Section VIII Of Preservation From a Pestilence
It is manifestly much more adviseable to keep off the Invasion of a Pestilence, than to stand its violent and fatal Shocks; and Self-Preservation, as well as the Example of all other wise People, admonishes us to use all possible Endeavours to keep it from us, and guard our selves against it while at a Distance. This Part therefore concerning our Preservation from a Pestilence, regards both the Duty of the Magistrate, and the Care of every Individual; that is to say, it is the Magistrate’s Duty, that when the Nature and peculiar Qualities of this Disease are known, and reported by Physicians, such Laws should be provided, as might best conduce to prevent its Spreading, if not to its utter Extirpation.
FIRST of all therefore, they ought to be deemed as a kind of Traitors, who frighten the credulous Populace with the Apprehensions of an approaching Plague, by idle and groundless Reports and Predictions; for the Propagation of the late Sickness was too notoriously assisted by this Means, to want any Arguments to prove it.
THE timely Separation also of the infected from the well, is absolutely necessary to be done; because the most sure Way of spreading it, is letting the sick and well converse together. Publick Funerals ought to be forbid, as also all kinds of Meetings, and frequent Intercourses of several Persons together: An Injunction also of Quarentine from infected Places, according to the Custom of Trading Nations, is by any Means not to be omitted, and carefully to be executed.
ALTHOUGH it is looked upon as almost impossible by the most artful Contrivances, and the most prudent Councils, to avoid the Influence of a common Cause; yet the Call of Nature, and the Laws of Self-preservation, demand our utmost Diligence and Labour, both in publick and private, to prevent the Encroachment of such a subtile and cruel Destroyer. And it was certainly to this purpose a wise Contrivance of the Magistrates, to constitute two in every Parish daily to visit every Family, and be satisfied whether every one belonging thereunto was well, and free from any Infection.
BUT both the Ancients and Moderns have taken the utmost Pains in contriving to purge the Air, on a Supposition that, in a pestilential Contagion, that is substantially infected: But as the Air, as before demonstrated, is only the Lodgment or Vehicle to the pestilential Miasmata, which are every Way agitated in it, it does not seem so much to want Depuration on its own Account, as that poisonous Mixture which is joined with it. Indeed the pestilential Particles residing in the Porosities of the Air, may often, without any Change of Figure, for Want of due Agitation, remain and stagnate in it a long Time, so as to be drawn in by the Lungs in Inspiration, and hence from the intimate Mixture and Confusion as it were of both, a Suspicion may be entertained of the Taint coming from a Corruption of Air; but of this we have said enough already; and as howsoever this Matter is, a Purgation of the Air is by common Consent called for on all Sides in these Cases, we shall consider this Matter, chiefly in these two Respects.
FIRST, That the pestilential Seminium be dislodged; and to this Purpose contribute brisk Winds, especially from the North, and the frequent Explosions of great Guns, in the Morning and Evening chiefly; because such Concussions agitate the poisonous Miasmata, and not only help to dissipate them; but to change and alter them in those particular Configurations whereby they become so noxious; and it hath been attested by Experience, that an intimate Combination of Nitre and Sulphur greatly alters the saline Qualities of the pestilential Taint.
SECONDLY, The utmost Diligence is to be used to prevent the pestilential Particles from taking Effect; which is succesfully done by proper Fumigations. Hippocrates, the Oracle in Physick, hath left it to Posterity, to kindle Fires in the publick Streets; and these sometimes I conceive may do good; but not as some will have it, by absorbing the pestiferous Humidities, but by diffusing on all Sides a great deal of Nitre, which gives a considerable Change to the venomous Miasmata; I judge it best therefore that such Fires should be made of resinous Woods, which throw out a clear and unctious Smell, such as Juniper, Fir, Oak, Ash, Elm, Chesnut, &c. but by no Means Coals, which exhale an impure, fetid, and suffocating Sulphur.
