A Briefe treatise of the plague vvherein is shewed, the [brace] naturall cause of the plague, preseruations from the infection, way to cure the infected.

A Briefe treatise of the plague vvherein is shewed, the [brace] naturall cause of the plague, preseruations from the infection, way to cure the infected.

Table of contents

Title page

To the Reader.

¶Of the naturall causes of the infection of the aire, and of the plague.

Obseruations to be vsed, preseruing from the Plague.

Signes to know the infected.

The cure of the infected of the plague.

Preseruatiues against the Plague or Pestilence.

Another.

Another.

Another excellent preseruatiue.

Another preseruatiue by purging the blood.

A prooued Remedie for the plague.

Another for these that feele themselues infected.

A preseruatiue.

§

§

[Page]

A Briefe Treatise of the Plague VVherein is shewed, The

Naturall cause of the Plague.

Preseruations from the infection.

Way to cure the infected.

Newly corrected with new additions, and many approoued Remedies.

Printed at London by Valen [...]e Si [...]. 1603.

To the Reader.

[Page]

[Page]

GOD most merci [...]ly chastineth his Children for their sinnes when they forget him: sometime with warre, sometime with famine, and sometime with the pestilence and other diseases, that they might forsake their sinnes, and flee vnto him for help: but the wicked, to their vtter destruction.

Yet he neuer sendeth a plague or punishment but he continually preserueth some. Yea, and those al [...]o he preserueth by meanes. Therefore they worthily are consumed which neglect that lawfull meanes God hath appointed, euen as they were iustly drowned that would not enter Noahs ark. And Lots sonnes worthily consumed, because they would not forsake Sodome, and they iustly partakers of the plagues of Egypt which forsooke the land of Goshen, and their first borne deseruedly slaine, which marked not the postes of their dores with the blood of the Lambe. And were they not iustly scourged to death, which would not behold the Brazen Serpent Moses set vp?

Doth not the whole Historie of the Bible, both the old and new Testament comm [...]nd [...]nto vs the law [...]ull meanes whereby we are to be preserued from dangers.

Therfore they are greatly too blame that contemne the good meanes which God hath appointed for their safetie, and doe wilfully, rashly, and foolishly runne themselues into all kinde of dangers, saying, GOD is able to preserue them if it please him, themselues neither vsing the lawfull [Page] meanes God hath appointed, not yet eschewing the danger: which meanes according to the iudgement of the best Writers vpon this matter, thou shalt heere finde briefely, which I pray God may be profitable vnto thee, and that he will keepe vs from all plagues and dangers which wee haue iustly deserued. Val [...].

I. W.

¶Of the naturall causes of the infection of the aire, and of the plague.

[Page]

OF all the diseases whereunto the body of man is subiect, the Plague or Pestilence is the most terrible and fearefull, and most contagious, therefore we must séeke all meanes, both naturall and artificiall, to preserue our selues and families from it: therefore first we wil speake of the naturall causes of this infection.

There be two especiall causes of the Pestilence.

The first is, an infected, corrupted and putrified Ayre.

The second is, euill and corrupt hu [...] ingendred in the [...]y.

The aire is corrupted and infected diuerse wayes as Astronomers say, by the influences, aspects, coniunctions, and opposition of ill planets, the Eclipse of the Sunne and Moone, through the i [...]oderate heate of the aire, where the temperature of the aire is turned from his naturall state to excessiue heate and moisture, which is the worst temperament of the aire, [...] being drawne vp by the heate of the Sunne, remaining vnconsumed, doe rot, putrifie, and corrupt, and so with the veneme [...]he aire beco [...]eth corrupted and infected.

Also the ayre is often corrupted by the euaporation of dea [...] c [...]rcasses ly [...]g [...]ried, as it [...] in the [...]rres, [...] also by the euaporation of p [...]les, [...] marishes, stinking and noysome sinkes and kennells.

A man falleth into the Pestilence by disordering of himselfe, [...] in diet, or wi [...]h other exercises.

