The shutting up infected houses as it is practised in England soberly debated By way of address from the poor souls that are visited, to their brethren that are free. With observations on the wayes whereby the present infection hath spread. As also a certain method of diet, attendance, lodging and physick, experimented in the recovery of many sick persons.

The shutting up infected houses as it is practised in England soberly debated By way of address from the poor souls that are visited, to their brethren that are free. With observations on the wayes whereby the present infection hath spread. As also a certain method of diet, attendance, lodging and physick, experimented in the recovery of many sick persons.

Table of contents

Title page

THE SHUTTING UP Infected Houſes As it is practiſed in ENGLAND SOBERLY DEBATED.

§

Firſt Reaſon againſt ſhutting Men up for the Plague, From the Communion of Saints, and the practiſe of the Primitive Chriſtians.

Second Reaſon againſt the ſhutting up of Houſes infected with the Plague, From the ſpreading of the Infection by it.

Third Reaſon against ſhutting up Houſes viſited with the Plague from the experience of former times, when Plagues did not ceaſe till there was freedom of Converſe allowed.

Fourth Reaſon againſt ſhutting up of houſes infected with the Plague, from the condition of thoſe houſes and the inhabitants thereof.

Fifth Reaſon againſt ſhutting men in infected Houſes from the Condition of thoſe Houſes.

Sixt Reaſon againſt ſhutting up of Infected Houſes, becauſe that keeps Men in ignorance of the nature of and remedy against the Plague.

SECT. I. The Wayes whereby the Plague hath taken Men this year obſerved by them that have converſed with the infected in order to the finding out of the true nature, original, and was of curing the Plague. Which may be a Caution to the Citty and Country.

SECT. II. Obſervations touching the Recovery of thoſe that have been ſince April laſt cured of the Plague.

Seventh Reaſon why Houſes ſhould not be ſhut up for the Plague, Becauſe people are ſo much afrighted out of Town, and the bad conſequence thereof.

§

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THE SHUTTING UP Infected Houſes As it is practiſed in ENGLAND Soberly Debated. By way of Addreſs from the poor ſouls that are Viſited, to their Brethren that are Free. With obſervations on the wayes whereby the preſent Infection hath ſpread. AS ALSO A certain Method of Diet, Attendance, Lodging and Phyſick, experimented in the recovery of many Sick Perſons.

Printed in the Year MDCLXV.

THE SHUTTING UP Infected Houſes As it is practiſed in ENGLAND SOBERLY DEBATED.

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Brethren,

WEE may yet call you ſo, for our Sickneſs hath onely altered our condition and not our Nature; although our uſages beſpeakes us worſe Creatures, we are yet men moulded of the ſame earth, quickned by the ſame Spirit, ſubject to the ſame Law, lying under the ſame ſins and infirmities; loved with the ſame Everlaſting Love, redeemed by the ſame Blood, entred into the ſame Covenant, Members of the ſame Church, partakers of the ſame Privileges and Ordinances, Profeſſors of the ſame Faith, expectants of the ſame Hope and common Salvation with you. Turn not your eyes from your own Fleſh; there is nothing happened unto us that is not common to Mankind; what is our caſe to day may be yours to morrow. Have pitty upon us for the hand of God is upon us, and add not ſorrow to affliction; and when we are afflicted of God, O let us not withal be forſaken of men! and if our Neighbours will ſtand ſo far aloof from us as not to look upon us, yet let them hear us; if our perſons are loathſome, our reaſon is not ſo, there may be danger in viſiting us; there is none in having compaſſion upon us, our breath may be infectious, our words are innocent; hear us and then forſake us.

1

Firſt Reaſon againſt ſhutting Men up for the Plague, From the Communion of Saints, and the practiſe of the Primitive Chriſtians.

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1. WEre Men (thoſe ſociable Creatures) made thus, every Man to live by himſelf? and if the Principle of ſelf-preſervation may alter the courſe of Nature, is this the Communion of Saints we believed? is this the mutual care we ought to have one of another? We can endure to read in Euſebius of Heathens, who as ſoon as the Peſtilence was among them diverted themſelves, and fled from their moſt loving and dear friends, throwing them half dead in the Streets: how they left the dead unburied to be devoured of Dogs, to the end they might avoid death, which yet they could not eſcape.

