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A
DISCOURSE
ON THE
PLAGUE:
BY
_RICHARD MEAD_,
Fellow of the College of Physicians,
and of the Royal Society; and
Physician to his MAJESTY.
The NINTH EDITION corrected and enlarged.
_LONDON_,
Printed for A. MILLAR, against _Catharine-Street_,
in the _Strand_:
And J. BRINDLEY in _New-Bond-Street_.
MDCCXLIV.
TO THE
RIGHT HONOURABLE
_James Craggs_, Esq;
ONE OF
His MAJESTY'S Principal Secretaries
of State.
_SIR_,
I MOST humbly offer to You my Thoughts concerning the _Prevention of the
Plague_, which I have put together by your Command. As soon as you were
pleased to signify to me, in his _Majesty's_ Absence, that their
Excellencies the _Lords Justices_ thought it necessary for the publick
Safety, upon the Account of the _Sickness_ now in _France_, that proper
Directions should be drawn up to defend our selves from such a Calamity;
I most readily undertook the Task, though upon short Warning, and with
little Leisure: I have therefore rather put down the _principal Heads of
Caution_, than a _Set of Directions in Form_.
THE _first_, which relate to _the performing Quarantaines_, &c. You, who
are perfectly versed in the History of _Europe_, will see are agreeable
to what is practised in other Countries, with some new Regulations. _The
next_, concerning the _suppressing Infection here_, are very different
from the Methods taken in former Times among _Us_, and from what they
commonly do _Abroad_: But, I persuade my self, will be found agreeable
to Reason.
I MOST heartily wish, that the wise Measures, the _Government_ has
already taken, and will continue to take, with Regard to the _former_ of
_these_, may make the _Rules_ about the _latter_ unnecessary. However,
it is fit, we should be always provided with proper _Means of Defence_
against so terrible an _Enemy_.
MAY this short _Essay_ be received as one Instance, among many others,
of the Care, you always shew for Your Country; and as a Testimony of the
great Esteem and Respect, with which I have the Honour to be,
_SIR_,
_Your most obedient, and
Most humble Servant,_
R. MEAD.
Nov. 25.
1720.
THE CONTENTS.
The Preface, Page i
PART I.
_Of the_ PLAGUE _in General_.
CHAP I. Of the Origine and Nature of the PLAGUE, 1
CHAP II. Of the Causes which spread the PLAGUE, 41