A MOCHE PROFITABLE TREATISE AGAINST THE pestilence, translated into ēglyshe by Thomas Paynel Chanon of Martin Abbey. 1534.
REMEDY AGAYNST THE PESTILENCE.
FOr the conseruatyon of these that are in helth, & reformation and amendmente of these that are sicke. I intende vnder ye correction of my auncyente maysters and doctours, to write and declare certayne profitable thynges for the cō mon weale, and agaynst pestilence, the which dothe very often inuade, trouble, & vex mens bodys. And agaynst these thinges after my poore lernynge, I wyll ordinatly wryte, as here after dothe folowe.
Of the pronosticate sygnes of pestilence. cap .i.
THe signes, by the which a mā may pronosticate, speke, and knowe the pestilence, are after this worke but .vii.
The fyrste is, whan that in the selfe same sū mers 1 day, the wynde doth often tymes vary and chaunge: as when that in the mornynge hit appereth rayny, and afterwardes obscure and cloudy, and that doth principally procede [Page] and come of the south wynde.
2 ¶The seconde is, whan that in summer the dais do often tymes apere obscure and dark, and as thoughe hit wolde rayne, and yet hit rayneth not at all: the whiche disposition is to be feared: and if the wether do contynewe and endure longe so, it is a token of greatte pestylence.
3 ¶The third is, whan that in summer we do see vpon the erthe great abundaunce of flies: the whiche thynge betoknythe that the aire is infected.
4 ¶The fourthe is, whan that the starres do apere and seme to fall, and departe fro their places: the whiche thinge dothe also signifie, that the aire is infectyd & charged with infectyd and poyson vapours.
5 ¶The fyfte is, whan that it semethe to man that the cometes or blasynge starres do flee abrode. For as the philosopher dothe wryte in his Metero. the aperyng of a comete doth betokyn and bryng maruaylous sygnes: for why suche apperance dothe often tymes signifie furious deathe, rape, distruction, & spoysynge of cities and townes, danger of the see, darknes of the sonne, change of kyngdomes, & afflictiō of the people by pestilēce & famine.
6 ¶The syxte is, when there is moche lyghtenynge procedynge out of the southe parte.
[Page]¶The seuenth is, whan there bloweth moch 7 wynde from the southe parte: the whiche is very noyfull and greuous to the people: in so moche, that none other medycyne can helpe and succour them, but onely the mercie of almyghtye god.
The causes of pestilence. cap .ii.
THe causes of pestylence are diuyded in thre. For at somtymes they procede fro beneth, and somtyme fro aboue, & other while from both. Pestilence may be caused & come from beneth, whan there is nyghe vnto our chambre some priuey, or stynkynge sinke, by the whiche the ayer may be corrupte and infectyd: & this pestilence is called a particuler pestilence: the which maye chaunce & happen dayly. And of this procedethe a pestilent feuer, by the which many a phisition is deceyuyd, not knowynge the sayde feuer to be pestiferous. And sumtymes such pestilence chancethe by the corruption of deed carreyne, the whiche dothe fortune oftentymes in corrupte places. This pestilēce cometh very often fro aboue, and that through the vertue and operation of the celestiall bodies, by the whiche the lyuely spirite of mā is corruptyd. Of this speaketh Auicenna in his fourth boke saying, [Page] By the ayre and influence of the celestiall bodies aboue, the bodies benethe ar oftentymes and very sone corrupted and infectyd. For the celestiall impression doth corrupt the aire, and by suche corruption the lyuely spirite of man is corrupted aswell by the inferior rote as by the superior: that is to saye, that the pestilence is caused as welle by the inferiour bodyes, as by the superiour impression, whan the ayre is through deed careyn so corrupted that it infecteth man, and ingendrethe siknes, as feuers and impostumes. For why, the ayre is then open, whose attraction is often venemons and corrupte, the whiche is ryght greuous for the harte, and nature is there with diuers maners of wayes feblysshed and sore greued.
