perswade them to the submitting thereto and have not in my Practise been unfortunate therein but have seen Diseases that have been exasperated by other Medicines beyond expectation cured thereby and do think it most commonly so excellent a remedy that many Patients admitting thereof would much shorten the time and lessen the cost and trouble of their Sickness and not stand-in need of one quarter of those Medicines and Antidotes those Preparatives and Corroboratives those Infusions and Decoctions those Pills and Potions Purges and Vomits Cordials and Bolus Juleps and Emulsions Extracts and Juices Waters and Spirits Salts and Oils Syrups and Conserves Electuaries and Powders Plaisters and Ointments Blisters and Glisters they are made to take and though there be many Medicines that will purge Flegme Choler and Melancholy yet none are yet known that will safely purge bloud or lessen it yet I cannot in this case of Preservation from the Pestilence advise any one to open a Vein but rather disswade them from it And because it may take better from another of more authority than my self I have gotten Iacob Sylvius in his Book of the Blague to deliver his opinion in plain English As for Blood-letting saith he it is no way profitable for the preventing of this Disease because the bloud being diminished the body is made more open and lyable to external injuries and the strength decayes by the loss of blood the food and treasure of life Of the same mind also is the most excellent Physitian Sennertus who though in the cure of most other Diseases he begins with Phlebotomy yet in this forbids it and the most learned Riverius is of opinion that bleeding causeth one to be infected the more easily as also to escape the more hardly it being in this venemous Disease as in those that have taken poyson who by bleeding draw the poyson inward and very difficulty are recovered and therefore upon the very suspition of being poyson'd most skilful Physitians abstain from letting blood Nevertheless they conclude that if there be any notable fulness of blood or necessary evacuation suppressed a vein may be opened upon 〈◊〉 account and then very sparingly but not in reference to the Pestilence And as to the present time of the year Galen forbids to let bloud in a hot and dry season of the Air. Of Purging and Vomiting Although as Hyppocrates saith in his Aphorismes That Those which are of sound and perfect health do quickly faint and grievously endure a purging 〈…〉 nor superfluous humor to draw out and work upon doth first dissipate the Spirits and then dissolves those parts of the body which are humid and moist and afterwards corrupts those which are solid and although as Crato saith there be no purging or vomiting Medicines which are primarily and directly opposite to the venom of the Plague yet because foul bodies are more subject to Infection than those which are pure and clean and the humours they abound with may disturb Nature and interpose themselves and take off and dull the Operation of any Cordials or Antidotes and being agitated by the Disease might flow and settle to some noble part and bring the party into a most grievous Fever Frenzy or some other Inflamation whereby he may be endangered as much as by the Plague There have been several purging medicines directed by Physitians and I shall prescribe these The Pills of Ruffus otherwise called the Common or Pestilential Pills are very excellent you may take of them once or twice a week when you go to bed the dose of them is half a dram for an ordinary constitution or a whole dram for a strong man You may have them at any Apothecaries or else make such like yourself Take fine Aloes two ounces fine Myrrhe one ounce English Saffron half an ounce make them into powder and with Venice Turpentine make them into pills and take half a dram or a whole dram as aforesaid The Aloes clears the Stomach from bad humors and the belly from worms the Myrrhe preserves the body from Putrefaction the Saffron cheers the Spirits and the Turpentine is good against the Pestilence Or else take this Dissolve an ounce and a half of Manna in six ounces or a little draught of spring water and one spoonful of vinegar warmed together on the fire then strain it and take an ounce of Venice Turpentine and put to it the yolke of a new laid egge and stir it about and mixe it and it will look like cream then by little and little put to it the liquor being first quite cold wherein the Manna was dissolved and stir it about and drink it up and keep warm ordering your self as is usual in other purges or vomits when it works upwards you may take posset drink and downwards broth If it had a pleasant taste those that know the vertue of it would never take any other medicine It is strong enough for any of the strongest constitution and for those that are weaker six drams or half an ounce of Turpentine is dose enough Women with child may use this Infuse a dram of Rubarb slieed six hours in six ounces or a little draught of Endive or Succory-water or Spring-water then strain it and put to the liquor one ounce or else two ounces of Manna and dissolve it over the fire and strain it and drink it up Children may take an ounce or two ounces or half an ounce of Manna dissolved in Succory of Endive-water or in Spring-water or Barly-water or Broth or Posset-drink