to conclude the whole habite of the Body is some-what changed and turned yellow Many haue a burning Feauer which doth shew it selfe by the Pacients vlcerated Iawes vnquenchable thirst drynesse and blacknesse of the Tongue and it causeth such a Phrensie by inflaming the Braine that the Pacients running naked out of their Beads seeke to throw themselues out of Windowes into the Pits and Riuers that are at hand In some the Ioynts of their Body are so weakned that they cannot goe nor stand from the beginning they are as it were buryed in a long swound and deepe sleepe by reason that the Feauer sendeth vp to the Brayne the grosse vapors from the crude and cold humors as it were from greene Wood newly kindled to make a Fire Such sleeping doth hold them especially while the matter of the Sore or Carbuncle is drawne together and beginneth to come to suppuration Often-times when they are awaked out of sleepe there doe spots and markes appeare dispersed ouer the Skin with a stinking sweat But if those vapours be sharpe that are stirred vp vnto the Head in stead of sleepe they cause great waking and alwayes there is much diuersitie of accidents in the Vrine of those that are infected with the Plague by reason of the diuers temperature and condition of Bodyes neither is the vrine at all times and in all Men of the same consistence and colour For some-times they are like vnto the vrine of those that are sound and in health that is to say laudable in colour and substance because that when the Heart is affected by the venomous Aire that entereth in vnto it the Spirits are more greatly grieued and molested then the humours but those i. the Spirits are infected and corrupted when these doe begin to corrupt But Vrines onely shew the dispositions of the humours or parts in which they are made collected together and through which they doe passe This reason seemeth truer to me then theirs which say that Nature terrified with the malignitie of the Poyson auoyds contention and doth not resist or labour to digest the matter that causeth the Disease Many haue their appetites so ouerthrowne that they can abstaine from meat for the space of three dayes together And to conclude the varietie of accidents is almost infinite which appeare and spring vp in this kind of Disease by reason of the diuersitie of the Poyson and condition of the Bodyes and greeued parts but they doe not all appeare in each Man but some in one and some in another CHAP. X. What signes in the Plague are mortall II is a most deadly signe in the Pestilence to haue a continuall and burning Feauer to haue the Tongue dry rough and blacke to breathe with difficultie and to draw in a great quantitie of breath but breathe out little to talke idely to haue the Phrensie and madnesse together with vnquenchable thirst and great watching to haue Convulsions the Hickit Heart beating and to swound verie often and vehemently further tossing and turning in the Bead with a loathing of meats and daily vomits of a greene blacke and bloody colour and the Face pale blacke of a horrid and cruell aspect bedewed with a cold sweat are verie mortall signes There are some which at the verie beginning haue vicerous and painfull wearinesse pricking vnder the Skin with great torment of paine the Eyeslooke crewelly and staringly the voyce waxeth hoarce the Tongue rough and shutting and the vnderstanding decaying the Pacient vttereth and talketh of friuolous things Truly those are verie dangerously sicke no otherwise then those whose Vrine is pale blacke and troubled like vnto the Vrine of carriage Beasts or Lye with diuers coloured clouds or contents as blew greene blacke fattie and oyly as also resembling in shew a Spiders Webbe with a round body swimming on the top If the Flesh of the Carbuncle be dry and blacke as it were seared with a hot Iron if the Flesh about it be blacke and blew if the matter doe flow backe and turne in if they haue a laske with greatly stinking liquid thin clammy blacke greene or blewish Ordure If they auoyd Wormes by reason of the great corruption of the humors and yet for all this the Pacient is neuer the better If the Eyes waxe often dimme if the Nose-thrils be contracted or drawne together if they haue a grieuous crampe the Mouth be drawne aside the Muscles of the Face being drawn or contracted equally or vnequally If the Nailes be blacke If they be often troubled with the Hickit or haue a Convulsion and resolution ouer all the Body then you may certainly prognosticate that Death is at hand and you may vse Cordiall Medicines onely but it is too late to purge or let Blood CHAP. XI Of the Prognostication that is to be instituted in the Plague WHen you thorowly know the nature of the Disease and accidents thereof and the condition function and excellencie of the Body and grieued parts you may well foretell the future motions and euents of Diseases Although that this may be spoken in generall that there is no certaine prediction in pestilent Diseases either to health or death for they haue verie vnconstant motions sometimes swift and quicke sometimes slow and sometimes choaking or suffocating in a moment while one breathes in the venomous Aire as he is going about any of his necessarie affaires hauing Pustles rysing in the Skin with sharpe paine and as though the whole Body were pricked all ouer with Needles or the stings of Bees Which I haue seene with my Eyes in the Plague that was at Lyons when Charles the French King lay there It many times commeth to passe that the accidents that were very vehement and raging a little before are sodainly asswaged and the Pacients doe thinke themselues better or almost perfectly sound Which hapned to Mary one of the Queene-Mother her Mayds in that notable pestilent constitution