¶Apon these thynges before declared, two questions may be asked. Fyrst why that some do die and peryshe of the foresayde sycknesse, and some not: and beynge in the sayde same citie or howse, why one dothe dye, and a nother dyeth not?
Vnto this fyrst question I aunswere and say, that hit maye so fortune and chaunce by two diuers reasones. And fyrste bycause that the action and operation of the bodis aboue, haue more respecte to one place then to a nother.
The second reason and cause commeth of the [Page] patient. For seinge it is so, that euery man is not of lyke complection, one may be disposed to that infirmitie and sicknes, wherevnto an other is nothynge inclined or dysposed. And ye shall note, that all suche as be disposed to the pestilences, are of a whotte complection, and their conduites are wyde and large, their poores open, and replenisshed with dyuers humours.
¶Item all suche bodyes as be moche resoluyd, as these that do often tymes companye with women, and these that vse moche baynynge, and these whiche by great labour and vehement angre are chased and hotte: al such are moche more disposed to haue the pestylence than any other.
¶The seconde question is, whether such pestilente sicknes be contagious or no.
¶To this question I aunswere and say, that suche pestylente sicknes is contagious. For from suche infected bodies commethe infectious and venemous fumes and vapours, the whiche do infecte and corrupte the aire. And therfore it is very necessarie to auoyde and eschewe all suche as be infected with any suche infirmite: and also in tyme of pestilence to auoyde greate multitude and congregation of people. For in a greatte multytude maye be some one infectyd, the which may infecte many [Page] other. And therfore the wyse and experte phisitions, whan they vyset any suche infecte persones, stand farre from them, turnynge & holdyng their facys toward the dore, or some other wyndowe: and so shulde their seruantes do, and also they that kepe them.
¶Ye shall also note, that yt is very good & profitable to recouer helthe, al sumtymes to change chambers, and to open the north and este wyndowes of the sickemās chambre, and to kepe the southe wyndowes therof close & shytte. For the southe wynde hathe two causes of infection and putrifaction.
¶The fyrst is, that it feblyssheth as well the hole and sounde bodies, as the sycke.
¶Secondely it is written in the thirde boke of the Aphorismie, that it inflatethe and can sethe a man to swell, and noyeth the hering, and doth hurte the harte. For it dothe open the pipes and conduites of man, and persethe vnto the harte. And therfore it is very conueniente and mete for a hole man, in tyme of pestilence, and whan the southe wynde dothe blowe, to kepe hym selfe within: or elles (if a man muste nedes go forth) that he departe not from his house, tyll the sonne be hotte, and of a good heyghte.
¶The remedies agaynst the forsayd pestilence. Cap .iii.
[Page]FOr asmoche as we haue sene the causes of the pestilence, it is nowe conuenient to declare certayn remedies to withstāde it. Wherfore ye shall note after the mynde of the supernatural phisition, spekyng by the mouth of Iheremie, that if a man wyll be surely cured, and haue a sure medecine, he muste leaue his synnes, and confesse hym selfe with humilitie and greate repentaunce. For in tyme of sykenes confession and penaunce shulde be preferred aboue al other medecines. But to kepe and conserue the bodye, the moste soueraynste thynge is to auoyde and fle suche places and persones as be infected. But yet for as moch as there be many that can not conuenientely, nor with their ease or profyte chaunge their habitation, I wolde counseyll them as moche as shalbe possible, to eschewe and fle al suche thynges as maye ingendre or cause putrifaction, and to absteyne from moche bodely frequentation and companye of women.