Therefore, during the time of [...] sickenesse [...] must haue a speciall regard, to kéep [...] himselfe from all [...], and [...] (to wit) from all excesse of meate, drinke, sweating, bathes, lechery, and all other things that open the pores of the body, and causeth the bad ayres to enter, which entering, inuenome the liuely spirits of man, and infect, and indanger the whole body.

And seeing it is euident, that the plague as pestilence is not [Page] caused, but through the breathing in of pestilent and corrupt ayre, there cannot be a more [...]a [...]e and present remedy to preserue one, then by [...]ying from that corrupt aire, there is no other meanes to [...] pestilent ayre, because, whether [...] we must draw in such ayre, vnlesse we get vs away into some other place where the ayre is not corrupted nor infected, but pure and good, neither must you returne [...] from that place [...].

Obseruations to be vsed, preseruing from the Plague.

BVt if vpon [...]rgent occasio [...] of bu [...]ne [...]e you may not [...] then haue a speciall care that the hou [...]e in which you must tarry, be kept clea [...] and [...], without [...] or [...]u [...]ishnesse, let the windowes be kept close, and [...] especially in clowdy and rainie wether, that the pestilent ayre enter not in, but if you will open them, doe it obout midday.

You must come abroade as seldome as you can, and not (if you may) except the element be cleare and bright, but before you come abroade, you must take [...] [...]e [...]icine, which is able to preserue you f [...]om infections, as the roote of Ang [...]ca, Pimper [...]ell, &c. chewes in the mouth. chewed in the mouth.

Also you must make [...]ires dayly in your house [...], [...] the corrupt ayre that is in the house, may be the better purged and [...] of the ayre.

Also if you Iuniper, Ta [...]is [...], Bay lea [...]s, Rosemary, and such like are very good to purge the house of [...]ll aires, and to [...] and from [...]pon it the p [...]er of Rosemary, Sage, Rew, Be [...]on [...]e, wormewood, Mai [...] ram, Orig [...]n, Iuniper berries, M [...]h, Frankensence and Ma [...]ke, Cipres [...]e barkes, Angeli [...] the r [...]ts or [...]ea [...]s, Lau [...]nder, [...] of Aloes, Gall [...] Mus [...]h [...]a, C [...]oues, any one of all these are very good to aire your house withall.

It is best in hote weather to corr [...] and puri [...] the aire with co [...] [...], as with [...]word: [...] leaues, and branches of Willowes, &c. and to sprinckle the [...]l [...]re [Page] with coldwater mixt with Viniger, Roses, or [...], &c.

It is very good when out goeth abroad to haue something in their hands to [...] to, the better to auoide those noysome [...] and filthy [...] which are in euery corner, therefore it is very good to carry in the hand a branch of Rew, Rosemary, Roses, or Camphir [...] and the smel of Viniger is very [...] something like this. Take of,

Lapdanum, three drachmes.

Storax calamintae, two drachmes.

of each a drachme.

Cinomon,

Cloues,

Nutmegs,

Wood of Aloes, a scruple.

Spiknard, halfe a scruple.

of each halfe a drachme.

Mirh,

Mastik,

Frankencense,

of each three graines.

Muske,

Amber.

Make them to powder and [...]earce them, and take [...] water, and Rose viniger, wherein [...] is dissolued, and so make it vp in a Pomander.

Séeing also, that gluttony, excesse, and drunkennesse, is at al times to be shunned, so at this time of infection is most dangerous, breeding the humors, and corrupting the body: Therfore they yt loue their health, let them vse temperance in theyr diet, and choose such meats as engender good blood, and bee not ready to putrifie and rot, but be of easie digestion, and eate with them sharpe sauces, as vinigere, or the iuyces of sharpe things, as veri [...]yce, iuyce of Citrons, Lemonds, Oringes, &c.

Also vse for pot-herbs, sage, or otherwise, Parcely, Maioram, Balme, Hysops, B [...]glose, Endine, Succorie, and Lettice.

