Touching the First; Though the surest way is to fly from it, yet in regard this cannot be done by all, some Means should be us'd to secure [so far as it is pos­sible] those that are forced to stay by it. Such Means of Pre­vention, either concern the Publick Magistrate, which are already sufficiently known, and commonly practis'd in all places that are infected, and it would be superfluous to repeat them here; Or else such as belong to private Persons, what ways eve­ry Man that lives in, or near an infected place, may arm him­self [Page 3]against the danger of Con­tagion; Which should be en­deavour'd, as well by purifying the Air we breathe, as also by fortifying our selves against taking the Infection at our Nostrils, Mouth, or Pores of the Body, which are the chiefest, if not the only parts the Poison creeps in at.

That the Air we breathe in may be wholesome, all Things, that may advance or add to the corruption of it, should diligent­ly be removed; our Houses, and Streets kept clean; all Filth, and whatever may cause noisom smells, be taken away; and a­mongst other things, the smell of Sope-Suds, and Lye, in the wash­ing of Clothes, be avoided; this, Experience has taught to be very [Page 4]dangerous; as 'tis observed by Diemerbroek and Ʋander Hey­den.

Besides the suppressing of Va­pours that may increase the in­fection of the Air, it is to be purg'd of that Malignity it brings with it from other infected pla­ces; and this is done by great Fires, which should be continu­ally kept, except the Weather be too hot, and by Fumes of Sul­phur, Nitre, Frankincense, Pitch, Rosin, Tarr, and the like, which every day should be burnt in the Room we most frequent, also before our Doors, and on the tops of our Houses. Of simple Medicines to be us'd for this pur­pose, Brimstone is commended for the best that is; 'Tis likely that Vitriol, which partakes much [Page 5]of the like acid Spirit, may be very proper; but in regard 'tis not easily combustible, make this mixture, and strew of it on Coals in a hot Chafing­dish.

Some commend Slakeing of Lime, supposing the fume that ariseth from it, may purifie the Air: 'Tis possible, if this be done with Vinegar, either simple, or impregnated with Alexipharmacal Medicines, it may be more ef­fectual.

Next to the Cure of the Air, to render that as wholesom as we can; we must arm our selves against taking in that Malignity, which [notwithstanding all means [Page 7]of purifying it] shall still remain mixt with it. Now because the Spirits are commonly the first that receive Infection; We must fortifie them, that they may not easily admit the approaches of their Enemy, which when they are in full vigour and expansion, they will repel, and as it were keep off at a distance; Therefore Wine and Confidence are a good Preservative against the Plague: But when the Spirits, through fear, or want of sup­ply, do recede, and are forc'd to give back, the Enemy enters, and first seizeth them, and thence gets into the Blood and Hu­mors; Therefore much Fasting and Emptiness are bad: But every one should Eat and Drink at convenient Hours, in such [Page 8]manner and measure, as may always keep the Spirits lively and chearful, and endeavour to compose his Mind and Affecti­on against fear and sadness.

But besides keeping the Spi­rits in a good height, and more especially when that cannot be done, as in Persons that are naturally fearful, and of a ten­der Constitution, the Spirits should constantly, as it were, be kept arm'd with such Remedies as resist the Poyson; that is, the use of proper Antidotes a­gainst the Plague.

I shall set down some Pre­servatives to be taken of eve­ry Morning, and again at Night, by those that live in infected places.

For the Poorer Sort, that Me­dicine of the Ancients, may be proper, viz.

This Medicine may be several ways advanc'd, by adding some Alexipharmacal Remedies to it, as by putting Salt of Wormwood, [Page 11]instead of common Salt, and by adding an Ounce of Venice Treacle, to the whole Compo­sition.

For those that cannot take an Electuary, these Tablets may be proper to eat, about one Dram at a time, two or three times a day.

For some that are of a hot­ter Constitution, and a high Sanguine Temper, it may be proper to take every Morning a spoonful of Pestilential Vinegar in a little Carduus water, or plain Wallnut water; or else drink a draught of Posset-Drink, made with a Spoonful of that Vi­negar.