¶Also in suche daungerous season and tyme of sicknes, we shulde auoyde the southe windes, for naturally they cause moche infection and daungerous putrifaction. And therfore we haue tolde you before, that the south windowes of your house shuld be shut, til it were prime, and that they shuld be opē northward. ¶Also we haue sayde, that all maner of infection [Page] and stynch shuld be anoyded and fled, as the infection of stables, pryueys, and aboue all other the infection of deed carein, and of longe standynge waters, the infection of olde sinkes, that cause such corruptions, that the inhabitours of suche houses do die, theyr neyghbours continuyng in helth & prosperite. ¶In lyke wyse we shulde flee those places, where that putrified ware is solde: for suche putrified thynges do ingender infection and sauers moch contrary vnto helthe. For as aromatike swete odours and sauours do comforte the harte, so dothe yll and infectious sauours greue the harte, and cause it to be weke and feble, wherfore it is ryghte necessary to withstande suche infections, and to beware, that they doo not perce and entre in to oure chambers, and that we haue good and clere fiers, and that these herbes here folowynge be not to seke, Bayberies, Ieneper, Vbery, Organy, wormwod, Isope, Rue, Muggeworte, and specially this wodde Aloes, the which is very dere, whose fumygations must be receyuyd by the mouthe and nose, for they do strengthe, fortifie, and comforte the hart, and the interyour parties of man.
¶Also ye muste eschewe and fle the excesse of meates and drynkes: for suche repletion dothe cause and ingender ylle humours, the [Page] which are easely and sone corrupted & infectid. And therfore Aui. saith in his .iiii. canon, that all such as vse great repletion, do abrige & shorten their daies & the ende of their lyfe. ¶In lyke wise a man shulde not bayne nor wasshe him amonge moche company, for the breth of one infectid persō may infect a hole. ¶Farthermore all maner of multitude and congregation of people is to be sled and auoidyd. But for asmoche as it is very harde for many a man to auoyde and absteyne fro company, let all suche receyue and vse these medicines that here after folowe.
¶In the mornyng at your vprysyng, ye shal eate a lyttell Rue well wette & depte in clere water, with a lytel salte, and one or two walnuttes well pylde. If so be yt ye can not haue these forsaid thinges, take a tofte wette in vineger, & specially whā the wether is clowdy. ¶Also ye muste se and take hede, that your house be ouer sprincled with vineger of losis, & that in somer it be strewde with vine leues. ¶Item it is very good for a man to washe his handes in water & vinegre, and than to smell to his handes.
¶Also it is helthsome to smel to suche thinges, as be sharpe & tarte, wherof I had experience & prouyd it my selfe at Moūtpeller. For through pouertie I was inforced & constraynyd [Page] to be amonge theym, and to goo frome howse to howse to helpe the sycke and dysesyd, and soo toke a sponge in my hande deped and wel wet in vinegre, or elles a toste, the whiche I helde vnto my mouth. For all that is sharpe and sower, doth replenyshe the pypes and conduites of the body, and lettethe the ylle ayre to entre into the bodye, and soo it is excluded.
The confortation of the harte and other principall membres of man. Capi .iiii.
THe thinges which do comfort the hart, are Saffron, Cherfile, and plantayne, the whiche do solide and confirme the interiour spirites.
¶Also ye shall vnderstande, that the eies throughe the infection of the ayre doo waxe obscure and dimme, except a man carie about hym these foresayde thynges. It is a ryghte holsome thyng for a mā to washe his hādes, eies, & his mouth with rose water and wine. But if all these forsayde thynges can not be had, take aysel: for so ye maye bothe dwelle and haūte the more surely amōge moch companye: the whiche medicine is laxatyue, and moche profytable for the bellye. Or elles ye [Page] may take pylles named pestilētions, the whiche ye shall fynde at the potycaris. And as considering metes, I say that Triacle is very good: and therfore it is not yl to vse therof twyse a daye the quantitie of .ii. sponfulles wel mynglyd with clere wyne, or rose water, or ale. And after it is well myngled & beten together, and that ye haue receyued it, ye must absteyne from all other meates til it be none. ¶Also it shal be very good ons in the day to eate good meates, and moderately to drynke good wyne, or elles it shuld putrifie and corrupt the humours. Men must beware of hot meates, as pepper, and garlyke, notwithstandynge that the pepper dothe purge the braine of fleme, and other principall members of al superfluous and vicious humours, nor that is not throughe his heate, the which hete ingendrethe putrifaction, whose bytternes plesythe me moche more than his sauour.