of the Aire that yere when Charles the French Kinglay at the Castle of Rossilion For when she was infected a great Tumour or Bubo arose in her Groyne and sodainly it went in againe so that the third day of her sicknesse she said she was without any griefe or disease at all but that she was some-what troubled with a difficultie of making Water and I thinke it was because the Bladder was inflamed by the reflux of the matter but she was sound in Mind and Body and walked vp and downe the Chamber on the same day that she dyed The strangenesse of which thing made the King so fearfull that he hasted to depart thence Although this Disease doth spare no Man of what age temperature complexion dyet and condition soeuer yet it assaulteth young Men that are Cholericke and Sanguine more often then old Men that are cold and dry in whom the moysture that is the nourisher of putrefaction by reason of their age is consumed and the wayes passages and pores of the Skin whereby the venomous Aire should enter and pierce in are more strait and narrow And moreouer because old men doe alwayes stay at home but young men for their necessarie businesse and also for their delight and pleasure are alwayes abroad on the day time in the Aire wherehence the pollution of the Pestilence commeth more often That Pestilence that commeth by the corruption of the humours is not so contagious as that which commeth by the default of the Aire But those that are Flegmaticke and Melancholy are most commonly greeued with that kind of Pestilence because in them the humours are more clammy and grosse and their Bodyes more cold and lesse perspirable for which causes the humours sooner and more speedily putrefie Men that are of an ill iuyce are also most apt to this kind of Pestilence for in the naughtie qualitie of the iuyce there is a great preparation of the humours vnto putrefaction You may know it by this that whē the Pestilence raigneth there are no other Diseases among the common People which haue their originall of any ill iuyce but they all degenerate into the Plague Therefore when they begin to appeare and wander vp and downe it is a token that the Pestilence will shortly cease or is almost at an end But here also I would haue you to understand those to be of an ill iuice which haue no Pores in their Skin by which as it were by Riuers the euill iuyce which is contrarie to Nature may be euacuated and purged And I haue noted and obserued that those are lesse in danger of the Pestilence which haue cancerous Vlcers and stinking Sores in their Noses and such as are infected with the French Poxe haue by reason thereof Tumours and rotten Vlcers or haue the Kings Euill running vpon them the Leprosie or the Scabbe And to conclude all those that haue Fistulous and running Vlcers in their Bodyes I thinke those that haue Quartaine Feauers are the better priuiledged for the same because that by the Fit causing sweat that commeth euerie fourth day they auoyd much of the ill iuyce that was ingendred This is more like to be true then to thinke that the Poyson that commeth from without may be driuen away by that which lurketh within Contrarie-wise Women that are great with Child as I haue noted because they haue much ill iuyce being prohibited from their accustomed euacuations are verie apt to take this Disease and doe seldome recouer after they are infected Blacke or blew Impostumes and Spots and Pustules of the same colour dispersed ouer the Skin argue that the Disease is altogether vncurable and mortall When the Swelling or Sore goeth or commeth before the Feauer it is a good signe for it declareth that the malignitie is verie weake and feeble and that Nature hath ouercome it which of it selfe is able to driue so great portion thereof from the inner parts But if the Sore or Tumour come after the Feauer it is a mortall deadly signe for it is certaine that that commeth of the venomous matter not translated but dispersed not by the victorie of Nature but thorough the multitude of the matter with the weight whereof Nature is ouercome When the Moone decreaseth those that are infected with the Pestilence are in great doubt and danger of death because then the humours that were collected and gathered together before the full of the Moone through delay and aboundance do swell the more and the Faculties by which the Body is gouerned become more weake and feeble because of the imbecilitie of the natiue heat which before was nourished and augmented by the light and so consequently by the heat of the full Moone For as it is noted by Aristotle the wainings of the Moone are more cold and weake and thence it is that Women haue their menstruall Fluxes chiefely or most commonly at that time In a grosse and cloudy Aire the pestilent Infection is lesse vehement and contagious then in a thin and subtle Aire whether that thinnesse of the Aire proceed from the heat of the Sunne or from the North Wind and cold Therefore at Paris where naturally and also through the aboundance of filth that is about