Let the Pestilential Ʋinegar be made thus.

When the Stomach, by fre­quent taking of one sort of Antidote, begins to loath it: In such Cases the use of it may be changed into some other: And if the Stomach withal should be ill, and defective, in Appetite and Digestion; let the Party take every Morning, ten or twelve Drops of Elixir Proprietatis, in plain Wormwood Water, or else in Wormwood Wine.

Those that have Coughs, and ill Lungs, may take five or six Drops of Balsum of Sulphur, made thus.

Or else this Balsam may be made with Spiritus Theriacalis Camphoratus, and so will be more effectual against the Plague, Or which is more applicable to use,

Though Purging in time of Pestilence is not good, as Die­merbroek by frequent Examples has observ'd, yet in Cachochymick Bodies, it may be convenient once in a fortnight, to take a Dose of Pillulae Ruffi; Take [Page 18]half a Dram at Night, and next Morning take the wonted An­tidote, as at other times.

Also for those that live in an infected Air, that there is suspicion that they may daily take in some pestiferous Vapours, which fer­menting with the Blood and Humours, may insensibly at last break out in the Plague; it may not be amiss, once or twice a week, to take pretty large Sweats in their Beds: And this to be done, especially if the Party has had any occa­sion whereby he may suspect him­self to have been more open to infection, or that he has taken any: After such Sweat he should keep his Chamber the forepart of the day, till the Pores are reduc'd to be as they were before.

Besides the daily and constant use of such Alexipharmacal Re­medies, there are other Means, which occasionally and some­times continually should be taken. For in regard we always draw in the Air at our Nostrils and Mouth, these parts should be well guarded with some Anti­dotes, that may keep out the poy­sonous Vapours from entring in, and especially as often as upon oc­casion we are more nearly expos'd to danger of Infection. To this end, some things to smell to, o­thers to be held in the Mouth, chew'd, and swallow'd down, are frequently to be insisted on.

That which seems at once to ful­fil most of these intentions, is taking of Tobacco in a Pipe; the Smoke of this secures those parts which [Page 21]lye openest, and at once inter­cepts the Contagion from the Brain, Lungs, and Stomach: Nay more than this, it stirs the Blood and Spirits all the Body over, and makes them shake off any poyson­ous Matter that adher'd to them: Insomuch that Diemerbroek ac­counts it not only a Preservative, but tells us, that himself, when he was several times infected, by taking five or six Pipes of Tobacco together was presently cur'd. And amongst us in England 'tis report­ed, That in the last great Plague, no Tobacco-Shop was infected: If 'tis not of so great virtue still amongst us, the reason is, be­cause most Men have been accu­stomed to take it so excessively; wherefore it is grown so familiar to them, that it produceth no al­teration [Page 22]when it should be us'd as an Antidote.

Besides the frequent use of To­bacco, which doubtless in time of Plague may be profitable for them that can take it; others, and also To­bacconists, at some times should be furnished with something to smell to when they pass through infect­ed Places. Wormwood and Rue, Galba­num, Castor and Vinegar are good: The vulgar practice of putting Mithridate, or Treacle, or Tar in their Nostrils, may be very useful; or to have a Pomander to carry in ones hand, or put into the top of a Staff.

Part of this may be enclos'd in a fine Silk Bag, and oftentimes dip it in Pestilential Vinegar, and so smell to it. To the other part of this, add Oyl of Nutmegs by Ex­pression, and Oyl of Cap-ivy, of each a Dram, or as much as will make it into a Mass; also add of Balsam of Peru one Scruple. Dip Cotton Wool in Elixir Pro­prietatis, inclose it in fine Silk, and put it in the head of a Staff, or Civet Box, to smell to.

For Medicines to hold in the Mouth, and chew on, Roots of [Page 24] Zedoary, Contrayerva, and Snake­weed are very good; also Roots of Enulacampane, Angelica, and Master­wort; these either alone, or ma­cerated in Vinegar, and dried a­gain. Myrrh is very excellent: Some commend Tobacco, and chew it almost continually.

