_Of the method used by the ~Europeans~ for their preservation from the
Plague._
Next to the protection of Divine Providence, the means that the
_Europeans_ at _Aleppo_ depend upon for their preservation during the
time of the plague, are either retiring from the city, or shutting up at
home, in such a manner as effectually to prevent all communication with
either persons or goods capable of conveying the infection. The first
method was formerly the common practice of the _English_, when the nature
of their business was such as allowed them to retire early in the season,
and their number so considerable, that they encamped upon the _Bylan_
mountains, without any danger from the _Curds_[497]: so that, by keeping
the person employed to go to the village to market at a proper distance,
and using the necessary precautions in receiving provisions, _&c._ if
the plague should be there, they were quite secure, and had at the same
time an opportunity of amusing themselves by riding, shooting, and other
country-recreations, and enjoying the cool air and verdure among those
mountains; a pleasure at other times surpassing most others in that warm
climate, though now barely sufficient to allay the melancholy reflexions
so natural on this occasion. At present, however, as the nature of
their business is such as prevents their retiring early, their number
small, and the _Curds_ more troublesome than heretofore, so that they
cannot well encamp upon the mountains, a retirement from the place is
attended with considerable inconveniences; for it is next to impossible,
when the season is advanced, but one or other of the servants who must
unavoidably be hired to carry baggage, _&c._ on the road, (for all sorts
of necessaries must be carried along with one in this country, even
provisions and bedding) either has the distemper in his own family, or at
best has daily intercourse with numbers in that condition. And though,
by carrying tents, the danger of sleeping in an infected village may be
avoided; yet it may nevertheless happen to be at the very place where
the retirement has been intended, it being, I believe, very rare that it
rages at _Aleppo_ without likewise affecting most other places within a
few days journey round it, and full as rare that the people will confess
its being amongst them.
Shutting up at home is attended with none of these inconveniences, and,
when conducted in the proper manner, its salutary effects are found by
experience to be such, that persons in this situation remain without
danger in the middle of a city where the plague rages with the greatest
violence; a circumstance so evident, that all the _Christians_ and _Jews_
who can afford it follow the example of the _Franks_ in this respect.
And though the _Turks_ cannot, on account of their religion, do it
avowedly[498]; yet such of them as have been any ways conversant with the
_Europeans_, and are not mere bigots, either keep at home, on pretence of
being indisposed, or retire to some garden for change of air, if their
affairs will not admit of their going abroad to some distant place,
where they imagine the disease does not reach. A journey to _Mecca_, on
pretence of devotion, is their most common expedient.
It having been mentioned, that the _Europeans_ are not so subject to
the epidemic diseases of that country as the natives, it is necessary
to inform the reader, that experience confirms their being liable to
the plague, some of them having generally been infected when the
distemper raged in the place, either before they shut up, or after they
came abroad. It may also be proper to add, that their servants, who are
natives, and are a much greater number than the _Europeans_, enjoy the
same benefit from shutting up.
While the number of the sick is inconsiderable, as is commonly the
case during the winter, the _Europeans_ content themselves with using
the following precautions, _viz._ to have no more intercourse with the
natives than what they are necessarily obliged to by their business; to
keep their servants at home, if possible, which however is not easily
accomplished; not to make use of a common barber, if it can be avoided;
and to carefully enquire concerning the health of those who wash their
linen, chusing for that office such as are not employed by the natives.
This does not however prevent their visiting each other, and enjoying
their usual recreations abroad in the country.
During this time it is usual for the natives to make use of all the
arguments in their power to persuade the _Europeans_, that either the
whole of the reports concerning the distemper are false, or, when this
cannot be accomplished, that the little which had appeared is now quite
over; which last pretence, however untrue, or indeed vain to hope for,
many are willing to be deceived by, till either some _European_, their
dependants, or others under their immediate inspection, being infected,
causes a general consternation, and occasions their shutting up with
all expedition. Such of the _Franks_ as act with the most prudence not
only use the precautions already mentioned, but also make the proper
dispositions for shutting up, so as to be ready to do it upon the first
visible increase of the distemper, which they look upon as unavoidable in
the spring, and lay their account with being confined till _July_. The
progress of the disease is so quick, that the difference between such as
shut up early, and those that brave it out to the last, is seldom more
than a few days.
As it would be disagreeable for a single person to be confined by
himself, they generally divide into small parties, and shut up in such
houses as are most spacious and convenient. It is an advantage to be in
one that has no communication, by way of the terrace, with any other;
for though when the distemper is not frequent, going over the house-top
to visit such other of their friends as are also shut up, is sometimes
practised, yet, when the plague rages much, it is reckoned safest not to
trust to any one, lest they should be guilty of irregularities; and when
such communications are open, it is impossible to be sure of keeping the
servants in order. Provision is made, as has been already mentioned, for
a confinement till _July_; for, after the doors are once shut, nothing
is admitted but letters, and what is absolutely necessary for the table,
and these too with the precautions which shall be mentioned. One thing,
though it may seem trifling, conduces not a little to their ease, and
that is, to have one person that can shave; for a long beard is extremely
disagreeable in hot weather. Cats, being great ramblers, are looked upon
as dangerous animals at such times; and therefore the _Europeans_ either
confine theirs at home, or send them to be taken care of by some of their
dependants, in a distant part of the city; and no quarter is shewn to any
strange cats that shall happen to be seen within their bounds, but such
are immediately shot, and thrown into the street by the help of a pair of
tongs.