Also hee must refraine from eating of much fruite, for it doth bréede corrupt blood, and if he eate any it must be [...].

Also hee must eate little garlik, onions, or [...], for these cause vnkinde heate.

Also suffer not thirst greatly, and when thou doest thirst, drinke but measurably, and that but smal and thinne drinke, or [Page] barly water, [...] with [...].

Ano [...]er special regard must be had in exercises, vbi, qu [...]od [...], & [...]. The place where, must be in a [...] and pure ayre, and [...] must [...]se them temperately and moderately, and [...] of violent exercises, as dancing, running, leaping: and wh [...]soeuer such like kinde of exercise that causeth after breathing in of Ayre, [...]e must refraine in the extreame heate of the day, and in places where is much con [...]urse of people.

As for his sleepe and [...], let them be meane and moderate, onely his sleepe must be sufficient to suffice Nature, and in a close Chamber, [...], and the windowes and doores, close shut, lest the ill ayre enter into it, and hée must haue regard that his sheetes be cleane and swéete [...]agges in chests where they kéepe linnen.

It is good also at night afore you goe in bed to ayre the chamber with a good fire, or with a cha [...]ng dish of coles, wherein it were good to [...]ro some powder of Rew, Sage, Be [...]onie, or of Iuniper and such like.

When you walke in the morning, first empty the body of all super [...]uities and excremen [...]s, and take heed: and beware the body, be not too [...] at any time. Therefore, if of thy selfe n [...] [...]rally at any time thou canst not voyde out excrements, thou shalt take [...]yther a potion of pils, or else a glister o [...] suppos [...]ry o [...] [...]: or el [...]e take of

Aloes epatick, two parts,

of each one part.

Amon [...]ia [...]m,

Mirrh.

With white wine or with the Water of scabious make pills of them, which minister daylie, if you will one scruple at a time.

These pils [...] most resist putrifaction, and haue a very great vertue against the infecting of the pestilent ayre.

Blood-letting also is very wholsome for yong folke, and such as [...] great store o [...] blood, for it doth much coole the state of the body, and bringeth it to a moderate heare, and letteth out the [Page] corrupt humors, which doe make the body more subi [...]ct to infection: bloud-letting is very necessary in the time of infection, and doth much profit, and preserue health.

Also it is very [...] to be too passionate or melancholy: for the passions of sadnesse, Anger, hatred, feare, great cares, and heauie thoughts and sighing, do much distemper the body and make it [...] to withstand the infection: but on the contrary it is very good to vse ioy and mirth with temperance.

Signes to know the infected.

HAuing before shewed the natural and original causes of the plague and pestilence, with the best meanes for the preseruation of a mans selfe from it, we wil proceed and shew, first the [...]gnes whereby a man may best iudge of himselfe, whether he be already infected, or not, and the meanes to cure the [...]ck.

As concerning the signes that declare one to be already infe [...], they are many.

First when the outward members are cold, and the inward parts burning hot, when there is a paine and heauinesse of the head, and a great inclination to [...]eepe. A wearines, heauines, and difficulty in breathing. A sadnesse and carefulnesse of the minde: a change of countenance, with a frowning looke of the eyes: losse of stomake and appetit [...]: immoderate thirst and often vomiting: a bitternesse and drienesse of the mouth: The Pulse frequent, smal and déepe, the vrine troublous, thicke, and stinking like beasts vrine.

The surest token of al to know the infected of the plague, is▪ if there doe arise and engender botches behind the eares, or vnder the armeholes, or about the share: or also if Carbuncles do arise in any member sodainely, for when they doe appeare they betoken strength of Nature: Which being strong and mighty, doth labour to driue the poyson out of the body, but if botches do not appeare, it is more perillous and daungerous: for it betokeneth that nature is weake and feeble, and not able to expell and driue out the venemous humors, and then you must haue respect to the signes before rehearsed.

[Page] Also [...] botches which do appeare, they do declare which members of the body be infected aboue any other, and doe [...]rust out veni [...]ous humors from them.