These are the chiefest Remedies which help to keep Infection out of the Body. There is yet ano­ther sort which serves to let it out, and carry it away, before it grows to a head, viz. Issues, which have been found by often experience to be good Preservatives in time of Plague: For as much as Na­ture having a constant vent for excrementitious matter thrown off the Blood, by the same way ex­pels poysonous Atoms soon after they are receiv'd into the Body.

Concerning Rules of Diet I need not say much, because such Precepts are commonly known: 'Tis to be observ'd in general, that only wholsome Food should be taken: Very salt Meats, as hang'd Beef, Bacon, Pork, salt Fish, also shell-Fish, most kind of Herbage and raw Fruit should be avoided. The Meals should be moderate, and eaten in due season. Some Antidotal Things may be taken with the Meat, or mix'd in the Sauce; Clove Gilloslowers pick­led, also Citron Peel and Juice, Rasberries, Currants, Pomegranate Juices, Pestilential Vinegar, and Mu­stard, made with the Seeds of Thla­spi, may be of some good effect.

These kind of Remedies, and manner of living, ought chiefly to be insisted on as Preservatives [Page 26]against the Plague. Those that are timorous and of tender Con­stitutions require a support from the use of more means; whereas Persons that are strong, and of a bold temper, have need of the less Remedies. But 'tis not safe for a­ny to be so confident as to dare to converse with infected People, or live in the midst of Contagion without any Antidote at all.

In the use of means, caution is to be had, that strong and hot Cor­dials be not too often taken, nor yet indifferently by all People; for that will inflame the Blood, and make it apt to kindle a Fever, which at such times soon turns to the Plague.

The like caution is to be had against immoderate drinking of Wine; though a moderate pro­portion [Page 27]chears and fortifies the Spirits, yet too much greatly dis­orders them, and thereby People are more expos'd to take Infection.

Letting of Blood in time of Plague has been observ'd to be ve­ry pernicious; so also oft or strong Purging; for the Veins being emptied either way, will readily suck in whatever poyson­ous Atoms lurk in the outward Pores of the Body, which being admitted, become the more pre­valent, because the Spirits being depauperated, are less able to sub­due or repel them.

Next we are to treat of the Cure of those that are in­fected.

The Cure of the Plague ad­mits of no Delay; neither in­deed [Page 28]is there need of any deli­beration what ought to be done; but as soon as any one finds himself infected, let him forth­with take to his Bed, and having pray'd to Almighty God for his Blessing, begin to use the Means.

If the Party is much oppress'd at his Stomach, and strains to vomit, or else with vomiting throws up bitter and stinking Matter; let him presently take a large draught of Carduus, or Camomile Posset-Drink, and in it either half a Dram of Salt of Vitriol, or two Ounces of Liquor of Squills, and with his finger or a Feather, fetch up what is con­tain'd in his Stomach; but take no Antimonial Medicine, that will work beyond the Stomach. [Page 29]As soon as he has vomited, [or if there is no occasion for this E­vacuation] let him presently be put into a Sweat, and continue for twelve hours, more or less, according as his strength will hold out, and not sleep in it, or not till the latter end of it.

If when he begins to Sweat, or endeavours it, his Vomiting still persists, then apply to the pit of the Stomach a Toast of White-Bread, spread over with Treacle or Mithridate, and dipt in Claret-Wine or Pestilential Vi­negar, made Scalding hot in a Peuter Dish; Wrap this in fine Linnen, and apply it very hot.

After a plentiful Sweat for twelve, fourteen, or eighteen hours, give him some Refective, [Page 30]as Broth, Caudle, Mace-drink, or the like; and a little while after suffer him to sleep if he can. Then give him temperate Cordials by way of Confection or Julep, or both; which repeat every third or fourth hour: Also at the time that the Party settles to sleep, lay Vesicatory Plaisters behind the Ears, and under the Arm-pits, and also in the Groin.