While we obſerve withal how Grace above Nature enabled the Primitive Chriſtians by reaſon of their great love and brotherly Charity (they are Euſebius his own Words) not ſparing themſelves to cleave one to another, to viſit the ſick of the Plague, to attend them diligently, to Cure them in Chriſt though it coſt them their Lives; and being full of other mens maladies took the Infection off their Neighbours, and tronſlated off their own accord the ſorrows of their Neighbours upon themſelves; fulfilling indeed the common ſaying, that friendſhip is alwayes to be retained. In this ſort, the beſt of our Brethren departed this life, whereof ſome were Miniſters, ſome were Deacons, in great reverence among the Common People: So that this kind of death for their great Piety and ſtrength of Faith may ſeem to differ nothing from Martyrdom; for they took the dead Bodies of the Saints, whoſe breaſts, faces, and hands lay upwards, and cloſed their eyes, ſhut their mouths, and joyntly with one accord, being like affectioned, embraced them, and prepared their Funerals, their own being a little while afterward in all likelyhood prepared by others, for the Living continually traced the ſteps of the Dead.

Then as the Body was one, and had many Members, all thoſe Members being one body, ſo was Chriſt; for by one Spirit were all Men Baptized into one Body, the eye ſaid not to the hand I [Page] have no need of thee; nor the head to the foot I have no need of thee; yea, the weaker the Members of the Church were, the more care they had of them; and there was no Schiſm in the Body, each Member having an equal care one of another; and ſo if one Member ſuffered, all the Members ſuffered with it: they all looking on themſelves as the Body of Chriſt, and Members in particular: Then they did not Excommunicate whole Families when it pleaſed God to viſit them; no, then the Elders of the Church carefully attended them, prayed with them, and the effectual fervent prayer of thoſe righteous Men availed much.

Second Reaſon againſt the ſhutting up of Houſes infected with the Plague, From the ſpreading of the Infection by it.

BUt alas! a diſcourſe of publick mindedneſs to private Spirits looks like a fit of Melancholly; we urge not then your duty, but your Intereſt, not ſo much what concerneth us as your ſelves: alas! while you by this ſevere courſe would ſecure, you deſtroy your ſelves, and that ſhutting up of infected Houſes, which you think would ſtop the Infection, ſpreads it: For,

1. We are acted by a Principle of ſelf preſervation, as well as you, and therefore aſſoon as we find our ſelves or any member of our Families infected, ſo dreadful it is to us to be ſhut up from all comfort and ſociety, from free and wholſome air, from the care of the Phyſician, and the Divine, from the overſight of Friends and Relations, and ſometimes even from the very neceſſities, and conveniences of Nature, that we run as far in City and Country as our feet can carry us, leaving Wives and Children to the Pariſhes, empty walls, and ſhops to Creditors, ſcattering the infection along the Streets as we go, and ſhifting it from Lodging to Lodging with our ſelves, till at laſt we drop in ſome Alley, Field, or neighbour Village, calling the people round about by the ſuddenneſs of our fall to ſtand awhile aſtoniſhed at our deaths, and then take their own; each fearful man of us frighted from his own houſe, killing his whole Town by ſurprizing them unprepared; whereas were we permitted to enjoy the [Page] content and freedom of our own Habitations, we might by Antidotes cure others, and be cured our ſelves.

See, ſee, we infect not our next Neighbours, and this ſickneſs ſpreads not much in any one place, but we carry it from place to place, running from our home as from our places of torment, and thus the Roads are viſited, and men travel the ſame way to the Country, and to their long home: Thus the Contagion hath reached moſt places round the Citty, which is now as it were beſieged with the judgment, and encompaſſed with the Viſitation and deſolation: We have not yet learned how to manage a ſickneſs, in all likelihood did perſons prepare themſelves (upon the firſt breaking out of the Plague) with Antidotes to viſit the ſick, who would be very well contented to keep within doors and converſe onely with their neareſt Friends, their Phyſicians and their ghoſtly fathers) and administer to them ſuch preſervatives, and other neceſſaries the Plague might go no further. For,

Third Reaſon against ſhutting up Houſes viſited with the Plague from the experience of former times, when Plagues did not ceaſe till there was freedom of Converſe allowed.

IN the years 1346. 1348. 1350. there was a great Plague all over the World, eſpecially in Aſia, ſuch as was never remembred to be in any place before, ſweeping away Prieſts and Phyſicians firſt; when Men were troubled with no other diſeaſe, when the Living were not able to bury their Dead, all lay in common, there was no diſtinction between Sacred and profane; the very Birds of the air were poyſoned, and Men were all over ſore, looſing ſome Limb or other if they eſcaped with their Lives.