the Citie the Aire is darke and grosse the pestilent Infection is lesse fierce and contagious then it is in Prouince for the subtletie of the Aire stimulates or helps forward the Plague But this Disease is mortall and pernitious wheresoeuer it be because it suddainly assaulteth the Heart which is the Mansion or as it were the Fortresse or Castle of Life but commonly not before the signes and tokens of it appeare on the Body and yet you shall scarce find any Man that thinketh of calling the Physitian to helpe to preserue him from so great danger before the signes thereof be euident to be seene and felt but then the Heart is assaulted And when the Heart is so assaulted what hope of life is there or health to be looked for Therefore because Medicines come oft-times too late and this Malady is as it were a suddaine and a winged Messenger of our death it commeth to passe that so many die thereof And moreouer because at the first suspition of this so dire and cruell a Disease the imagination and mind whose force in the diuersly stirring vp of the humours is great and almost incredible is so troubled with feare of imminent death and despaire of health that together with the perturbed humours all the strength and power of Nature falles and sinkes downe This you may perceiue and know by reason that the Keepers of such as are sicke and the Bearers which are not fearefull but verie confident although they doe all the basest offices which may be for the sicke are commonly not infected and seldome dye thereof if infected CHAP. XII Into what place the Patient ought to betake himselfe so soone as he finds himselfe infected WE haue said that the perpetuall and first originall of the
is aforesaid the Treacle and cordiall water formerly prescribed are verie profitable for this purpose Also the water following is greatly commended Take of Sorrell sixe handfuls of Rue one handfull drie them and macerate them in Vineger for the space of foure and twentie houres adding thereto foure ounces of Treacle make thereof a distillation in Balneo Mariae and let the distilled water be kept for your vse and so soone as the patient doth thinke himselfe to bee infected let him take foure ounces of that liquor then let him walk and sweat He must leaue sweating when he beginneth to waxe faint and weake or when the humor that runs down his bodie begins to waxe cold then his bodie must be wiped with warme clothes and dried The patient ought not to sweate with a full stomacke for so the heate is called away from performing the office of concoction also he must not sleepe when he is in his sweate lest the malignitie goe inwardly with the heate and spirits vnto the principall parts but if the patient be much enclined to sleepe he must be kept from it with hard rubbing and bands tyed about the extreame parts of his bodie and with much noise of those that are about him and let his friends comfort him with the good hope that they haue of his recouerie but if allthis will not keepe him from sleepee dissolue Castoreum in tart Vineger and Aqua vitae and let it be iniected into his nostrels and let him be kept continually waking the first day and on the second and third euen vnto the fourth that is to say vnto the perfect expulsion of the venom let him not sleep aboue three or foure houres on a day and night In the meane time let the Physition that shall bee present consider all things by his strength for it is to be feared that great watchings will dissolue the strength and make the patient weake you must not let him eate within three houres after his sweating in the meane season as his strength shall require let him take the rinde of a preserued Citron conserue of Roses bread toasted and steeped in wine the meate of a preserued Myrabolane or some such like thing CHAP. XVI Whether purging and bloud-letting be necessarie in the beginning of pestilent diseases SO soone as the heart is strengthened and corroberated with cordials Antidotes we must come vnto phlebotomie and purging As concerning bloud-letting in this case there is a great controuersie among Physitions Those that wish it to be vsed say or affirme that the pestilent Feauer doth infixe it selfe in the bloud and therein also the pestilent malignitie taketh its seate and therefore it will soone infect the other humors vnlesse that the bloud be euacuated and the infection that remaineth in the bloud be thereby taken away Contrariwise those that do allow phlebotomie in this case alledge that it often commeth to passe that the bloud is void of malignitie when the other humors are infected with the venemous contagion If any man require my iudgement in this doubtfull question I say that the Pestilence sometimes doth depend on the default of the ayre This default being drawn through the passages of the bodie doth at length pierce vnto the entrals as wee may vnderstand by the abscesses which breake out one while behinde the eares sometimes in the arme-holes and sometimes in the groines as the braine heart or liuer are infected And hereof also come Carbuncles and other collections of matter and eruptions which are seene in all parts of the bodie by reason that nature vsing the strength of the expulsiue facultie doth driue forth whatsoeuer is noisome or hurtfull Therefore if the Physition will follow this motion of nature he must neither purge nor let bloud lest that by a contrarie