¶And garlyke in lyke maner, dothe purge & auoyde fleme, prouokyng mans appetite, and chaceth awaye yll ayers. Yet for as moche as it troublythe the eies, and dothe hete their heades that do moche vse it, I thynke it therfore nother holsome, nor the vse therof very plesant. For the pestilence throughe naturall heate, is often tymes incresyd and augmentyd. All meates of lyght digestion are moste [Page] holsome. And it is good to vse boylde meate in the mornynge, and roste at nyghte. Suppynges and cawdelles, if they be tarte and sharpe, aare profitable. For in tyme of pestylence suche egre and sower meates are better for mans body, then any other medicine.
¶Item all fruites at hurtful, except they be sowre & sharpe, as cheris, poumgarnades, or in stede and place of a medicine, a littel pece of a naple, or of a pere. For all maner of fruite ingender putrification. The most profitablest spice in tyme of pestilence are these, Cmamum, Gynger, Comyn, Nutmegges, and Saffron: of the whiche men do make sawses for ryche men: But if so be pouertie wyl not suffre you to bye these foresayd spyces, make your sauce of rue, sage, walnuttes, and parcely, depte in vineger. Yf so be they be of meane estate, let them take for their sawce saffron and cummyne, the which muste be put in vinegre.
This sawce is a very good sawce auoydyng all corruption, and with all this a man muste be merye and nothynge melaneolyous: For that is cause of good helthe. And therfore in tyme of pestilence a manne shoulde not feare to dye, but rather truste and hope to lyue longe.
Of lettynge of bludde.
[Page]FLeubothomye, that is lettynge of blud, maye be done and vsed ones in a monthe, if it soo be that iorneinge or no nother thynge do lette it: as in pylgrymmes, and other feble personnes, or they that are laxatiue. And whether that this fleubothomia be in the righte Basilyke, or in the lyste it muste be done fastynge. And after the incisyon, he that is lette bloudde muste be merye, and vse moderatelye good wyne, or elles good ale, and kepe hym selfe frome slepe that daye that his basilyke is cut.
And if a manne fele hym selfe to be greuyd with any impostume, he muste auoyde slepe, And seke for good merye companye, or elles walke: for by slepe the interyour and inward heate drawethe the poyson so vnto the harte and the other pryncypalle members of the bodye, that hardly a man shall eyther by herbes, or any other medycine restore the bodye to his fyrste condytyon and estate agayne, the whiche thynge shoulde not chaunce, yf he wolde eschewe slepe. And therfore slepe muste be differred for a whyle by walkynge in to some plesaunte feldes or gardeynes.
After suche walkynge a manne maye slepe the space of a good houre. And to this purpose Auicen saythe, that whanne we purpose to slepe, we shulde before drynke some [Page] good wyne, or elles some other good drynkes for by slepe a man gethereth yl humours, the whiche good drynke do expell.
¶Here it maye be inquired, howe one shulde know, when he is smitten with the pestilence, where to I aunsere and say, that who so euer be infected, that daye he shall eate very lyttel meate: for he is fulle of ylle humours, and a none after he hathe eaten, he shall desyre to slepe, and vnder a spyce of colde, he shall fele a vehemente heate, in the fore parte of his hedde. The whiche thynge maye be auoyded and holpen by meane mouinge of him selfe, or walkynge. For the pondorosite of the body, wyll not suffre hym to walke, or to ryde moche at that tyme: for he shall couette to slepe at euery howre. For the poyson that is in his body dothe so trouble the lyuely spirites, yt he shall require nothing els but slepe. ¶And by these foresayd signes a manne shal welle perceyue whan he is infectyd with the sycknes. And he that wyll not beleue it, may tarye the space of halfe a day, and knowe it to be so by experience. For he shall fele the sores vnder his armes, or about his eres, his neck. and shulders, or elles aboue his reynes.
Therfore the moste souereynste remedy is in tyme of pestilence, to fle and refrayne slepe.