Aſſoon as the people diſcerned by Obſervation, by ſight or feeling whether they had this ſickneſs or not, they haſted away, left the other helpleſs: Whereupon (ſaith the Hiſtorian) many periſhed for want of ſucour, who might otherwiſe have been preſerved. This inhumane forſaking took its riſe from the Turks, and Infidels; where the Parents forſook their Children, and the Children their Parents; Brothers and Siſters forſook one another; [Page] nay, the Wife left the Husband, and the Husband the Wife. Nor was this monſtrous cruelty wanting among Chriſtians alſo, ſome of whom retired themſelves to ſolitary places, others kept themſelves cloſe in their Houſes or Caſtles to ſecure themſelves as they thought from the outrage of the general Viſitation; but all this could not any way prevail or prevent Gods Divine judgment, againſt whom the ſtrongeſt Fortification never defended: Whereupon, mark it, many became more reſolute and Chriſtianlike; referring themſelves to Gods mercy, and with a holy reſolution to welcome death; they became kind and ſerviceable to the viſited, miniſtring to them all things neceſſary, and thus many recovered health, and became ſecure, and then yielded the like help to others: In which Chriſtian courſe God ſo bleſſed their endeavours, that very many of them were healed by viſiting and aſſiſting one another.

Nay, within many Mens memory now alive, when the effect of Cooping Men up was no other, than that the Sick were ſo many that they could not be watched or kept in by thoſe that were well, in the year of our Lord 1625. and thereupon it being found convenient that the Sick ſhould have their Liberty to viſit and be viſited, and all Men ſhould meet and pray heartily to God to appeaſe his wrath: What with the freedome of the Ayre, what with the accomodations Men had for neceſſaries, it pleaſed God that the Sickneſs which had by ſhutting up,

Increaſed thus.
|  |  | Pl.
February. | Week | 1 | 2
|  | 2 | 3
March. | Week | 1 | 4
|  | 2 | 8
|  | 3 | 11
|  | 4 | 9
April | Week | 1 | 10
|  | 2 | 24
|  | 3 | 25
|  | 4 | 26
May | Week | 1 | 30
[Page] |  | 2 | 45
|  | 3 | 71
|  | 4 | 78
June | Week | 1 | 69
|  | 2 | 94
|  | 3 | 165
|  | 4 | 239
|  | 5 | 390
July | Week | 1 | 593
|  | 2 | 1004
|  | 3 | 1819
|  | 4 | 2471
Aug. | Week | 1 | 3659
|  | 2 | 4115
|  | 3 | 4461
|  | 4 | 4218

Upon the opening of the houſes it decreaſed thus;
|  |  | Pl.
Septemb. | Week | 1 | 3344
|  | 2 | 2550
|  | 3 | 1672
|  | 4 | 1561
|  | 5 | 852
Octob. | Week | 1 | 538
|  | 2 | 511
|  | 3 | 331
|  | 4 | 134
Novemb. | Week | 1 | 89
[Page] |  | 2 | 92
|  | 3 | 48
|  | 4 | 27
Decemb. | Week | 1 | 15
|  | 2 | 15
|  | 3 | 6
|  | 4 | 1

A Decreaſe never before known and never hereafter to be expected, but by the uſe of this remedy.

Fourth Reaſon againſt ſhutting up of houſes infected with the Plague, from the condition of thoſe houſes and the inhabitants thereof.

BUt if we will not be wiſe by other mens experience, let us be ſo by our own moſt ſad and moſt deplorable, whereby we have known the healthieſt men ſhut up, and with the very thought of a ſad and diſmal reſtraint, contracting firſt a Melancholy, and then a feaver, and at laſt (as all diſeaſes turn to that which is moſt epidemical) a Plague. Little is it conſidered that ſome ſpirits are ſo averſe to the very leaſt reſtraint, that the locking of their pew door puts them to a ſwound, and a dayes impriſonment to them is mortal. Neither is it a fourth part of the inconvenience of this mewing up of men, that a whole & healthy familie to day, for want of preſervatives, antidotes, attendance, and (it may be) neceſſaries of meat and drink, is to morrow none at all. If they want meat, then the infection ſeizeth their empty veins, if they eat ill-dreſſed, or unwholſome meat, that turns to crudities, and that to diſtempers, and theſe to the prevailing one, the Plague. This ſhutting up would breed a Plague if there were none: Infection may have killed its thouſands, but ſhutting [Page] up hath killed its ten thouſands. Little is it conſidered how careleſs moſt Nurſes are in attending the Viſited, and how careful (being poſſeſſed with rooking avarice) they are to watch their opportunity to ranſack their houſes; the aſſured abſence of friends making the ſick deſperate on the one hand, and them on the other unfaithful: their eſtates are the Plague moſt dye on, if they have any thing to loſe, to be ſure thoſe ſad creatures (for the Nurſes in ſuch caſes are the off-ſcouring of the City) have a doſe to give them; beſides that, it is ſomething beyond a Plague to an ingenious ſpirit to be in the hands of thoſe dirty, ugly, and unwholſome Haggs; even a hell it ſelf, on the one hand to hear nothing but ſcreetches, cryes, groans, and on the other hand to ſee nothing but uglineſs and deformity, black as night, and dark as Melancholy: Ah! to lye at the mercy of a ſtrange woman is ſad: to leave wife, children, plate, jewels, to the Ingenuity of poverty, is worſe; but who can expreſs the miſery of being expoſed to their rapine that have nothing of the woman left but ſhape?

