the company of any whole and sound people, it were necessary you do
stand by a good fire, having all the clothes about you which you did
wear when you were with the sick, and then turn and aire your selfe
well thereby, so shall you be sure the lesse to endanger others by
your company. Thus have I as breefly as I can devise set down all the
ordinary meanes which my self have used, and by others known to be used
for preserving you from this contagious and dangerous disease, which
in the most part of people will suffice, but for such as dwell whereas
they may have the counsell of a learned Physitian, I do wish them to
take his advice, especially for purging and letting bloud, because none
can so exactly set down in writing the perfect course thereof (which
may be understood rightly of the common sort) so well as he which hath
the sight of the body: for that many bodies are oftentimes troubled
with some one humour abounding more then another, which here to treat
of would be too tedious, neither can it profit the common people, for
whose sakes I have taken this paines: and now will I shew the signes to
know when one is infected therewith, as also which are the laudable
signes, and which are the contrary, and lastly the meanes (by God his
assistance) how for to cure the same.
CHAP. XIII.
_Sheweth the signes of infection._
The signes and tokens hereof are divers, as first, it is perceived
by the suddain weaknesse, loosing and overthrowing of our naturall
strength, without any manifest cause thereof going before, and
sometimes it doth begin with a gnawing and biting in the mouth of the
stomack, the pulse will grow weak, feeble, and unequall, with a great
streightnesse and heavinesse about the heart, as if some heavie burthen
or weight were layd thereon, with shortness of breathing, vomiting, or
at least a great desire to vomit, great pain in the head: insatiable
thirst proceeding of their great interior heat: sluggishnes, and
universal faintness of all the body, with a great desire to sleep,
and an astonishment of the mind and vitall spirits: and for the most
part they complain of a great paine which is felt in some one place or
places of their bodies, where the botch or blain is by nature intended
to be thrust forth, yet some at the first have them appearing: and for
the most part, they are taken at the first with a sharp and rigorous
feaver.
_Good signes._
When the botch or Carbunkle cometh out in the beginning of the
sicknesse with a red colour, and yellowish round about it, and that it
doth quickly come to maturation, the feaver to cease, and the party
findeth himself eased of his grief, and quickned in his spirits, these
are good and laudable signes of recovery.
_Evill signes._
When the botch at the first commeth out blackish, or black in colour,
also when the botch is opened, the flesh within doth look blew, and
that then there appear not any matter or quitture in the wound, but as
it were a spume or froth issuing out thereof, are ill and deadly signes,
When the botch waxeth so hard that by no means it will come to
suppuration, but resisteth whatsoever is done unto it for the
furthering thereof; and so returneth in againe into the inward parts
suddenly, is a token of sudden death at hand, and so it is, if either
before or after it is broken it look of a blewish colour, or of divers
colours, like the Rainbow, round about it.
When the Carbunckle or Blain doth suddenly dry up, as if it were
scorcht with the fire, and that the place round about it doth shew to
be of a wannish blew colour, is a deadly sign: if in the skin appear
green or black spots, the excrements of divers colours with worms in
it either dead or living, having a vile stinking savour, and spitteth
stinking and bloudy matter, doth betoken death.
When the sick complaines of great and extream heat in the inward parts,
and yet cold outwardly, the eyes staring or weeping, the face terrible,
the said excrements or urin passing away, and the party not knowing
thereof, are evill signes.
When in the fourth or seventh day they are taken with a frensie, or
do fall into an extream bleeding at nose, or have a great flux with
a continuall vomiting, or a desire to vomit and do it not, extream
pain at the heart, watchfullness, and the strength clean gone, are
deadly signes. When the party being very sick, yet saith he feeleth
himself well, his eyes sunk deep in his head, and full of tears, when
he thinks all things do stink, his nailes looking blew, the nose
sharp, and as it were crooked, the breath thick and short with a cold
sweat in the brest and face, and turning and playing with the clothes,
the pulse creeping or scarcely to be felt, and greivous unto him to
speak, these are infallible signes of death at hand. Some, before any
of these signes are perceived, do dy, and some likewise which have
divers of them appearing, and yet do escape, such is the uncertainty
of this disease: there are many other symptoms which do happen in this
contagious disease, which would be too tedious to declare, but these as
the chiefest may suffice.
_The end of the first Treatise._
_The Second Treatise, shewing the meanes how to cure the Plague._
CHAP. I.