BY the Care of the Magistrate also the Streets, Sinks, and Canals, should daily be cleared of all Filth; because Stench and Nastiness are justly reckoned the Entertainers of Infection, and we find the Air to be corrupted frequently from noisome Smells; so that the pestilential Venom cannot but receive additional Strength from such Means.
BUT to be yet more particular about these Fumigations, both to mend the Air, and refresh the Houses that have been infected, they must be composed of such Things as raise and comfort the Spirits that were languishing, with their grateful Flavours; for refreshing Smells are a kind of natural Pabulum to the animal Spirits; or they should be of such Substances as by their gummy Viscidity entangle and cover the venomous Spicula, so that they cannot act; or, lastly, of such Things as breath out such nitrous Steams, which will either preserve our Bodies from receiving Impurities, or change the Nature of the infectious Particles.
I do not indeed deny, but some ungrateful Smells may be sometimes more convenient than sweet ones, as they fix those Spirits which would otherwise exhale; and a copious Efflux of saline Particles will often keep them from Infection and Injury. But to reduce these into Classes.
The Simples of the first Class are Musk, Civet, Amomum, Lavender, Rosemary, Roses, Angelica, Marjoram, Cloves, Rhodium Wood, Aloes Wood, &c. Of the second, Frankincense, Benjamin, Storax, Bdellium, Labdanum, Pitch, Sagapenum, Myrrh, &c. Of the third Class, Sulphur and Nitre, more of which hereafter.
BUT further, that all the Means of propagating the Plague may be removed, it is very wisely ordered by the Magistracy, to kill all Dogs, Cats, and other domestick Brutes, lest these Creatures in their Passage from one Place to another should carry along with them the pestilential Infection.
YET although both the Makers and Executors of the Laws were very diligent in their Duty during the late Sickness, the Contagion notwithstanding spread; when therefore all the Care and Skill of the Magistrate could avail nothing in stopping the common Destroyer, the utmost Application was made to preserve the Individuals under its Visitation: For which Purpose, first of all were removed all Means of rendering our Bodies more subject to take the Infection, and the best Care taken to fortifie the Constitution against its Attacks, and to support it under its Tyranny.
I know not indeed a greater Neglect than in not keeping the Body clean, and keeping at a Distance every Thing superfluous or offensive; and during the pestilential Constitution nothing was worse than Evacuations of all Kinds: But if a Plethora required Phlebotomy, the Blood should be taken away by a small Orifice, in but little Quantity, and at several Times: A Person loaded with bad Humours, should be discharged of them, if possible, immediately; if they glut the Stomach, and first Passages, they ought to be thrown off by Vomiting, Drinking in the Operation good Quantities of Posset-Drink, in which hath been boiled the Leaves of Carduus and Scordium; and also the Bowels should be cleansed, to which Purpose the following is useful:
Salis Tart. ℈ ij. F. Solutio in spir. vini opt. ℥ ij. tum adde guttæ gambi ℈ iv. peractâ solutione evaporetur spir. tum adde colocynth. cum urinâ præp. ℈ ij. scammaii, Sulphurati ℈ j. Aloes, rosatæ ʒ ij. trochisc. de rhabarb. rec. ℈ iv. gum. ammoniaci in aceto, scil. sobuti ʒ j. salis absynthii, cardui ana ℈ j. ol. carui gutt. vij. cum s. q. Syr. de rhamno F. massa, inde pilulæ, min. formentur, Dos. ad ℈ ij. And thus to throw off those Humours which join with and aggravate the pestilential Venom, very much prevents the Want of Antidotes afterwards.
CARE must be taken that there be no Suppression of Urine; the Non-naturals must be used with great Regularity; the Body must be kept transpirable; the Tone of the Viscera strengthened; Fasting avoided; Choice made of a good Diet, such as will yield good Nourishment, make but little Excrement, and be easy of Digestion; to which several Pickles and Sauces are to be recommended; as Juice of Sorrel, Lemons, Oranges, Pomegranates, Barberries, &c. and at every Meal Sack is to be allowed, whose Vertues we shall hereafter have Occasion to speak of; and Care should be taken not to be Abroad in the Evening.