With what art do they neglect the rich? and with what ſeverity the poor? A world, cry they, for drink, for phyſick, for ſweat, for cordials: by and by anſwereth the cunning Suecuba, till the poor patient breaths out his ſoul in his vain wiſhes, glad now to eſcape into a reſt and quietneſs much happier than his fretful ſtate wherein his diſeaſe tormented him much, but his overſees more, adding her fury from without, to the diſeaſes rage from within, and proving the more Intollerable Plague. And now the Husbands gone, if Sorrow doth not, a Cloſe Room, and Poſſet drink, ſhall break the good womans heart, equally divided between her grief for the husband that is gone, and her fear for the children that are left behind: a needleſs fear, they ſhall not long ſurvive, heirs rather of the parents misfortune, than their eſtates; and if the bleſſing of God and the poor upon the devout and charitable family (according to the promiſe made to them and their ſeed) keeps up a child or two againſt the infection of the diſeaſe, the unwholſomneſs of their diet, the naſtineſs of their chamber, and the artifice of their tender, they are conveyed away forſooth, in order to their ſecurity, and in the mean time the well-furniſhed houſe lyeth at a beggar or [Page] two's mercy for a quarter, of a year together.

During which time the Plague-brokers diligently attend, and there goeth a Tankard that ſhall infect the fifth Cupboard; here the ſet of Spoones that taint the hundredth diſh of Broath; this man ſteales a bargain of the Cloak that kills ten Men; another buyeth a Suit that infects Briſtol; and a third gets a fine Childs Coat that ſhall cut-off a firſt-born Son. In vain do you here object the ſevere Lawes againſt removal of infected Goods before the 40. dayes are paſt, when the careful Nurſe dares not ſtay out the 40. houres, leaſt a right owner interpose, or cunning Lawyer ſeize on the houſe and the eſtate; but let the Eſtate go, a World cryeth the Patient for an able Phyſician, that might help the nature, or a ſerious Divine that may ſettle the ſoul; and neither muſt be ſent for, for the doors are faſt; and if the rigid overſeers permit that civility they dare not come on pain of being ſhut up themſelves, and by ſerving the neceſſities of one man being made unſerviceable unto all.

Fifth Reaſon againſt ſhutting men in infected Houſes from the Condition of thoſe Houſes.

BUt if you have no bowels of compaſſion for us; O have a care of your ſelves, the ſhut houſes killing no fewer without then within, and being as likely to breed a Plague if it were not as they are ſure to encreaſe it, now it is: imagine Infection it ſelf penned into a rage and fury ready upon the leaſt paſſage through a door or window to break out and choak a whole ſtreet, as that will in a while a City, and that a Kingdome; and this infection growing ſtronger by the Leaveleſs deſpair of the poor Inhabitants, the Rooms hung with Cobweb, the Flowre having duſt and rubbiſh enough to bury the Infected, the Meat ſtinking in the Pantry, and the Beer ſoweing in the Cellar, while the people rot in their ſeveral Chambers; the Cloaths when clean infected by the owners, and now being foul infecting them; again Doggs and Cats if alive ſpreading the infection abroad, if dead increaſing it at home; the Air they breath ſubtly conveying death that way it did formerly life, the water ſtinking and readier to provoke the flame within, then to quench it: Servants formerly the [Page] ſtay and honour, now the burden of the Family.