When we perceive any to be infected with this contagious disease, we
must with all possible speed seek all the meanes we can how to prevent
the malignity thereof, whose property is at the first to assault the
principall part, which is the heart, and therefore requires present
help; for unlesse something be done within eight or four and twenty
houres, little will it then prevail to attempt it, for by that time
nature is either subdued, and clean overthrown, or else hath thrust
the same to the exterior parts, or otherwise digested it: yet may we
not neglect at any time, to use all the meanes we can, in helping and
furthering of nature to the uttermost of our indeavour, because we doe
oftentimes see nature so wearied, and weakened in expelling of this
venemous matter, that unlesse some help be added to assist and comfort
her, the party, for lack thereof, dyeth, which otherwise might be
saved: For I have oftentimes seen by diligent helping of nature, that
to be effected and brought to good passe, which I have judged most
desperate. There are foure intentions required for the curing thereof;
that is, by bloud-letting, Cordials, sweat and purging: but the manner
how to execute the same, hath bred great contention both amongst the
old and later Writers, which here to treat of were too tedious, for
unto the learned it were needlesse, and for the commonalty little would
it availe them, therefore in breif will I shew you what I have observed
touching the cure.
First, if it be in a Plethorick, sanguine, and strong body, and hath
pain in the head, great heat at the heart, thirstnesse, the pulse
strong, and labouring, or beating strongly, and hath great and large
veines appearing; these ought presently to be let bloud in that side
where yee perceive the greif doth proffer it selfe to come forth,
and not visibly appearing, tending to maturation: For then we may not
draw bloud, but use all other meanes we can devise, in helping nature
to expell it, neither may you draw bloud, if the party have a flix or
lask (which is an evill sign) in the beginning of the disease, for by
that meanes you shall hinder nature greatly, but onely give the party
Cordials; neither may you stop the flix in the beginning, but if it
be extream, and that it stay not the second day, then must you give
some purgation, which may leave an astringency behind it, as hereafter
in the cure of the flix shall be shewed. For as _Hyppocrates_, in his
first book and one and twentieth Aphorisme, doth admonish us, we must
consider and mark, how nature doth incline her self, for that will
teach us what we are to doe.
Now if you perceive the botch or carbunkle to appear underneath the
chin about the throat, then presently draw bloud in both veines under
the tongue, and immediately after that apply a cupping glasse, with
scarification in one side of the neck next unto the sore, thereby to
draw in from the throat, for fear least suddenly it choke him up, and
then apply Chickens rumps, or Hens rumps to the botch, the feathers
being first pluckt away from the rump, and a grain of Salt put into
the tewell, and so hold the bare place to the greif untill the Chicken
die, which will be within half an hour, and then apply another, and so
continue in changing them so long as they doe die, and lastly apply a
mollificative Cataplasme or plaister to the same place, as in the fift
Chapter following is shewed, which is made with _Unguentum basillicon_,
and to the botch apply the _Epithemation_ and Cataplasme in the seventh
Chapter following. But if it be in the neck, he doth complain, then let
him bloud in the _Cephallica_ vein in the arm, of the same side where
he complaineth.
If in the groin or flanke he doth complain, then let him bloud in
the foot on the same side, and open the vein called _Maleola_, or
_Saphena_, the quantity must be according as the age and strength of
the party requireth, but at most draw not above six or eight ounces:
For _Avicen_ willeth us, to preserve bloud as the treasure of nature.
But in a weak, spare, and cachochimious body (as _Galen_ teacheth us)
we may not draw bloud at all, for thereby should you greatly indanger
the Patient, but help such by Cordials and sweat.
And here you shall understand, that unlesse Phlebotomy be done at the
first, that is, within six or eight houres at most, it will be too late
to attempt it, neither may you doe it if the sore doe appear up in
height tending to suppuration, for then should you hinder nature, which
like a diligent workman, hath discharged and thrust forth that venomous
matter, which otherwise would have killed us.
And here touching Phlebotomy or bloud-letting, you must have this
speciall care, that you draw not bloud on the opposite side, as if it
be on the left side the sore appear, then draw not bloud on the right
side; if it appear in the flanke, then draw not bloud in the arme, but
in the foot, for otherwise you shall draw that venomous matter from the
ignoble unto the noble parts, and so kill the body.
And although the party complain not more in the one side then the
other, yet by the pulse shall you perceive on which side the venome
lieth hidden, for on that side where nature is opprest, there shall you
find the pulse more weak, feeble, and uneven, greatly differing from
the other side.
And here you shall understand, that in some it hath been seen, that
nature of it self at the first, hath thrust out that venomous matter
in some place of the body, with a botch appearing high, and tending to
suppuration, or a carbunckle, or spots called purples. Now here if you
draw bloud, you doe then greatly indanger the body; but in this case
you must onely give Cordials, and use all the meanes you can to bring
it outward, either by maturation, or evaporation, as hereafter shall be
shewed you.