AND to express all in a few Words, all the animal Fluids must be kept in a natural State, in an Equality of Motion, and an equable Degree of Mixture and Fluxility; they must not be put at any inordinate Hurries, nor be too much rarified or exalted; nor must they be suffered to grow vapid and languid, for Want of Depuration, and a Retention of excrementitious Particles. But a proper Regimen is better to be had from other Writers, we therefore hasten to proper Antidotes.
An Antipestilential Electuary of Mayerne
℞ Juglandium virid. lib. ij. ficuum, prunorum ana lib. j. macerentur in aceto, & pulpa trajiciatur, cui adde pulv. subtiliss. rutæ, lib. [ss.] viperinæ Virginianæ ℥ j. [ss.] rad. contrayerva ℥ iij. petasitid. zedoariæ, ana ℥ ij. [ss.] sacchari perlati lib. j. Syr è succo Kermes ℥ j. Syr. calendulæ, caryophyll. ana q. s. ut F. Elect. molle, addendo fol. Auri 40. Dos. ad quantitatem nucis Jugland. maj. mane, & vesperi.
An Electuary for the Poor
℞ Conserv. lujulæ, galegæ ana lib. [ss.] calendulæ lib. j. Theriac. Londin. ℥ iij. boli armen. vitriol. ℥ iv. cum syr. limonum q. s. conficiatur Elect. Dos. ad ʒ ij. vel iij.
An Antipestilential Confection
℞ Radic. scorzon. Hispan. petasitid. contrayerva ana ℥ ij. helenii, tormentillæ ana ℥ [ss.] angelicæ, chelidoniæ, mai. ana ℥ j. [ss.] bacc. Junip. præp. lib. [ss.] summit. rutæ p. j. sem. cardui, citri ana ʒ ij. quibus præp. affunde p. duas aceti sambuc. & tertiam spir. vini opt. infusione peractâ & expressione, liquor igne lento evaporetur ferè ad mellaginem: extracti lib. j. adde theriac. Londin. ℥ ij. [ss.] boli arm. terræ sigillatæ ana ℥ j. flor. sulphuris ʒ v. succi Kermes ℥ ij. conserv. lujulæ lib. j. cum syr. limon. q. s. F. Elect. molle, Dos. ad quantit. nucis myristicæ mai. ter, vel sæpius de die.
Antipestilential Pills
℞ Extract. rad. helenii, angelicæ, contrayerva ana ℥ j. adde extract. alb. glycyrrh. ʒ iij. flor. sulph. ad quatuor altèm vices sublim. ʒ ij. C. C. philosoph. calcin. sem. citri pulveriz. ana ʒ j. [ss.] salis scordii, absynth. ana ℈ ij. cum s. q. picis liquidæ F. massa pro pilulis, Dos. ad ʒ [ss.] vel ℈ ij. mane, & horâ somni.
Antipestilential Elixir Proprietatis
℞ Croci Angl. opt. ℥ [ss.] extrah. tincturam cum aq. ulmariæ, scabiosæ, cardui; vel melissæ s. q. additis spir. sulphuris aliquot guttis ad leviusculam aciditatem: liquor per chartam emporeticam agatur, in colaturâ ad lentum B. calorem dissolve Aloës pellucidæ è vesicâ ℥ iv. per sataccum linteum haùd ita rarum trajiciatur liquor; deinde F. condensatio ad eundem calorem, acquisitâ pilularum molliuscularum consistentia, adde myrrhæ purissimæ ʒ vij. flor. vel. magisterii præcipit. Benzoin ʒ iij. salis C. C. ʒ ij. cum syr. sambuc. q. s. F. massa unde pilulæ formentur, Dos. ad ℈ ij.
Lozenges Against the Plague
℞ Extract. rad. angelicæ, & contrayerva ℥ j. extr. alb. liquiritiæ ʒ iij. flor. sulphuris myrrhat. h. e. cum myrrhâ sublim. ʒ v. ol. cinnam. gutt. viij. saccharum crystallin. ad duplum omnium pondus, cum mucilag. gum. tragacanth. aq. scordii parat. q. s. F. Tabellæ parvæ subling.