The poor peoples own endure, if they cannot, as they cannot commonly under this Peſtilence expell it, killing them, and if they can, poyſoning them i [...] their ſweat is caſt by them upon their Cloaths, and evaporated upon the Houſe round them, and by thoſe Cloaths and that Houſe ſent back again upon them. In vain are poor people ſhut within a Houſe, as unleſs the houſe itſelf be ſhut within another, and that within a third, and ſo ad Infinitum; the wind, you ſay, purges the Air round about the houſe, hardly when ſo deeply infected as a cloſe houſe muſt needs be; yet if the Wind cleareth the Infection of the Houſe; would it not likewiſe clear that of the people were they admitted to an open and free air?

Sixt Reaſon againſt ſhutting up of Infected Houſes, becauſe that keeps Men in ignorance of the nature of and remedy against the Plague.

NAy this method gives the Plague its power of being deadly, all diſeaſes were deadly till men by converſe underſtood the nature of them, their original, and the experience in their cure: What the Peſtilence is now, the French Pox, the ſmall Pox, and the ſpotted Fever, were in Queen Eliz. time, and had been to this hour, had men been ſhut up from Phyſicians and all other perſons in the ſmall Pox, &c. as they are now under the Plague.

Diſcourſe with the Phyſician in this caſe, and he will talk to you, out of his Books 40. receipts at a breath, but not a word can he ſay of the experience he or any other hath had of the cure of this diſeaſe; which is the onely ſafe way of practice; ſpeculative rules being at too great diſtance from practiſe before the particular circumſtances of the diſeaſe, the perſon, and fits be perfectly underſtood; as they are by none but by ſuch as converſe freely with the Patient as men do in Holland and moſt other parts of the World; where they have attained to ſo much familiarity with the diſeaſe that (under God) obſerving how it groweth and begins; how men take it at firſt, and how they recover [Page] of it, have been able by Gods bleſſing in a ſhort time to give a ſtop to the infection, and health to the infected.

An inſtance of which experience take here in the 75. wayes whereby men have got this Plague this year 1665. as upon examination of divers Families now infected by perſons that have converſed with thoſe Families and other infected perſons during this Infection hath appeared.

SECT. I. The Wayes whereby the Plague hath taken Men this year obſerved by them that have converſed with the infected in order to the finding out of the true nature, original, and was of curing the Plague. Which may be a Caution to the Citty and Country.

1. FAmily by ones overheating himſelf, and drinking ſmall Beer upon it.

2. By eating a pound of Red Cherries upon a wager.

3. By a Coat one bought of a Broker behind S. Clements church.

4. By a Sink ſhut up by reaſon of the Waters not running in their backſide.

5. By the opening of a Vault that had been many years ſhut.

6. By a Noſegay brought by an infectious place.

7. By a Vow not to eat any thing in 24. houres, and in the mean time going faſting through an infectious place.

18. By an infected Hackney Coach.

9. By an infected Sedan.

10. By an infected Cuſhion whereon the Waterman confeſſed there ſate a woman that within two hours after died ſuddenly.

11. By eating a Cucumber.

12. By a Melon.

13. By Rediſhes.

14. By drinking Water.

15. By a Tanker bearer.

16. By a Chair woman.

17. By drying of Cloaths before the door.

18. By a Cat in Catter wouling.

19. By a Spaniel.

[Page]22. By opening the pores, and exceſſive ſweat in walking.

23. By a Dinner of Soales in Fiſhſtreet.

24. By a diſh of Eeles.

25. By ſtopping of an Iſſue.

26. By a Codling Tart and Cream.

27. By a Diſh of French Beanes.

28. By Cabbages.

29. By Turneps and Carrets.

30. By eating the Fat near the Rump of a Loyne of Mutton, and drinking cold beer immediately upon it.

32. By a Cold which turned firſt into a putrid Feaver, and at laſt into the Plague.

33. By ſiting up too late, and ſo drying and inflaming the Blood, and weakening Nature.

34. By an unſeaſonable ſleep that cauſed C [...]es, and indigeſted matter which bred upon the weakening of the Vital and Animal Spirit▪ a Feaver, and that turned to the Peſtilence.

35. By neglecting to let blood at the uſual time.

36. By want of Neceſſaries, and by hungry meales.

37. By wetting the Feet in a ſlip out of a Boat by the Water ſide.

38. By a burden of Linnen carried from St. Giles to Chelſey.

39. By an Houſe of Office near a Man's Window.

40. By cloſe Chambers naſtily kept, and looking ſouthward.

41. By an immoderate eating of Caveare, and Anchoves.

42. By a Goosberry fool.

43. By a rotten Shoulder of Mutton.

44. By a Diſh of Eeles.

45. By a Sink not well looked to before a door.

46. By an undue and immoderate Venery.

47. By idle Beggars who wandred from place to place.

48. By frequenting ſcurvy Tipling houſes and Bowling allies.

49. By dead Beer.

50. By drinking heady ſtrong beer, after a long cuſtome of drinking Ale, which bound the perſons that did ſo, and put them in Peſtilential Feavers.