And here you shall further understand, that where the age,
constitution, nor strength of the party will permit that Phlebotomy be
done, yet for the better help of nature you must apply Ventoses, with
reasonable deep scarification, unto the next place adjoyning, where
the party complaineth, thereby the more speedily to draw the venomous
matter unto the superficiall parts, and there to apply the rumps of
Chickens, as before is taught you, and so apply to the place some
strong maturative, and attractive plaister, or Cataplasme, as hereafter
shall be shewed you. If the greif be in the head or throte, then apply
Ventoses to the neck: If it be in the emunctuaries of the heart, then
apply them to the shoulders: If in the emunctuaries of the liver, then
apply them to the buttocks or thighs, now when this is done, either
by Phlebotomy, or Ventoses, then within an hour or two at the most
after it, you must give the sick some good Cordiall Medicine, which
hath power to comfort the heart, resist the venomous matter, and also
procure sweat, whereof out of the following you may make choice as you
list.
_An excellent good Powder to expell the Plague, which also provoketh
sweat._
℞. Roots of _Gentian_, _Bittanie_, _Petasitis_, _ana_, ʒ. i. Roots of
_Tormentill_, _Dittander_, _ana_, ʒ iii. Red Sanders ʒ. ß. Fine Pearle
of both sorts, _ana_, ℈. i. Fine _Bolarmoniack_ prepared, fine _Terra
sigillata_, _ana_, ʒ. vi. Rindes of Citrons, red Corrall, Roots of
_Zedoiar_, shaving of _Ebony_, bone of a Stags heart, _ana_, sixteen
graines: Fragments of the five pretious stones, _ana_, ℈. ß. Shaving
of a Unicorns horn, _Succini_, _ana_, ℈. ß. Leaves of Gold and Silver,
_ana_, one and half in number,
Make all these in fine powder, every one severall by himself, and then
mix them all together, and give thereof ʒ. i. or ℈. iiii. more or
lesse as occasion requireth, either in Sorrell, _Scabios_, or _Carduus
benedictus_ water two or three ounces, whereunto you must adde a little
Sirrup of Lemons, or four Citrons, and give it warm, the _Bolarmoniack_
must be pounded small, then washed in _Scabios_ water, and so dryed.
_Another good Powder._
℞. Leaves of _Dittander_, called _Dictami cretici_, Roots of
_Tormentil_, _Bittanie_, _Pimpernell_, _Gentian_, _Zedoiar_, _ana_,
ʒ. i. _Terra lemnia_, _Alloes Cicatrina_, fine Myrrh, Rinds of
four Citrons, _ana_ ʒ i. Mastick, Saffron, _ana_, half a drachm.
Bolarmoniack prepared as beforesaid, ʒ ii.
All these must be made in fine pouder, and so mixt together, you may
give two scruples, or one drachm thereof with any of the aforesaid
waters.
_A good Opiat to expell venome, and provoke sweat._
Conserve of the floures of Burrage, Bugloss, Violets, Bittanie, _ana_,
℥. ii. _Venus_ Triacle ℥. ii. Red _Terra sigillata_, _Terra lemnia_,
Mithridate, _ana_ ℥. i. Shaving of Ebonie, And Harts-horn, Orient
Pearls, Roots of Tormentill, _ana_ ʒ i. Shaving of Unicorns horn, Root
of Angelica, _ana_ half a drachm. Sirrup of the Juice of small Sorrell
and Bugloss, _ana_, so much as shall suffice.
Mix all these together in the form of an Opiat, then take of the same
Opiat, one drachm and half. _Scabios_ water, Balm water, _ana_ ℥ ii.
Dissolve the Opiat in the waters, and drink it warm, then walk a little
upon it, and then goe to bed and sweat.
_Another excellent good means to expell the venom, and procure sweat._
Take a great white Onyon, and pick out the coar or middle of him, then
fill the hole with good _Venus_ Triacle, or _Andromachus_ Triacle, and
_Aqua vitæ_, then stop or cover the hole of the Onyon again, and rost
him in the hot ashes untill he be soft, then strein it strongly through
a cloth, and give it the sick to drinke, and the rest that remains,
pound it small, and apply it to the sore, and sweat upon it.
Now when he hath taken any of the aforesaid Cordials, if he chance to
vomit it up again, then wash his mouth with Rosewater and Vinegar,
and then give him more of the same again, which must be proportioned
according to the quantitie vomited, for if all were vomited, then give
so much more: (if lesse) then according to the quantity vomited, and
if he vomit that also, then give him more, and so continue it to the
third or fourth time, if cause so require, but if at no time he doe
retain it, then is there small hope of recovery; I have known divers,
which have vomited their Cordials three or four times, and at last,
giving the juyce of the Onyon as aforesaid, hath kept that, and sweat
upon it, and so recover their health.