But beware of strong purges and vomits which will sooner bring the Plague upon you than preserve you against it especially at this time when it is more probable that the Sickness is occasioned by the Corruption of the air than by the putrefaction of humors there having been no scarcity of provision whereby the poorer sort might have been necessitated to feed on unwholsome diet and therefore no necessity of taking any purging Physick I remember about four years since many were sick of a malignant Fever and the discontented party did attribute the cause to the keeping of Lent and eating of Fish what would they have said now if Lent had been strictly observed Of Sweating As purging vomiting and bleeding do draw in the humors and vapours from the circumference and outside of the body to the center and inside of the heart so medicines that cause Sweat expel them from the heart to the outside of the body and rarifie those humours into light and thin vapours which turn into a watery sweat as soon as they come out of the skin into the air and thereby drive out those humors and vapours which breed the Pestilence For which purpose it would not be inconvenient to take one or two drams of London or Venice-Treacle or of Mithridate or Diascordium or Confection of Iacynth according to the age or strength of the party or one dram of Electuary de Ov◠in White-wine Vinegar or a draught of Posset-drink made of
Lignum Aloes It makes a Soveraign Balsom of the most precious Blood of the Son of God that Incomparable and Unparalelled Physician who died himself to save his Patients life Saint Paul calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Shield of Faith which will defend you from the Arrow that flyeth by day which word signifieth also a Door and will keep out the Terror by Night and the Pestilence that walketh in Darkness and the Destruction that wasteth at Noon What shall I say more for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of Baruck and of Sampson and of Iepthah of David also and Samuel and of the Prophets who through Faith subdued Kingdoms wrought Righteousness obtained Promises stopped the Mouths of Lions quenched the Violence of Fire escaped the Edge of the Sword out of Weakness were made Strong waxed Valiant in Fight turn'd to Flight the Armies of the Aliens and raised the Dead to Life again Repentance purifieth the Soul of all corruption purgeth out the old Leaven and cleanseth the filth of Sin the smiting of the heart driveth away and the breaking of it will not let it hold Infection Poverty of Spirit makes it more couragious Sighs clear and cool the Ayre Tears are the best Aquae Vitae and a better Antidote than Aqua Theriacalis You have heard of the Patience of Iob why it was a plaister of Patience which cur'd him of all his sores Moses Rod when thrown down became a Serpent but patiently took up was but a Rod and have you not deserv'd to be corrected and to suffer much more than is laid upon you What is the shivering of a cold fit to the gnashing of Teeth What is a burning Fever to the Flames of Hell Fire To be shut up for a Moneth in your own Habitation or a Pest-House and there to be vexed with the Impertinencies of Nurses the Directions of Doctors and Operation of Chirurgeons for a few dayes in comparison of being imprisoned and tormented with the Devil and his Angels in the Lake of Fire and Brimstone for evermore Is not the loss of Gods Favour more than the lack of Trade or separation of Friends Is not the Worm of Conscience more painful than a Carbuncle Is not the Death of the Soul infinitely more grievous than the death of the Body Why doth the living man complain that suffereth for his sin Any thing on this side Hell is mercy Are you not kindly dealt with when in Justice you ought to lose your head and in Mercy you are censur'd onely to cut your hair The wise King Solomon was a great Favourite and might have obtained any request in the Court of Heaven yet when he petition'd concerning the Pestilence that might be sent by God among his People never intreats that Medicines might have their desired effect to preserve the healthy and restore the sick but passeth by the helps of Nature and speaks as if there were none to be had being consumed by Famine destroyed by Blasting corrupted by Mildew eaten by Locusts devoured by Catterpillars and spoiled by Enemies and puts all their hope and expectation of relief in the Supernatural Remedy of Prayer 1 Kings 8. 37. If there be Pestilence whatsoever plague whatsoever sickness there be what prayer and supplication soever be made by any man or by all thy People Israel which shall know every man the plague of his own heart and spread forth his hands toward this House then hear thou in Heaven and forgive and do to every man according to his wayes c. Prayers whether they be Gods heavenly and sudden Inspirations or our holy and premeditated desires are as so many Angels of intercourse descending and ascending between God and us and it is one of the greatest favours Mortality is capable of at all times and in all places and on all occasions to have free access to the Throne of Grace and make our wants known and be relieved for God being Universa Goodness and willing to communicate and diffuse the same unto his creatures how can we fail in having our petitions granted when we concur with