51. By eating Pork and Bacon.

52. By Tame Pigeons that flew up and down in an Alley.

[Page]53. By the Funnel of Church Vaults, flaughter houſes, and ſhallow graves.

54. By the Rakers or Ragg women.

55 By entertaining all ſorts of comers, as brokers, and particularly by buying of bed cloaths and hangings.

56 By the ſtopping of the monthly courſes.

57 By the crudities of plentiful meals.

58 By over long faſting (the bodies being too empty) and receiving more a [...] i [...] then they give one, the ſpirits that were weakened for want of due nouriſhment, having leaſt ſtrength to reſiſt the Contagion.

60 By eating of Quinces.

61 By ſ [...]ole [...]or and Lettice.

62 By Pompions, Muſmillions, and Cucumbers▪

63 By feſtered Wounds and Sores.

64 By converſing with a man of ſtinking breath.

65 By children running and playing till they over-heated themſelves.

66 By neglecting to purge at the usual times.

67 By ſtanding faſting before an infected houſe.

68 By a Letter received from an infected perſon.

69 By money taken for Phyſick adminiſtred.

70 By an infected Vain of gloves.

71 By Lodgers.

72 By Frettirs, Melancholy, and Diſbou [...].

73 By an Eaſtern Window.

74 By an extraordinary definition of humours.

75 By Feavers, cauſed either

1. By overmuch heat in the ſpirit [...] or breath, which cauſeth either the Febris ſimpliciter [...], or the Febris Diaria.

Or 2. By overmuch heat in the humours, which cauſeth a gastrida f [...]bris which [...]

I. Within the Veſſels, and that either,

1. When all the humours put [...] and [...] equally, and cauſe a fever called S [...]bu [...] [...]

[Page]Or 2. When one onely humour putrifieth, as

1. Choler which cauſeth a continual tertian or burning feaver.

2. Flegm, which being putrified, cauſeth a continual quotidian.

3. Melancholy, which being putrified, cauſeth a continual quartan.

Or, II. Without the Veſſels, cauſing an intermitting feaver, either tertian, if it be rotten Choler; or exquiſite, and pure Quotidian, if it be ſweet Flegm, or Epialos, or glasen, or an intermitting Quartan if it be rotten Melancholy.

Or, III. In the fleſhy part, cauſing either Hectick Fever or Maraſmus.

SECT. II. Obſervations touching the Recovery of thoſe that have been ſince April laſt cured of the Plague.

1. THe Botch appearing on any ſide the vein, was cut on that ſide.

2. If the botch appeared behind the ears, or about the chin, or in other parts of the face or neck, they did let bloud in the Cephalica Vein on the ſame ſide.

3. If under the Arm-holes, they cut the innermoſt vein of the arm, on the ſame ſide commonly called the [...] vein, or the middle vein, if that did not appear.

4. If under the ſhin bloud was drawn the Ankles of the ſame ſide.

5. The aged and weak are not bled, but cupping-glaſſes are applied to their necks, ſhoulders, backs and legs.

6. If the contagion ſeizeth any man at meals, or when he is full of meat or drink, he immediately vomiteth; as ſoon as the body or ſtomach is emptied, applying Eleciuarium de Ouo, which the Emperour Maximilian uſed, or ſome other Medicine to the outward parts that might draw the poyſon of the diſeaſe to it, and call it back from the heart.

7. When the infected perſon hath applyed this or ſome other [Page] Medicine of the like nature, he is laid in a warm bed, made with ſoft ſheets, and well-covered with cloaths, to the intent he might there ſweat three or four hours or longer, according to his ſtrength, and when by this means they could hardly provoke him to ſweat, they laid tyles heated at the fire to his feet, which might, by reaſon of their extraordinary heat provoke ſweat. And in all this time that the infected man did ſweat in, they took a ſpecial care that he neither ſlept, eat, nor drank. After his ſweating, diligently rubbing, and wiping off the ſweat, with very clean, and fine Linnen cloaths, afterwards permitting the poor man to riſe out of bed, upon condition that he looked not by any means into the open air, the air of the place wherein the ſick lieth being corrected and amended by odoriferous things, and ſweet ſmelling perfumes daily four or five times.