SOME used every Morning to swallow a Clove or two of Garlick; and many eat unripe Walnuts pickled. The following Draught was of admirable Service:
℞ Aq. rosar. rubr. camphoratæ ℥ ij. aceti opt. ℥ j. in quibus dissolve bol. arm. opt. ℈ ij. adde syr. scabiosæ simpl. ʒ iij. M. S. F. haustus.
SOME old Nurses, as themselves have informed me, for an Antidote gave human Excrements; but for the Efficacy of this Secret, I have nothing to say. Some found Benefit by drinking of Urine; but many who have thought themselves by these Means so well fortified, would venture themselves too inadvertently into Danger, without any necessary Occasion, to the great Hazard of their Lives.
BUT in these precautionary Directions, it is to be particularly advertised, that Astringents of any Kind whatsoever, as Bole, sealed Earth, Lemnian Earth, Coral, &c. are not to be given to Maidens, and Women in their monthly Courses, for Fear they should occasion Obstructions, and other bad Disorders: Those Remedies also are as much to be blamed which force this Evacuation by thinning the Blood too much, and irritating the Uterine Vessels: And lastly, in the Preservation as well as the Cure, the Seasons of the Year, Sex, Constitution, Age, &c. are carefully to be attended to.
BUT before I proceed further, Gratitude obliges me to do Justice to the Vertues of Sack, as it deservedly is ranked amongst the principal Antidotes, whether it be drank by it self, or impregnated with Wormwood, Angelica, &c. for I have never yet met with any Thing so agreeable to the Nerves and Spirits in all my Experience. That which is best is middle-aged, neat, fine, bright, racy, and of a Walnut Flavour; and it is certainly true, that during the late fatal Times, both the infected and the well found vast Benefit from it, unless they who used it too intemperately; many indeed medicated it with various Alexipharmick Simples.
IT remains that we now say somewhat concerning the Use of Tobacco, whose Vertues for this Purpose are extreamly cried up by Diemebrooeck, and some others; but whether we regard the narcotick Quality of this American Henbane; or the poisonous Oil which exhales from it in Smoaking; or that prodigious Discharge of Spittle which it occasions, and which Nature wants for many other important Occasions; or, lastly, the Exercise it gives to the Lungs in drawing it; besides the Aptitude of the pestilential Poison to be taken down along with it, and the Irksomeness of its Scent; I must confess my self at Uncertainties about it; though as to my self, I am its professed Enemy, and was accustomed to supply its Place as an Antidote with Sack.
WE now then come to external Remedies, amongst which Amulets, and Characters, demand the first Notice: It must indeed be granted, that it is no new Custom or Contrivance to hang these Charms, made various Ways, about many Parts of the Body, but what Vertues these Things have, is worth some Enquiry.
IT hath obtained with many, that Nature, or the Soul of the World, hath impressed upon some certain Bodies a very diffusive magnetick Vertue; whereupon some Adepts have ascribed to many of these Bodies a Faculty of expelling Poisons. Others conceit, that both artificial and natural Poisons do, by a certain Sympathy, when outwardly applied, draw away every Thing that is detrimental to the Constitution; after the Manner as Amber attracks Straws, and (as they report of the Snake-stone) imbibe its Venom: Some others again contrive Amulets of Spices, to invigorate Nature, and support her against the Enemy.
I think it proper to give my Opinion of this Matter; with Submission therefore to these great Men, I cannot easily come into a Belief of any Advantages to be had from this Practice; for most of the Efforts ascribed to them, is rather from the Power of Imagination, or owing to some manifest Property. Furthermore, it hath religiously obtained amongst many People, that Diseases are to be driven away by painting Characters upon the Body; but it is strongly to be suspected, that this Practice hath been altogether owing to Jugglers, and Persons addicted to infernal Arts; for what medicinal Virtue can there be in a Figure? It seems to me, that because the Sacred Mysteries of our Art were anciently described by Hieroglyphicks, the Populace, who were ignorant of their Significations, mistook them for Charms against a Plague, and other grievous Diseases, and they propagated their Delusion down to Posterity.