The infection of the plague entereth into a man in this [...].

In a [...] are three principall parts (that i [...]) the heart, lyuer, and armes, and each of the [...] hath his cleansing place: Therefore if they do appeare in the necke, they doe shew the braines to be chiefely vexed: if vnder the arme-holes, the heart, but if they appeare in the share, the lyuer is most infected.

For a man hauing taken same venome, it is mingled with the blood, and runnes to the heart, which is the chiefe parte of man: and the heart by kinde putteth the venome to his clensing place which is the arme-holes▪ and it being stopt, putteth to the next princip [...]ll part, that is the Liuer, and it passeth it to his cleansing place which is the Ihigh-holes or share: Likewise they b [...]ing stopt, passe it to the next principall place (that is) the armes, and to their clensing places which are vnder the eares, or vnder the throate, and they being stopped, suffer it not to passe out, th [...] it is [...] xii. houres before it rest in any place, and if it be [...] let out within the space of xxiiii. houres by bléeding, it castes a man into an ague, and maketh a bot [...] in one of the thrée places, or néere them.

The cure of the infected of the plague.

The best way to cure the plague is in this, when thou findest thy selfe to be infected, and féelest the bloud flickering, bleed in the first houre, or within sixe houres after drinck not, [...] tarry not aboue twelue houres from bleeding, for when thy bloud is so flickering, the venome is then mouing and not yet settled, and after it is to late: those that are fatte may be lette bl [...]d, or else not.

If the matter be gathered vnder the armeholes, it comes from the heart by the veine cardiall, then bleed on the same side: on the innermost veyne of the arme comonly called B [...]sollica: but bleed not on both sides, except it be in both armeholes, for that is dangerous, and losse of good bloud.

And if the boch doth appeare behind the eares, or aboue the [Page] [...], or in any other parts of the face, or neck, you must let blo [...]d out of veine Cephali [...]a, on the same side let blood with c [...]pping glasse [...] for that is the best, or a horse [...]each, or horse [...].

But if the botch appeare in the share, you must then bleed in the [...]uckle of the same [...], and then in any case bleed not in the Arme, for it will draw vp the matter againe.

But if there app [...]re no botch outwardly, you must then draw bloud out of the same side where is felt the greatest paine and heauines, and out of which veine the paine & griefe of the members aflicted wil declare.

For if the members aboue the breast be most grieued and afflicted, cut the Cephalica vein. But if the parts about the necke be most grieued, bleed in the Basillica, or middle veyne.

And if the nether parts be most grieued and vexed bl [...]d in the hamme or ankles. And if nature be strong, and other things not letting draw out bloud aboundantly.

But if through age or for other causes you may not vse bl [...]d letting, then you must fasten cupping glasses and [...] them.

And if you perceiue the pestilence to infect or inuade you at meate, or vpon a full stomacke, then vomitt straiteway, and when the body and stomack is empty, then take some medicine that can resist poyson as methrydate or Triacle.

When the patient hath taken som medcines that wil expel the venome, lay him in a warmed bed, being made with soft she [...]s, and well couered with cloathes, that there he may sweate well, for the space of foure or fiue houres, or more, according to his strength. But if by this meanes you can scarsly prouoke him to sweate, you may vse some other meanes, as by the heating of tiles, and laying them hote to the feete of the patient, or with stone bottles filled with hot water, and being close stopt with corke, that the water spil not, and so put into the bed to the sick, they wil by their beat prouoke him readily to sweat. And all the time the sicke doth sweate, you must take heed that he neither sleep, eate, nor drinke.

And after hee hath sweat, you must wipe diligently off the sweat, with very cleane and fine linnen clothes. Then afterward let the sicke rise from his bed, if he either will or can: But let him not come into the open ayre, but eschew it asmuch as [Page] [...]. Also let the ayre of the chamber in the which the sicke doth [...]ie, be [...] and amended and purified with odo [...] ro [...] things and wi [...]h sweet smelling perfumes, such as are before declared.