him in desiring that help and pity wherewith his very Nature doth most delight Man was but a heap of dust till the breath of life was breath'd into him and then he became a living soul and Prayer will keep him a living soul from returning unto dust again Is wrath begun Prayer will make an Atonement Phineas prayed and the Plague was stayed It as it were dis-armes the Almighty and in some sort may be said to bind his hands It made him when angry to entreat Moses to let him alone It holds the drawn sword of the destroying Angel It is an Incense that being offer'd up with fervent zeal perfumes the air above all Arabian Odors or the Spice of India Hearty prayer availeth much and is the most effectual Cordial the best Preservative the most excellent Restorative the most soveraign Antedote the most powerful Amulet 'T is best to be used fasting in the morning and last at Night three times a day with Daniel seven times a day with David alwayes as Saint Paul directs As health is the salt of all earthly blessings without which they would be uncomfortable so Prayer seasoneth and exalteth the vertue of all Medicines nay 't is the Universal Medicine it cures all diseases and makes all work for the best and like the Philosophers Stone turns every thing nay the iron rods into gold and the dreadful marks and purples into Gods Tokens Secondly The Plague may be caused extraordinarily by the Devil That evil Spirit that by his temptations enticeth men to wickedness is most ready upon all occasions to reward them with punishment He that can poyson the minds of men by suggesting unto them most destructive and pestilent notions much more can poyson their bodies with pernicious diseases The Devil though fallen is an Angel and though he hath lost his happiness yet retains his power neither did his knowledge of Natural Causes and their Effects depart from him with his innocence He that being permitted to vex Iobs body with biles and sores that could drive Winds and Tempests together to beat down his house that could bring down Fire from Heaven to destroy his Cattel can alter the disposition and healthy Constitution of the Air whereof he is Prince and Ruler When Egypt was plagued God sent evil Angels among them and those Spirits that did corrupt the Water by turning it into Blood and poyson the Rivers with Froggs and the Cattel with Murrain may also corrupt the Air and Water and raise on mens bodies botches and boils and destroy them with the Pestilence Hitherto may be referred that Pestilence which in some Countries followeth upon the death and burial of certain Witches which though it may seem fabulous yet being related out of Hercules Saxonia by that most candid Author the Learned Sennertus whose honoured Name must never be mentioned by me without a particular respect and
operation there is in a few grains of Arsnick or other deadly poysons what dolorous effects and most grievous symptomes are caused by the biting of any venemous beast or stinging of such little creatures as Hornets Wasps and Bees that with their slender stings do make a wound so small that it is scarce discernable by the sharpest sight will soon be perswaded that a great force and efficacy of Contagion may be included in a small quantity of room and like Leaven a little whereof leaveneth the whole lump will soon dilate and spread it self throughout the whole Body and destroy the Vital Spirit This Infection is of a hot Nature that it may disperse 't is subtil and thin that it may enter 't is viscous and tenacious that it may stick and venemous and pernicious that it may destroy It is not conveyed after one manner sometimes it is communicated by breathing sometimes by the pores of the skin sometimes by sweat or in form of a vapour and divers other wayes but it is then most dangerous when it comes from those that are in a dying condition in whom Nature is overcome by the strength of the Disease sometimes it lies hid and as it were dormant and lurking for many dayes sometimes it quickly becomes rampant and suddenly discovers its devouring Nature sometimes a man may carry it about him in his apparel and not being infected himself may infect others Hitherto may be referred the Infection that is caused by Powders Ointments Mixtures and Compositions dispersed by mischievous persons whereby the Pestilence hath been strangely spread abroad and for which as several credible Histories report many of them being discovered have been deservedly executed And here a Question may be asked How it comes to pass that such mischievous persons escape themselves and whence it is that Nurses Searchers Buriers and such as minister about the Sick are free from Infection To which I answer that perhaps this may not be alwayes true the pitcher indeed goes often to the well but at last may come home broken There have been some Chyrurgeons that have had Plague sores some Nurses have died with their Patients nay have died when their Patients have recovered and there have been Bearers and Buriers that have stood in need of the same Office to be done for them which but very lately they did do for others Perhaps also many of these persons have formerly had the Plague and recovered being like some pieces that remain untoucht when most of the house hath been consumed with the fire or like some Souldiers that have escaped with