This disposition being made, and the distemper so far advanced that it
is thought imprudent to go abroad any longer, the street-door is locked,
and, for the greater security, sealed up; and, if there are any windows,
or passages of any kind below stairs, through which the servants might
possibly receive any thing from without, they are secured also; even the
small hole cut in the door through which the water, for the service of
the family is conveyed, has a lock and key, so that it is never opened,
but when the Sacka (or water-carrier) comes, and then usually one of
the _Europeans_ attends; for these water-carriers, being of the same
race with the servants, are the most likely to bring them such things as
they may desire. A window above stairs is next allotted, through which
the necessary provisions, _&c._ are to be received; and such an one
is usually chose as looks into the most private part of the Khane, or
street, to avoid drawing together a concourse of idle passengers, which
the novelty of the sight would naturally do: but the more this window is
exposed to the eyes of the family within, the better it is for preventing
irregularities from servants. The necessary apparatus for this window,
consists of a rope, which, with the addition of a few yards of an iron
chain, and a hook to the lower end, reaches within two or three feet of
the ground; an iron or copper pail, which is hung on the hook of the
chain, and let down for conveying things to or from a person below, whom
they hire on purpose, and is all day in waiting to bring the necessary
provisions, carry messages, _&c._ A quantity of vinegar, a pail of water,
a long reed split at one end for conveying letters, and some brimstone to
smoke them with, as also a pair of tongs for taking out the provisions.
Meat, poultry (which last must be well picked) and every thing else that
will allow of it, is dipped in water, mixed with a small proportion of
vinegar, and hung up some little time before it is touched. Bread, which
will admit of nothing of that nature, is exposed to the air for some
hours before it is handled; and letters or other papers, are sprinkled
with vinegar and smoked with sulphur; for which purpose, if it was a
more general practice to have a box so contrived, as to impregnate the
papers more throughly with the fumes of that mineral, it might perhaps
be more safe. Some few, in place of sulphur, smoke their letters with
the following, which is what is commonly used in the Lazaretto at
_Malta_[499].
The impatience under confinement, with the melancholy occasion of it, the
apprehension that some of the company may have received the infection,
though it may not as yet have appeared, the singing before the corps in
the day, and the shrieking of the women for the dead, both day and night,
all contribute to make the first week’s confinement very disagreeable.
Custom, however, soon renders those things so familiar, as to lose much
of their force; and the company falling into various ways of amusing
themselves, in a very little time, though they cannot help feeling for
the unhappy sufferers, yet the only uneasiness most people express, on
their own account, is from a want of liberty to go abroad; this want,
they endeavour to supply by an evening’s walk upon the house-top, from
whence as many of the _European_ houses are but at a small distance from
each other, they enjoy the conversation of some of their friends, though
too far off for secrecy.
Though the shutting up of the _Europeans_ and many _Christians_, as also
the retirement of some _Turks_, as has been already mentioned, in a great
measure puts a stop to trade while the distemper rages violently, yet
the markets are all open, and as great plenty of provisions, and every
thing else to be had as at any other time: the streets too, though not so
much crouded, yet are still pretty full of people; the generality of the
_Turks_ visit the sick, and attend their funerals, in the same manner as
at other times; and though the _Christians_ and _Jews_ do not, except on
very emergent occasions, visit their sick friends, and very few besides a
priest, and those who carry the bier, attend the funerals, yet there is
no want of servants and relations, to do the necessary offices about the
sick, the same as if it was any common distemper.
As soon as the number of the sick begins to decline, the same causes that
prevented some from shutting up early, together with a natural desire
that all have for liberty, generally induces several to get abroad too
soon. The difference between the first and the last, in opening as in
shutting up, seldom exceeds a few days; and yet this, however, makes a
very considerable one in the risk, for both the increase and decrease of
the distemper, are very sudden.
The first step upon opening, is usually to ride abroad; and though it
is at a season wherein there is not the least verdure, except in the
gardens, yet, after so long a confinement, the sight of the open country
affords no small pleasure. Care is taken, while the gentlemen are abroad,
to prevent the servants in the family from having intercourse with any
body; and, after the doors are opened, the same precautions are used for
a week or two, as before shutting up.
The above precautions, are all that the _Europeans_ commonly practise;
but by myself, and such of the natives, who being obliged to be amongst
the sick, asked my advice, the following rules were observed, which,
though nothing new, I have taken the liberty to insert; as they have
hitherto proved successful, and many of them may be useful to the
_Europeans_, while their business obliges them to go abroad: to this,
however, it is but justice to add, that the trials were not many, and
that there were some few persons who were equally in the way of the
disease, without being infected, though they used no precautions at all.
The rules laid down were these:
Never to go abroad in the morning fasting.
To avoid, as much as possible, all excesses, violent passions, or large
evacuations, but not to live more abstemiously, either with regard to
eating or drinking, than usual: perhaps one or two glasses of good wine
more than customary, might rather be beneficial than otherwise; and a
plentiful use of acid liquors, such as a very weak sour punch in the
summer, is not only agreeable but useful.
While in the sick person’s chamber, passing a corpse, or near any thing
infected, not to swallow the saliva, and to breathe, in the natural way
through a handkerchief or spunge, wetted either with plain vinegar, or
such as had rue infused in it.
When examining the pulse, and other circumstances that require being very
nigh the sick, to hold the breath as much as possible, and, as soon as
retired from the chamber, to wash the mouth, face, and hands with vinegar.
Upon returning home, to put on other cloaths, and expose such as had been
wore to the air; perhaps it might also be of service to smoke them with
sulphur, but this was not practised. At such times also, it is proper
once more to wash the mouth, face, and hands with vinegar.
As to medicine, a large dose of the extract of the bark, with a draught
of wine and water, well acidulated with elixir of vitriol, taken twice a
day, were all that were used. For such as can take the bark in a liquid
form, a strong decoction of it may answer the purpose as effectually.