After he has slept, or endea­vour'd it, and his Spirits are pret­ty well refresh'd, at a moderate distance from the first sweating, viz. Eighteen, or Four and Twen­ty hours, sooner or later, accord­ing as Symptoms are more or less urgent, and his strength is able, repeat the Sweating again; and so proceed through the whole Cure; one while Sweating, and [Page 31]another while refreshing his Spi­rits by temperate Cordials and Sleep; betwixt whiles admini­string fit Nourishment, until such time as the Symptoms are abated wholly, and either the Disease terminated, or else the Maligni­ty is driven all out in Boyls or Carbuncles; which how they must be order'd, shall be set down.

Though the same kind of Su­dorificks may be given indifferent­ly to most People, yet because there is variety of such Medicins, in respect both of the Matter and Form of them, therefore some choice may be had in the administration of them, that so we may comply with the Pa­tient's taking them best in this or that kind of Form; and al­so [Page 32]that those that are hotter be given to Persons of a cold Tem­per, and those Medicines which are more temperate to such whose Constitutions are hot: I shall set down several Forms of Sweat­ing Medicines, which are given either in Potion, Bolus, or Pouder.

Potions.

For the Poorer sort, make Posset-Drink with Pestilential Vine­gar, and boyl in it some Butter-Roots, and give a Draught hot.

Or make this Potion which Henricus a Bra magnifies a­bove all other Remedies; from [Page 36]the Experience of it in a great Plague once raging in his Coun­try.

Some others commend a De­coction of Guaiacum, to provoke Sweat with it, as in the cure of the French Pox.

A plain Decoction of Rue in White Wine, with a little Vinegar added to it, is highly commended by others.

Seeds of Rue pouder'd, and one Dram of it mix'd with half a Dram of Treacle, dissolv'd with White-Wine, is accounted an excellent Sudorifick.

Sudorifick Medicines may be given in Pouder thus.

Give any of these in a Spoon­ful or two of any Liquor, or in a Spoonful of Sack, with as much Pestilential Vinegar; half an hour after, drink a draught of Posset-Drink with Medesweet, or Woodsorrel boyl'd in it.

If the Patient can best take his Medicine in a Bolus.

When many People are sick, and there is not leisure to com­pound every Dose of these Medi­cines severally, there should be a large mixture of each kind made up together, which may imme­diately, and without trouble be distributed into Doses.

For Sweating Potions thus.

Mix a Pouder thus.

For an Electuary to be distri­buted into several Doses, that of Hermannus Vander Heyden is a very good one, and as he as­serts, [Page 47]approved by frequent Ex­perience.

In time of Sweating, give the Patient Posset Drink made with Pestilential Vinegar; boyl in the Milk Scordium or Marigold Flowers; if he is very dry, boyl Medesweet, or Wood Sorrel; if he is ill at Sto­mach, and apt to vomit or faint, give Claret Wine burnt with Cin­namon [Page 49]and Zedoary Root, and Mint Water mix'd with it: Or else give him Beer boyl'd with a Crust of Bread and Mace, and sweetn'd with Sugar. Besides, to the richer sort give now and then a draught of a Cordial Julep, and sometimes a Dose of a Cordial E­lectuary; which kind of Medicines should be given likewise after Sweating is over, once in three or four hours, of one or other, to refresh the Spirits, and to keep the Malignity from the Heart. Give him no cold Beer in two or three days. After Sweating wash the Mouth with White-wine Vinegar and Rose Water: Also dip a Spunge in the same warm, and gently stroke the Temples of the Head, and Nostrils with the same. [Page 50]Between whiles give of the Me­dicines following.

Or make a Decotion thus.

Whereas we give Emulsions [Page 52]made with such a Decoction and Almonds, and cold Seeds in Fevers, Diemerbroek affirms, upon his frequent Observation, Emulsions never do well in the Plague.