motion that is by drawing in from without the motion of nature which proceeds outwardly from within should be troubled So wee often see in those who are purged or let bloud for such Buboes as come through vnlawfull copulation that the matter is thereby made contumacious and by drawing it inwardly it speedily causeth the French Poxes Wherefore when Buboes Carbuncles and other pestilent eruptions appeare which come through the default of the ayre wee ought to abstaine from purging and phlebotomie but it is sufficient to forearme the heart inwardly and outwardly with Antidotes that are endewed with a proper vertue of resisting the poison For it is not to bee doubted but that when nature is debilitated with both kindes of euacuation and when the spirits together with the bloud are exhausted the venemous ayre will soone pierce and be receiued into the emptie bodie where it exerciseth its tyrannie to the vtter destruction thereof In the yeare of our Lord God 1565. in which yeare there was great mortalitie through out all France by reaso nof the Pestilence and pestilent diseases I earnestly and diligently enquired of all the Physitions and Chirurgians of all the Cities through whom King Charles the ninth passed in his progresse vnto Bayon what successe their patients had after they were letten bloud purged wherunto they all answerd alike that they had diligently obserued that all that were infected with the Pestilence and were letten bleede some good quantitie of bloud or had their bodies somewhat strongly purged thenceforwards waxed weaker and weaker and so at length died but others which were not let bloud nor purged but took cordial Antidotes inwardly and applied them outwardly for the most part escaped and recouered their health for that kinde of Pestilence tooke its originall of the primatiue and solitarie default of the ayre and not of the corruption of the humors The like euent was noted in the hoarsenesse that wee spake of before that is to say that the patients waxed worse and worse by purging and phlebotomie but yet I doe not disallow either of those remedies if there bee great fulnesse in the bodie especially in the beginning and if the matter haue a cruell violence whereof may be feared the breaking in vnto some noble part For we know that it is confirmed by Hippocrates that what disease soeuer is caused by repletion must bee cured by euacuation and that in diseases that are verie sharpe if the matter doe swell it ought to be remedied the same day for delay in such diseases is dangerous but such diseases are not caused or inflicted vpon mans bodie by reason or occasion of the Pestilence but of the diseased bodies and diseases themselues commixed together with the Pestilence therefore then peraduenture it is lawfull to purge strongly and to let a good quantitie of bloud lest that the pestilentvenome should take hold of the matter that is prepared and so infect it with a contagion whereby the pestilence taketh new and farre greater strength especially as Celsus admonisheth vs where he saith that By how much the sooner those sodaine inuasions do happen by so much the sooner remedies must bee vsed yea or rather rashly
Manie ancient Professors greatly commend Scabious ground or braied betweene two stones and mixed with old Hogges-grease the yelkes of egges and a little salt for it will cause suppuration in Carbuncles also an egge it selfe beeing mixed with Barly-meale and oyle of Violets doth mitigate paine and suppurate A Raddish roote cut in slices and so the slices laied one after one vnto a Carbuncle or pestilent tumor doth mightily draw out the poison The iuice of Colts foote doth extinguish the heate of Carbuncles the herbe called Diuels-bit being bruised worketh the like effect I haue often vsed the medicine following vnto the heate of Carbuncles with verie good successe it doth also asswage paine and cause suppuration Take of the soot scraped from a chimney foure ounces of common salte two ounces beate them into small powder adding thereto the yelkes of two egges and stirre them well together vntill it come to haue the consistence of a pultis and let it bee applied warme vnto the Carbuncle In the beginning the point or head of the Carbuncle must be burned if it be blacke by dropping thereinto scalding hot oyle or Aquafortis for by such a burning the venome is suffocated as touched by lightening and the paine is much lessened as I haue proued oftentimes neither is it to be feared lest that this burning should be too painfull for it toucheth nothing but the point of the carbuncle which by reason of the eschar that is there is voide of sense After this burning you must goe forward with the former described medicines vntill the eschar seemeth to separate it selfe from the flesh round about it which is a token of the patients recouery for it signifieth that nature is strong and able to resist the poison After the fall of the Eschar you must vse gentle mundificatiues as those which wee haue prescribed in a pestilent Bubo not omitting sometimes the vse of suppuratiue and mollifying medicines that while the grosse matter is cleansed that which is as yet rude may be brought to suppuration for then the indication is twofold the one to suppurate that which remaineth as yet crude and raw in the part and the other to cleanse that which remaineth concocted and perfectly digested in the vicer