8. The Infected perſon was removed from one chamber to another, becauſe the air of one chamber, by the continual tarrying of the ſick in it, is much corrupted, and not eaſily amended or corrected, the chamber into which he went being very well perfumed before hand.

9. Two or three hours after the Patient hath ſweat, they made him ſome Chicken broth, which they gave him in little proportions, but often, for an infected perſon muſt be nouriſhed by little and little: to the broth they added the Chickens fleſh, ſodden with Sorrel, or with the juice of Lemmons, or elſe Verjuice.

10 The ſick is kept altogether from ſleeping the firſt day, by talk of the aſſiſtants, by rubbing their extreme parts, by pulling their eares, noſe, and hair, or by dipping a ſponge in very ſharp vinegar, and holding it to the Noſe.

11. The infected man that is thirſty, uſeth this potion,

℞. Julep of Violets ℥jjj. Syrup of the ſharp juice of Citrons ℥j. ſs. Syrup of ſowen Endive ℥jj. of the Decoction of Sorrel, Scabious, & flowers of Bugloſs ℥ ten, or ſo much of their diſtilled waters, commixing them, and making them a potion, or the like.

12. He takes the water wherein Barley had been ſodden a little, and commixed with it the juice of Roſes, of Sorrel, or Lemmons, or of unripe Grapes, and takes it inſtead of drink, and he had Medicine that comforted his heart when he was ſick and very weak, and it was this;

[Page]℞. Conſerves of Violets, Roſes, and Bugloſs. ana. ℥j.ſs. Bolearmoniack preparate ʒj. Red Coral ℈j. barks of Citron apple ʒj.ſs. Camphire ℈5. with Syrup of the juice of ſharp Citrons, as much as is ſufficient to make an Electuary or liquid Antidote. Alſo he did lay upon the Region of the heart (having felt ſome heat about his breaſt) this Epitheme.

℞. Waters of Roſes, Bugloſs and Sorrel ana. ℥jjj. Powder of Electa [...]rium de Gemmis ʒj. Wood of Aloes, red Saunders, the barks of Citron apples beaten to powder, the bone of Harts heart, ana. ℈. Saffron gr. 6. all commixed, and to an Epitheme. He did not apply the Epithemes but when they were hot, and aſſoon as they were cool they took them off, for then they did ſhut up the pores, and brought him to no ſmall grief.

13. He uſed cordial baggs, as this is;

℞. Flowers of red Roſes, water Lillies, and of Violets, ana. ʒjj. of all the Saunders, Coral, white and red, Spodium, Pearls ana. ʒjjj. Cinamon, Cloves, the bone of Harts heart, Wood of Aloes, barks of the Citron apple, Saffron, ℈j. Seed of Sorrel ℈jj. Seed of Purſlain, gr. iiij beat all theſe into fine powder, and made two ſquare baggs of ſilk, and applied each after the other being hot.

Moreover, he did endeavour to draw the venemous humour to the place where the botches appear'd and burſt out, and he did it by ſetting to it Cupping-glaſſes, or by Medicines that had the vertue to draw thoſe humours, which were theſe;

℞. Fat figs, in number ſix, great Raiſins ℥jjj ſs. ſalt Gum ʒjj. Honey ℥j. with Oyl of Camomil, made into the form of an Emplaiſter, and applyed hot to the hotch.

14. He uſed this following Plaiſter which is commended by all skilful men.

℞. a great Onion, and cut off the head of it, picking out the core from within, and fill it with Theriaca Andromachi, adding to it the juyce of Rue, or Sage, which done, ſtopped the top of the Onion with Lute, and ſet the Onion in the Embers to roſt, and when it was well roſted, he pulled off the bark, and brayed it in a moſtar, till it was thick, like an Emplaiſter, and applied it hot to the botch.

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[...]

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[...]

[Page]15. This following Emplayſter was very much uſed, for it helped to rot ℞. meat of Fenugreek and Tineſeed of Flours of Cammomill, ana. ℥ſs. Roots of Althea and white Lillies, ana. ʒſs. 6. Figs, Leaves of Deptaine ʒjjj Veterian ʒjj Muſtard ſeed ʒj.ſs. Dovesdung, ℥.ſs. Oyles of Cammomill and Lillies ℥j.ſs. made into the form of an Implayſter.

16. He kept the houſe where he did lye clean from all filthineſs and ſluttiſhneſs, he kept the Windows ſhut, and when he had them open, he opened them towards the Eaſt or North, quarter after Sun riſe.