Sometimes the Plague is accom­panied with dangerous Symptoms, to which if Remedies are not sud­denly applied, all we do besides is to little purpose. Such Acci­dents, which call for respective ways of Cure, are chiefly Fluxes of Blood, and Loosness of the Belly, and Vomiting.

The first use to happen seve­ral ways, viz. at the Nose and Mouth, by Stool or Urine, by the Haemorrhoids, and in Women by Menstrual Purgations: Some [Page 54]of which, as by Urine always, and oft times by Stool, are mor­tal; none of them ever tend to good Therefore in all such cases, Remedies must be administred which may stop Bleeding: And though Sweating and Refection of the Spirits be still the principal intention of Cure; yet the other must come in as collateral with both of them; and Medicines that restrain Fluxes of Blood be mixed both with Sudorificks and other Cordials, and also be admi­nistred with Diet too.

In all Haemorrhages Sudorificks must be compounded of Medi­cines that are temperate, and not astringent.

For Potions they be made thus

Make this Apozeme, and give two or three Ounces three or four times in a day.

Pouders may be com­pounded thus.

Make a Bolus thus.

For Iuleps and Confecti­ons, to give in, and betwixt [Page 60] Sweating, they be compounded thus.

These kinds of Remedies, which are proper in Haemorrhages, are also to be used in Fluxes of the Belly; likewise by Women with [Page 62]Child, because other more hot Medicines may provoke an Abor­tion.

Make Tormentil Vinegar thus.

Let Extract of Tormentil Roots be made thus.

In the Cure of the Plague, if a course of Sweating, timely ad­ministred, do plentifully succeed, and withal other private Excre­tions be either prevented or pre­sently [Page 65]supprest, the Patient may be judg'd to be in a hopeful condition; and sometimes the Venom is quite expell'd, without any other accident: But for the most part, because the Poyson, by fermenting the Blood and Humours, is soon greatly en­creas'd; so that all of it, espe­cially the grosser Particles, can­not easily evaporate, it settles in the outward Parts, and there causeth the swelling and break­ing out of divers kinds: Those that require any application of Remedies, are Boils and Car­buncles.

The first of these commonly happen in Parts that are very Glandulous; as behind the Ears, under the Armpits, and in the [Page 66]Groin: They arise with a hard Swelling, which ought to sup­purate and break, and the Cor­ruption to be drawn all out, by the running of the Sore for some time: These Tumors call'd Bubo's, should be ordered thus.

If a Blister is not rais'd on, or near the place already, 'tis good to apply a Vesicatory Plai­ster just below it, but on the Tumor it self to apply some drawing Medicine, to attract the Venom outward; as at first, the Fundament of some living Fowl, or else a Colewort-Leaf dipt in scalding Water, and dried again, and smear'd over with Oyl of Lillies or Scorpions. To ripen the Sore, lay on Pultises or Plai­sters; or rather first Pultises, and [Page 67]then Plaisters, when it tends to suppuration; which should be re­new'd every twelve hours at least.

For Pultises.

Emplastrum de Fuligine, or Plaister of Soot, is thus made.

If when the Tumor is ripen'd, it do not soon break of it self, it is best to open it by Incision; and when it is broken, put in a Pledget dipp'd in Turpentine mix'd with the Yolk of an Egg; or dress it with Basilicon alone, or the Liniment of Arceus.

A Carbuncle, which is the other kind of Plague-Sore, which requires the operation of the hand, happens but seldom in any of the Emunctories [and [Page 73]when it does it portends ill] but useth to be in most places else: It ariseth with angry Pustules, sometimes one, sometimes many; which soon grow discolour'd, and tend to Mortification, and the substance mortified must be cast out, and then the hol­low Ulcer which remains must be healed.

When a Carbuncle first appears, Diemerbroek commends to be applied to it for the first and se­cond day, a Red Colewort Leaf, smear'd over with Rape Oyl: The same Author mentions a Pultis which he us'd for the most part, renewing it three or four times in four and twenty hours, till the Gore was taken out; and then Digestive Medicines, and others [Page 74]succeedingly are to be us'd, as in other Ʋlcers.