life when most part of the whole Army hath been cut to pieces This their freedom from Infection cannot be said to proceed from better Antidotes which they take nor from healthier Constitutions that they are of nor better Diet and Order which they observe for many times such persons take little or nothing at all and are subject to several diseases which many others are free from and are often of disorderly and dissolute lives given to intemperance and excess of drink But it proceeds from an undaunted courage a bold ready and present mind not distracted with fear or terrified with any peril whence they adventure on and perform such actions as others having their minds distracted with danger and spirits dismayed and dissipated with fear could not undertake without the apparent hazard of their lives as we see some that slide on Ice that walk on Precipices that swim in deep waters that climb up tall trees that dance on high ropes do it without any great difficulty because undaunted whereas others that should attempt to do the same actions with fear would fail of their enterprise and break their necks Secondly It may arise from a Particular Constitution they have which is not easily subject to this Contagion Before any action can have its effect and make impression the subject must be first disposed thereunto and made capable thereof A Salamander is said to live in the flame though a flie is consumed therewith Gun-powder and Brimstone will take fire presently so doth not Chalk nor Clay It is from some particular Constitution that some persons can neither sing nor distinguish any tune neither care they for any Musick and yet others there be which are even ravisht with it I know one that playing at Gleek for more than he is willing to lose cannot reckon his game aright if he here one sing neither could he shake in the cold fit of an ague if he heard a merry tune on the bag-pipes his best remedy against any pain is to hear some pleasant harmony There are many fine dames that love to play with a Squirrel and carry it in their pockets and yet I know a Lady that will sound if she come neer one How many are delighted with the fragrant smell of a Damask Rose and yet it did blister a Ladies cheek when laid upon it though she was a-sleep There are some that will even sound and be very faint not only at the sight but even at the presence of a Cat though lockt up and concealed in a Chest and yet how many are there that love their melancholy company I have seen some that will put a Snake in their bosome and let it wind it self like a bracelet about their arm and yet there are others that will be put into strange fits and be extream sick at the sight of an Eel It is needless to tell how many hate Cheese and yet others think they have not din'd well without it Some persons there be which hardly any thing will make them sweat others that can hardly vomit some that nothing will purge some there are whom many drams of Scamony will not stir and yet twelve grains will purge others I know a Gentlewoman now living about sixty five years of age and very well that about five years ago could not be made to vomit with more than three ounces of the infusion of Crocus Metallorum taken three dayes together and yet would rid her stomach twice or thrice in a morning with drinking a draught of plain Ale neither could she be purg'd with twenty grains of Resin of Ialap and twelve of Gambugia and yet as much swell'd as one that had the Dropsie and withal so feeble that she could scarce hold a Card wherewith she delighted much to play and yet was contrary to the expectation of all her acquaintance perfectly cured by being about five and twenty times let blood and is now living and very healthy Also I know a Knight that will be as much purged with eating of one Egge as if he had taken a full dose of pills or a churlish potion Thirdly This their freedom from Infection may proceed from some Custome There have been some that by using themselves to the taking of venemous things and poyson have made it as familiar and innocent to themselves as ordinary nourishment There have been some that have eaten Spiders and Hemlock
for use Or else Take Tormentil and Celendine of each four ounces Scabius and Rew of each two handfuls Boil them in two quarts of White-wine Vinegar in an earthen glased vessel for a quarter of an hour and let it cool and bottle it up Note that the most compounded are the best Now take any of these Vinegars or else if you can get no other plain White-wine Vinegar twelve spoonfuls more or less but as much as you can well drink down and mixe with it two drams of London Treacle or Venice Treacle or Mithridate or Diascordium or Confection of Iacynth stir it about and drink it up and go to Bed and sweat Two drams of any of these is a sufficient ordinary dose or quantity for an ordinary person to take at once they that are stronger than ordinary may take more those that are weaker may take lesse If you cast or vomit it up take presently within a quarter of an hour another dose or quantity and if you cast or vomit up that also take another and less quantity for it may well be that your stomach being loaden with corrupt humors being a little assisted with the Medicine may rise up and strive to exclude them and that with fortunate success and hopes of future and more speedy