Seventh Reaſon why Houſes ſhould not be ſhut up for the Plague, Becauſe people are ſo much afrighted out of Town, and the bad conſequence thereof.

BUt if it be of no conſideration among you to allow a liberty to the Infected to converſe with ſuch diſcreet men as are not ſo, becauſe they may (as you ſee before your eyes ſome have done to their own and other mens great benefit) underſtand the original, the nature, and the proper way of Curing this diſeaſe; yet conſider what it is by theſe ſevere Courſes, to affright ſo many thouſands from their reſpective Habitations, thereby not onely ſcattering the Infection abroad, but obſtructing Trade at home, and leaving other thouſands without any employment, to tipple, loyter, and wander from one place to another; and for want of Neceſſaries on the one hand, and by exceſſes on the other, infect, and are infected; Whereas, had they due employment they would not meet in heards as they do, they would not ſurfet with rioting and drunkneſs; but they would ſecurely ſtick to their work, keep their bodies by exerciſe and temperance in a good frame, and provide themſelves wholſome dyet and Phyſick; fly, theſe poor men cannot as the Rich, for none will entertain them, and they are not able to maintain themſelves; Work they cannot, for none will employ them, and they have nothing to do but to commit thoſe ſins, which certainly deſerve, and infallibly bring the Plague upon them. Take, O take theſe Reaſons and many others, which your own judgments will ſuggeſt to [Page] your ſerious Conſideration, but as they are tendred with all humble and due ſubmiſſion to the care and authority of thoſe excellent perſons who are over us as intent as ever Magiſtrates were upon the means of our welfare.

For an Eighth Argument I alleage the miſchief and ſad conſequence that may ariſe from the high fits of Frenzy, that uſually attend this and all other the like Diſtempers; wherein the ſick (if not reſtrained by main force of their Attendants) are ready to commit any violence, either upon themſelves or other, whether Wife, Mother, or Child. A ſad inſtance whereof we had this laſt week in Fleet Lane, where the Man of the Houſe being ſick, and having a great Swelling, but not without hope of being almoſt ripe for breaking, did in a ſtrong fit riſe out of his bed, in ſpight of all that his Wife (who attended him) could do to the contrary, got his Knife, and therewith moſt miſerably cut his Wife, and had killed her, had ſhe not wrapped up the ſheet about her, and therewith ſaved her ſelf, till by crying out Murther. a Neighbour (who was himſelf ſhut up) opened his own doors, and forced into the houſe, and came ſeaſonably to her preſervation. The man is ſince dead, when in all likelihood (had he not by ariſing ſtruck in the diſeaſe) he might have recovered.

Add to this a ſerious confideration of the ſad condition of Women neer the time of their travel, (or newly delivered) when ſhut up, (as 'tis the caſe of many at this time) having neither Midwife to help them, nor Nurſe to attend them, nor Neceſſaries provided for them, nor any friends to comfort them; and in this condition have continually for their object their own poor innocent Babes newly brought into the World, either to be ſtarved for want of ſuſtenance, or poyſoned by the Breaſts that ſhould preſerve them.

For concluſion I ſhall onely ſay that a liberty of freſh Aire, and acceſs of ſuch as are willing to viſit their ſickfriends, may be ſo regulated and limited as not to ſpread the Infection, and I am ſure will ſave the lives of Hundreds, who by ſo ſevere and cloſe reſtraint are little better then Murther'd, or buryed alive.

Be yee merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful.

FINIS.

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Information about this book

Title statement

The shutting up infected houses as it is practised in England soberly debated By way of address from the poor souls that are visited, to their brethren that are free. With observations on the wayes whereby the present infection hath spread. As also a certain method of diet, attendance, lodging and physick, experimented in the recovery of many sick persons.

Edition statement

1665

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A60176

ID [STC]

Wing S3717

ID [STC]

ESTC R221470

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99832772

ID [PROQUEST]

99832772

ID [VID]

37246

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A60176)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 37246)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 2060:13)

Source

— The shutting up infected houses as it is practised in England soberly debated By way of address from the poor souls that are visited, to their brethren that are free. With observations on the wayes whereby the present infection hath spread. As also a certain method of diet, attendance, lodging and physick, experimented in the recovery of many sick persons.,

Extent

19, [1] p.

s.n.],. [London :: Printed in the year MDCLXV. [1665]. (Place of publication from Wing.) (Imperfect; pages have print show-through with some loss of text.) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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