CHAP. XXVI How to cure Infants and Children taken with the Plague IF that it happen that sucking or weaned children be infected with the pestilence they must bee cured after another order then is yet described The Nurse of the sucking childe must gouerne her selfe so in dyet and the vse of medicines as shee were infected with the pestilence her selfe Her dyet consisteth in the vse of the six things not naturall Therefore let it bee moderate for the fruit or profit of that moderation in dyet cannot chuse but come vnto the nurses milke and so vnto the infant who liueth onely by the milke And the infant it selfe must keepe the same dyet as neere as he can in sleepe waking and expulsion or auoiding of superfluous humors and excrements of the body Let the nurse bee fed with those things that doe mitigate the violence of the feuerish heate as cooling brothes cooling herbs and meats of a moderate temperature shee must wholly abstaine from wine and annoint her nipples as often as shee giueth the infant sucke with water or iuice of sorrell tempered with sugar of roses But the infants heart must be fortified against the violence of the encreasing venom by giuing it one scruple of treacle in the nurses milke the broth of a pullet or some other cordiall water It is also very necessary to annoint the region of the heart the emunctories and both the wrests with the same medicine neither were it vnprofitable to smell often vnto Treacle dissolued in rose water vineger of roses and a little Aquavita that so nature may bee strengthened against the malignity of the venom When the children are weaned and somewhat well growne they may take medicines by the mouth for when they are able to concoct and turne into bloud meates that are more grosse and firme than milke they may easily actiuate a gentle medicine Therefore a potion must bee prepared for them of twelue graines of treacle dissolued with a little of the syrupe of succory in some cordiall water or the broth of a capon vnlesse that any had rather giue it with conserue of roses in forme of a bole but treacle must bee giuen to children in very small quantity for if it be taken in any large quantity there is great danger lest that by inflamming the humors it inferre a feuer Furthermore broth may bee prepared to bee taken often made of a capon seasoned with sorrell lettuce purslane and cooling seedes adding thereto bole armenicke and terrae sigillata of each one ounce being tyed in a ragge and sometimes pressed out from the decoction For bole armenicke whether it bee by its maruellous facultie of drying or by some hidden property hath this vertue that being drunken according as Galen witnesseth it cureth those that are infected with the pestilence if so bee that they may bee cured by physicke so that those that cannot bee cured with bole armenicke cannot be preserued by any other medicines But because the bodies of children are warme moist and vaporous they are easily deliuered of some portion of the venenate matter through the pores of the skinne by prouoking sweat with a decoction of parsly seedes prunes figs and the rootes of sorrell with a little of the powder of harts horne or Iuory But that the sweat may bee more aboundant and copious apply sponges dipped and pressed out in the decoction of sage rosemary lauender bayes chamomyle melilote and mallowes or else swines bladders halfe filled with the same decoction to the arme-holes and to the groines In the time that they sweate let their faces bee fanned to coole them Also let a nodule of Treacle dissolued in vineger and water of Roses bee applied to the nostrels but alwaies vse a moderation in sweating because that children are of a substance that is easie to bee dissipated and resolued so that oftentimes although they do not sweate yet they feele the commodities of sweating the matter of the venome beeing dissipated by the force of the heate through the pores of the skinne But in the sweating while the face is fanned and sweete and cordiall things applied to the nostrels nature must be recreated and strengthened which otherwise would bee debilitated through sweating that it may bee better able to expell the venome After that the sweat is wiped away it is verie profitable to take a potion of conserue of Roses with the pouder of an Harts horne or of Iuorie dissolued in the waters of Buglosse and Sorrell the better to coole and defend the heart If there appeare anie tumor vnder the arme-holes or in the groine let it be brought to maturation with a mollifying relaxing drawing and then with a suppuratiue fomentation or Cataplasme alwaies vsing and handling it as gently as you may considering the tender age of the infant If you haue neede to purge the patient the purgation following may be prescribed with great profite Take of Rubarbe in pouder one dramme infuse it in the watet of Carduus Benedictus with one scruple of Cinamon in the straining dissolue two drams of Diaratholicon of syrup of Roses laxatiue three drams make thereof a small potion This is the cure of the Pestilence and of the pestilent Feuer as farre as I could learne from the most learned Physitions and haue obserued my selfe by manifold experience by the grace and permission of God of whom alone as the author of all good things that mortall men enioy the true and certaine preseruatiues against the Pestilence are to bee desired and hoped for FINIS