THERE are innumerable Preparations of these Charms or Amulets to be met with in the Writings of several Physicians; but I shall take it to have sufficiently discharged my Duty here, to mention those only which were used by our own Country People; the principal of which was a Walnut filled with Mercury; for it is certain that many did promise to themselves Security from the Dignity of this Metal, which to them seemed to be the Parent of all others; others again expected great Matters from its Volatility, notwithstanding it was thus inclosed, thinking that the natural Heat of the Body would draw such Vertues, as would secure them from the Infection. But much the greater Number were supplied with arsenical Amulets, from Empiricks and Mountebanks; these were compounded of Arsenick alone, with Wax; or had many other Things added thereunto, appropriated to the Disease. One of the chief Forms of this Kind is the following:
℞ Dictamni cret. pulv. ℈ vij. pulv. sinapi ʒ [ss.] Benzoin. ʒ ij. Arsenici veri ʒ iij. ol. cinnam. gutt. vij. ceræ opt. ʒ v. cum mucilag. gum. tragacanth. aceto rosac. parat. F. pasta, unde placentæ multiformes depsaticæ parentur, ad pondus ʒ ij. vel iij. cordis regioni admovendæ, linteo serico priùs involutæ. For it commonly prevailed amongst the Populace, that Arsenick, by some magnetick Vertue, draws away all Poison, especially that of a Pestilence. The wearing also of a dried Toad was a mighty Secret with some.
BUT to give my Thoughts concerning the good or bad Effects of these appended Remedies, I do not remember any one who had their Expectations answered thereby; but many confiding too much in them, neglected other more necessary Means of Preservation, and brought themselves into great Hazard of their Lives by wearing them; a remarkable Instance of which I met with in an elderly Lawyer, who upon wearing an Arsenical Amulet upon his Breast, had a pestilential Carbuncle rise under it, the third Day after which he died. In some others large Vesications appeared, not from any Venom drawn out, but from the Caustick Quality of the Charm it self, and the Communication of its own Poison to the Part: What Madness was it, in such a terrible Calamity, to put the Hazard of Life upon such idle and ridiculous Experiments?
BUT to pass over such Baubles, and proceed to Means that are conformable to Reason, and the Rules of Medicine, Issues are not to be forgot; for by these all kinds of Impurities are allowed to flow out along with the pestilential Poison, as through an open and ready Passage; and the more of these little Ulcers are made, the better, although their Largeness may answer as well as more in Number; that is, if they are big enough to hold 4, 6 or 8 Peas together. If any one hath a Mind for two Issues, let one be made in the left Arm, and the other in the opposite Leg. And as for the Usefulness of these, I can speak it of my own Experience, that whensoever I was most beset with pestilential Fumes, in the Course of my Business, I could then immediately perceive a shooting Pain in my Issue, and had a great deal of an ill conditioned Matter discharge from it; and this I always looked upon as a sure Warning to have timely recourse to Alexipharmicks.
GREAT Service was likewise found in the Preservation against the Pestilence, as well as in its curative Part, by the Application of Blisters, and keeping them open a good while.
HAVING thus come to a Conclusion, I think it not amiss to recite the Means which I used to preserve my self from the Infection, during the continual Course of my Business among the Sick.
AS soon as I rose in the Morning early, I took the Quantity of a Nutmeg of the Antipestilential Electuary; then after the Dispatch of private Concerns in my Family, I ventured into a large Room, where Crowds of Citizens used to be in waiting for me; and there I commonly spent two or three Hours, as in an Hospital, examining the several Conditions and Circumstances of all who came thither; some of which had Ulcers yet uncured, and others to be advised under the first Symptoms of Seizure; all which I endeavoured to dispatch, with all possible Care to their various Exigencies.