For whan the spirites of man be at reste, the [Page] venym and poyson dothe extende and sprede it selfe throughout all the bodye: of the whiche thynge I haue had experience and prouyd it by my selfe. And therfore whan any man doth fele hym selfe smytten and infectid with the pestilence, he shulde be let bloud in greate quantite. For the euacuation of a lyttell blud dothe onely moue and styrre the venym. And who so wyll not let hym selfe bludde by many veynes, muste be let bloudde by one, and that abundauntly. But whether he that is let bloudde be sycke or hole, he muste nedes (for the reasones afore rehersyd) eschewe and auoyde slepe. And if he haue a sore, he muste be let bloudde vpon he selfe same side that he hath his sore, and not vpon the contrary side, for suche causes as here after shall folowe. And therfore it the sore be vpon the ryghte arme, he muste be let blud vpon the veyne in the myddes of the selfe same arme: and lyke wyse it muste be done, if it be vppon the lefte arme. And if the postume be benethe towarde the priuey membres, he muste be lette bludde on the lefte syde, towarde his great too: But if the sore be in the necke, he muste be let blud in the hande vpon the selfe same syde, nyghe vnto the thumme, and nyghe vnto the lyttell fynger. But if the sore do appere nyghe vnto the eares of Cephalica, then he muste be lette [Page] blud vpon that syde where he dothe fele his grefe in the vaine yt is betwyxt the thūme and the next fynger, whiche is called Basilica. If ye sore do appere vpon the shulders, he muste be let blud with vētosities, & first in the veyn called mediane. If it appere on the backe, he must be let blud in the veine called perdica magna. And let al these thynges be done, yf the pacient slepte not before he knewe of the sore, for yf he fele hit after that he hathe slepte, then he must be let bloudde cleane contrary: that is to saye, yf the sore do appere vpon the ryghte arme, he muste be let bloudde vppon the lefte arme, in the veyne of the lyuer, or in the veyn named Basilica mediana. And yf hyt appere vppon the lefte arme, ye muste do as ye dyd when it appered vpon the ryghte arme, and so consequently where so euer it doth appere.
¶If the patient after suche diminution of bloudde be weyke and seble, then he maye slepe and take his rest at after none: for vntill it be none he must nedes be in continuall and moderate motion. And if the sore do increce, yet a man shulde not feare it, for the soore is the cause of helthe. And to rype and to breake the sore, make this medicyne that here after folowethe.
¶Bruse the leaues of Ellerne with a lytle mustarde, and make a plaster therof, to laye [Page] vpon the sore. Some Surgiens wyll put triacle vnto it, the whiche thynge in no maner of wyse I wolde ye shulde do: for the nature of triacle, is to repell poyson, and therfore it were better that the paciente shulde drinke it to auoyde out the poyson.
¶Another medicine to ripe a pestilence sore. Take an herbe called herbaiouis, pellytory, plantayne, and a lyttellrye, and stampe them together, vntyll there come water from it: after that wete it in womans mylke, & drinke thereof fastinge, & before ye go to your reste: for so it shall haue the better operation.
¶Also he that hath a soore, may take hasell nuttes, fygges, and rue, and make a playster to lay to his sore.
¶To knowe vrines.
IF ye wyll knowe vrines, ye muste fyrste of all marke, whether the vrine be scummye, ye shall see a cercle aboute it, and therby ye shall knowe, that there are greatte ventosyties in the guttes and reygnes.
¶Whan ye se that the vrine is as thoughe it were full of bloudde, it betokenethe grefe & peyne throughe out all the body, and yf it be in the botum of the water, yt sygnyfiethe peyne in the reygnes.
[Page]¶Whan ye se that there is moche vryne, and that it is as clere as water, it signifieth the virginitie of a mayde.
¶Whan ye se in any vryne lytle bryghte and flamynge sparcles, as appere in the sonne beames, in a man it signifieth yll humours: in a woman it betokeneth that she is with chylde, and yf those sparcles be redde, it is a shrewde token.