recovery Remember that the saving of your life consists in sweating out the poyson of the Disease and therefore you must endeavour to sweat as long as possibly you can endure it whether it be three six or twelve hours the longer the better and avoid sleeping and let the sweat be wiped off with hot cloths All the time you sweat and afterwards you may sustain Nature and keep up your spirits by eating some preserv'd or candied Citron peel or candied Angelica stalks or preserv'd Raspices or Syrup of Citron or Clove-Gilly-flowers now and then drinking a spoonful or more of Vinegar or taking some posset-drink made with Vinegar you may afterwards eat some Harts-horn Gelly or drink some Almond Milk made with distill'd waters or Barley-water putting into it a few drops of Oyl of Vitriol to make it sharp Remember also that you drink not any liquor whatsoever unless you first make water though never so little and then you may drink without danger During the time of Sweating the Sick should be comforted with sweet perfumes and odors that refresh the spirits and some rose-Rose-water and Vinegar is convenient to be cast on a hot shovel or else sprinkled on a Napkin and laid neer his Nose Also whilest the Sick doth sweat it would be good to apply to the Navel a hot Loaf with a hole made in it and two drams of Treacle put therein that the bread may draw the venome Some apply to the heart the pith of a Manchet dipt in Vinegar and some apply onely a cloth dipt in Vinegar Some bruise radishes and lay them to the feet When you have done Sweating if you can be perswaded you are to forbear the changing of your Linnen but if you must needs change it as you tender and regard your life put on no fresh linnen though never so well dried and aired by the fire but put on some linnen that hath been worn by your self or some body else for if you put on fresh linnen whether it be by reason of the sope that hath some malignity in it or for some other cause it hath been often observed that the Sick have relaps'd into great anxiety and bad symptomes the forerunners of Death have quickly return'd upon them Some do highly commends this Take of Bezar-stone and Emerald powdered of each seven grains Iacynth powdered three grains It is best to put them in a spoonful of Vinegar and swallow it down and drink some more Vinegar after it Sennertus commends this Take Bezar-stone twelve grains the bone of a Staggs heart one scruple Emerald and Iacynth of each seven grains powder them very small and take them with Vinegar But because true Bezar-stone is hard to be gotten and there be those in the World that have done as great matters as counterfeit them that you cannot know the true from the false and because the fragments of those precious stones which be commonly sold are but the spare and crust of them I would be loath to venture my life on their operation neither do I perswade others to relie upon them The root of Virginia Snakeweed and Contrayerva are most excellent and you may take the weight of half a dram of each of them in powder or a dram of any one of them in powder in a spoonful of Vinegar drinking a draught of Vinegar after it For young children that can take nothing let them be wrapped in a cloth that hath been used before and dipped in Vinegar and put the child in the cloth so wet and let him sweat Elder persons may sweat the same way also being wrapped in a sheet dipt in Vinegar In the Works of several Physitians there is often mention of taking Vinegar as it were by the By in a small inconsiderable quantity not for its own sake but with other Medicines as if it were onely a thing to help them down the better and make them pallatable they will tell you that Vinegar is good with Cucumbers and gives a pleasing relish to a Sallet whereas in truth neither one nor the other are good but onely with Vinegar It is a thing which is not onely wholesome in it self but also makes other things wholsome and takes away their hurtfulnesse When you speak of this singular liquor away with cold commendations which argue rather a willingness to dispraise than a readiness to commend If it did whet ones wit as much as sharpen ones stomach there could nothing dull or flat be spoken of it It is Food and Physick Meat and Medicine Drink and Julep Cordial and Antidote Did you formerly taste it but as a common Sawce do you now eat it as a common Remedy When you are well 't is a Preservative from Sicknesse when you are sick 't is a Restorative to Health 'T is like Apparel which you put on not onely for comeliness to hide shame but also for warmth to keep out cold 'T is like the Swords which Gallants wear not onely for Ornament when they walk but also for defence to fright a Thief when they travail and slay an Enemy when they fight 'T is Relish for Sawce 't is Sawce for Meat 't is Medicine for Diseases 't is cordial for the heart not onely a Cordial for the Spirits but an Antidote against Poyson not onely an Antidote against Poyson but against the Plague the chief of poysons so Vinegar is the chief of Antidotes as the Sword is the King of Weapons If you look upon the Plague as caused by the Corruption of the Air you may take notice that the Air which deadeneth and sowreth other liquors doth not hurt Vinegar but rather exalt its vertue 'T is something to preserve it self but that 's not all its vertue