AS soon as this Crowd could be discharged, I judged it not proper to go abroad fasting, and therefore got my Breakfast: After which, till Dinner-time, I visited the Sick at their Houses; whereupon, entring their Houses, I immediately had burnt some proper Thing upon Coals, and also kept in my Mouth some Lozenges all the while I was examining them. But they are in a Mistake who report that Physicians used, on such Occasions, very hot Things, as Myrrh, Zedoary, Angelica, Ginger, &c. for many, deceived thereby, raised Inflammations upon their Tonsils, and greatly endangered their Lungs.
I further took Care not to go into the Rooms of the Sick when I sweated, or were short-breathed with Walking; and kept my Mind as composed as possible, being sufficiently warned by such, who had grievously suffered by Uneasiness in that Respect. After some Hours Visiting in this Manner, I returned Home. Before Dinner, I always drank a Glass of Sack, to warm the Stomach, refresh the Spirits, and dissipate any beginning Lodgment of the Infection. I chose Meats for my Table that yeilded an easie and generous Nourishment, roasted before boiled, and Pickles not only suitable to the Meats, but the Nature of the Distemper; (and indeed in this melancholy Time, the City greatly abounded with Variety of all good Things of that Nature) I seldom likewise rose from Dinner without drinking more Wine. After this, I had always many Persons came for Advice; and as soon as I could dispatch them, I again visited till Eight or Nine at Night, and then concluded the Evening at Home, by drinking to Cheerfulness of my old favourite Liquor, which encouraged Sleep, and an easie Breathing through the Pores all Night. But if in the Day-time I found the least Approaches of the Infection upon me, as by Giddiness, Loathing at Stomach, and Faintness, I immediately had Recourse to a Glass of this Wine, which easily drove these beginning Disorders away by Transpiration.
YET in the whole Course of the Infection, I found my self Ill but twice; but was soon again cleared of its Approaches by these Means, and the Help of such Antidotes as I kept always by me.
BUT to conclude, it may not be improper to take Notice, that the Citizens much accustomed themselves to certain Compositions for keeping off the Infection, by continual Smelling to them; the chief amongst which was the following.
℞ Pulv. rad. angelicæ, summit. rorism. & lavendulæ cum floribus ana ʒ ij. caryophyll. ʒ iiij. labdæni puriss. Styracis ana ʒ iij. omnibus præp. in commixtione adde ol. nucis mosch. per express. ʒ j. [ss.] ol. ligni rhod. ℈ ij. camphoræ ʒ [ss.] moschi gr. viij. cum ceræ opt. p. s. F. massa. Some likewise would smell to Galbanum, Oil of Wormwood, or Rue, as also the Oil or Spirit drawn from Pitch, and dropped upon Cotton, to be kept in a close Ivory Box. Yet I could not so much approve of these Things, as they were used; because they so much dilated the Pores of the olfactory Organs, as to give more Liberty for the pestilential Miasmata to pass in along with them.
The Purification of Houses was contrived to be done several Ways; but what I most approved of, was in placing a Chafing-dish in the Middle of a Room, or the Entries, or Windows, where proper Things were burnt, and exhaled all round. Quicklime was likewise thrown into the following Decoction.
℞ Fol. Scordii, Angelicæ ana M iij. summit. lauri, rutæ, lavendulæ ana M j. [ss.] flor. rosar. pallid. sambuci ana p. ij. calami aromat. ʒ v. Caryophyll. Contus. ʒ iij. F. decoctio in duabus p. aq. font. & tertiâ aceti rosac. vel Sambuc. consimiliter ac lagenæ, à mucore, & setu calcis extinctione mundantur, ita ut liquorem inditum amplius vitient, & corrumpant. For as soon as the Lime is thrown in, it raises a very penetrating Steam, which seemed very likely to destroy the Efficacy of the pestilential Miasmata. For the same Purpose likewise were the following very judiciously contrived.
℞ Salis petræ lib. j. Sulphuris ℥ iij. benzoin. Styracis simul liquati. ana q. s. ut formentur s. a. Trochisc. deb. exiccandi.
FINIS