¶Whan ye se the vryne redde, and in colour lyke vnto wyne, & as there were smal bubles in the botome, it signifieth yt the patient dothe suffre great peyne through out all his body. ¶Whan ye se the vryne discoloured, & darke in the myddes, it signifieth that the pacient is full of fleme, but yet without any feuer: and that he hath a swellyng in the belye, and that he is peyned in the raynes, in the syde, and in the heed. And if it be a womans water, she is peyned in the nauyll, in the raynes, and in her knees, and that the suffreth colde in her handes, and in her feete.
¶To all suche persones, ye may gyue good stronge wyne, well mengled with hoote water: in the whiche water ye muste put sodden sage, wherof ye muste gyue them euery mornyng halfe a noūce. Also ye must make them a bathe of Peny reall, Camamyll, and baye leues: and whether it be men or women, they [Page] must be therin a longe season, and anoynte theyr raynes & theyr bellyes with the same, and with oyle of bayes.
¶A remedy for the frenche pockes.
I Fynde that this sickenes began in the yere of the creation of the worlde .MM.ccccxxxvi. And nowe I say, that the infortunate cōiūction of Saturne and Mars (in the whiche this disease had his begynnynge and course) the coniunction & yll respect of those planets was the begynnynge therof. In the yere a .M.cccc.xcvi. re .vi. of Ianuer, in the thirde face called Piscis: the whiche infortune and yll respecte of the forsayde planettes impressyd in mannes body, disposed to corruption, this forsayde disease. For Saturne is the cause of the passion and peynefulnes of the legges and other membres: and Mars is the cause of the ingendryng therof, as it is noted in the boke intitled Initium sapientie. cap .4. of the nature and sygnification of planets. And therfore I saye, that the dede of the forsayde cōiunction, is the cause of this sikenes: the whiche coniunction is paste, and shall come no more. For in the yere .M.cccc. xc.vii. the forsayde planettes dyd holly conioyne them selfe all in theyr contrarye signe. [Page] And therfore if any mā chaūce to be infected agayne with this syckenes, it is not by the influence of any constellation, nor by the influence of any yll respecte of the forsayde coniūction: but bicause it is of his propre nature very contagious. And therfore yet suche as kepe good dyet, may be sone eased.
¶This malady is cronique, longe sence, and extendyd through the nature of Saturne, whose scabbes, pusshes, and inwarde & outward goutes, whiche ar of ye nature of Mars shalbe shortely in Aries. But as touching this matter, ther are foure thynges to be cōsiderid. ¶Fyrst that they, which be infected with this sycknes, must vse no great abstinēce in meates nor drynkes. For abstinence causethe greate debilitie of nature, & feblenes of body. They must ete suche meates as be light of digestion, and drinke swete wynes with rayne water.
¶Secondarily they must be purged ones or twyse in the weke with pylles conuenient and mete to purge the heed: bicause that this malady, whiche is of Saturnus, procedeth from the heed. ¶Thyrdly to remoue this sycknes and the peynes therof, ye muste anoynte hym with oyle made of swete almandes, and with terpentine: the whiche two must be mengled well together. ¶Fourthly he muste drynke euery mornynge womans mylke, and sucke it [Page] from the dugge, for that is most conuenient: or els he must take asses or gotes mylke, and that the forsayd bestes be norished after the vse and forme of phisicke. The maner of receyuynge of this mylke, is by the dugge: and the cause is this. In this sickenes there are thre thinges, sores, bledyng, and consumtion. Vlceration must be healed, bledynge must be mundified, & consūption recouered & restored. ¶There is a medicine, ī the whiche are these thre, that is mylke, the whiche naturally doth clense, the chese doth fasten, & the butter dothe nouryshe, and restore the forsayde consolidation. And therfore I saye, that who so wyll vse this thynge euery mornyng fastyng, shall by the grace of god recouer his helthe, and so I praye god he may.
To the reder.
¶It may be, that this remedy for the frēche pockes before wryten, was at the begynnyng the beste that men had by experience proued: but I thynke it is nothyng nowe comparable to that that Hutten wryteth de ligno guaiaco, yet not withstandynge we haue put it to, that men may se what thynges are good, if the other coulde not be had.