Lastly, the principall [...] whole body bring cleansed by bleeding, or cupping and sweating, the patient must be very [...]ary, and measurable in his diet, for in the [...] which is accidentall to this sicknes: it is good to eate [...] flesh but litle chickens [...] with fresh water, but it is best to giue [...] him the breath of a chicken two or three houres after he ha [...] [...], and often, according to his strength, for the sicke and weake must be norished and refreshed by little and little: If the breath haue in it the iuice of lemons, orenges, [...]eriuice, or vineger, it is the better.

Preseruatiues against the Plague or Pestilence.

TAke [...] and [...], of each a little, and lay them in a little Vineger, then take a spunge and wett it therein, and this you [...] carry about you in a [...] or any thing else, to smell thereon, and this will preserue you from the infected.

Another.

ALso take Angelli [...]s roote, and hold in your mouth, for it is excellent [...] keepe your body that no corrupted ayre came therein: likewise [...] pilles is very good to hold in your mouth, or Cloues.

Another.

IT is good to kéepe the head and stomake cleane p [...]ged, and not to ouerlay it with eating and drinking, nor to eate grose meates, but to abstaine from all manner of [...] and grose meats, and to purge your self as oft as you can with some gentle purge, as [...] pilles, or such like.

Another excellent preseruatiue.

TAke a Figge or a Walnut, and in a morning fasting, take a little Rew and a corne of bay salt, and eate them together, [Page] [...] this will preserue you, that you néede not feare the infection.

Another preseruatiue by purging the blood.

TAke in your pottage, Buglase, B [...]rr [...]ge, Suckory, [...]ettyse, and such like hearbs: It shall be also very good at your meate to eate the inside of a [...]ytteron, with a little [...]nger, at morning, at noone, and at night when you got to bed: and it would be very good to wash your hands, and to bathe your temples & your pulses with Vineger Rosset, and it would be good to perfume your houses with Vineger and Rew vpon a tyle stone being heated in the fire: it is very good to hold your head ouer it: it is excellent good to keepe your body that no infected eyre enter therein.

A prooued Remedie for the plague.

TAKE an Oinion, and cut him ouerthwart, or a sunder, then make a little hole in each péece, the which ye shall fill with fine treakle and set the peeces together againe, then wrap them in a wet lynnen cloth, cutting it as you would a warden and so roste him in the embers, séeing it be couered with embers, and when it is rosted inough, stra [...]e out all the Iuice thereof, and giue the patient a spoonefull thereof to drinke, and it wil heale him by the grace of God.

Take sorrell and lay it in steep in vineger a day, & then [...], & when the patient feeleth himselfe [...], giue him a draught therof, and [...] he brooke it, two or three houres after giue him more thereof to drinke, and by the grace of God he shalbe healed.

Another for these that feele themselues infected.

TAKE Card [...]s Benedictus, the leafe, and dry it, then beate it to powder, and giue the patient to drinke of it, and then let him sweate, and it will heale him by the grace of God.

A preseruatiue.

TAKE London Treakel, which you shall haue▪ at diuers Apoticaries shops, in London, which do make it themselues▪

Information about this book

Title statement

A Briefe treatise of the plague vvherein is shewed, the [brace] naturall cause of the plague, preseruations from the infection, way to cure the infected.

Edition statement

1603

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A14593

ID [STC]

STC 24905.7

ID [STC]

ESTC S123186

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

24103832

ID [OCLC]

ocm 24103832

ID [VID]

27188

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Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A14593)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 27188)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1843:18)

Source

— A Briefe treatise of the plague vvherein is shewed, the [brace] naturall cause of the plague, preseruations from the infection, way to cure the infected., I. W.. Newly corrected.

Extent

[14] p.

By Valentine Si[mmes],. Printed at London :: 1603.. (Dedication signed: I.W.) (Signatures: A⁴(-A1) B⁴.) (Imperfect: print show-through.) (Reproduction of original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.)

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