Also _Minardus_ Triacle, or _Andromachus_ Triacle being taken two
Scruples with one Scruple of _Dioscordium_, and dissolved in two or
three ounces of this water following, or _Carduus benedictus_, Sorrell,
and _Scabios_ water, hath been found excellent good and available, both
to procure sweat, and expell the venomous matter.
_An excellent good water against the Plague, and divers other
diseases, which is to be made in +May+ or +June+._
Take _Angelica_, _Dragons_, _Scabios_, _ana_ three handfuls. Wormwood,
Sage, Salendine, Mugwort, Rue, Rosemary, Varvein, Endive, Mints, _ana_
one handfull. Tormentill, Pimpernell, Agrimonie, Bittanie, _ana_ two
handfulls. St. Johns wort, Fetherfew, and Pionie, _ana_ a little
handfull.
You must mix all these hearbs together, then bruise them in a stone
morter grosly, then put them into a clean vessell of glasse or earth,
and add thereto a pottle of White wine, or three quarts, a pint of
Rose-water, and a pint of Vinegar: then mixe them well together, and
presse down the Hearbs close together with your hands, then stop the
pot close, and so let it stand to infuse two dayes and two nights,
then distill it in a stillatorie, this water hath been found excellent
good, both to preserve one from the Plague, being drunk three or four
spoonfuls of it in the morning fasting, as also to expell the disease,
being drunk with any of the Cordials aforesaid.
CHAP. II.
_Sheweth what is to be done after taking of the Cordiall._
Now so soon as the partie hath taken his Cordiall, (if he be able)
cause him to walke upon it in his chamber a prettie while, then lay
him into his naked bed, being first warmed if it be in cold weather,
and so procure him to sweat, but in any case have a speciall care
to keep him from sleep all that day, because thereby the bloud and
vitall spirits are drawn to the inward parts, and there doth hold in
the venomous matter about the heart; but if the sore appear, or be
perceived to present it self in any place neer the heart, then to
defend the malignity thereof before he sweat, it were good to annoint
the place betwixt the region of the heart and the sore with Triacle, or
with this Unguent following.
_A good defensative Unguent._
Take Triacle, ℥. ß. _Terra lemnia_, Red sanders, _ana_ ʒ. i Mix them
together with a little Rose-water and Vinegar in a morter, to the form
of an Unguent, and so use it as aforesaid.
And unto the sore place apply chickens rumps, as before hath been told
you, and then annoint the place grieved with Oyle of Lillies; and then
Epithemate the heart with any one of these Epithemations following.
_Epithemation._
Take the Powder of _Diamargaritum frigidum_, ℈ i. _Triasandalum_, ʒ.
vi. _Ebeni_, ʒ ii. Saffron, ℈. ß. Lettice seed, ʒ i. Waters of Roses,
Bugloss, and Sorrel, _ana_ ℥ vi. Vinegar ℥. ii. boil them altogether a
little.
_Another._
Take the waters of Roses, Balm, Bugloss, _Carduus benedictus_ and
white wine, _ana_ ℥ iiii. Vinegar of Roses ℥ ii. Powder of red Roses,
Cinnamon, _Triasandalum_, _Diamargaritum Frigidum_, _ana_ ʒ ß.
_Mithridatum_, ℥ i. Triacle, ℥. ß. Boil them together a little, and
being bloud warm, Epithemate the heart therewith, which being done,
then procure him to sweat, and after sweat, and the body dryed, then
apply this quickly to the heart.
_A Quilt for the Heart._
Take the floures of Nenuphare, Burrage, Bugloss, _ana_, a little
handfull: Floures of Balm, Rosemary, _ana_ ʒ iii. Red sanders, Red
corall, _Lignum aloes_, Rinde of a citron, _ana_, ʒ i. Seeds of Basil,
Citrons, _ana_ ʒ i. Leaves of Dittander, Berries of Juniper, _ana_ ℈ i.
Bone of a Stags heart, half a scruple, Saffron, four grains.
Mixe all these in grosse powder, and put them in a bag of crimson
Taffetie, or Lincloth, and lay it to the heart, and there let it
remain. All these things being done, then procure him to sweat, having
a good fire in the chamber, and windowes close shut, and so let him
sweat three or four houres more or lesse, or according as the strength
of the sick body can endure, and then dry the body well with warm
clothes, taking great care that the sick catch not cold in the doing
thereof, and then give him some of this Julep following, and apply the
aforesaid quilt or bag to the heart.
_A cordiall Julep._
Take Waters of Endive, Purslane, and Roses, _ana_, ℥. ii. Sorrell
water, half a pint, Juyce of Pomgranats, and for lack thereof Vinegar,
℥ iiii. Camphire ʒ. iii, Sugar, one pound. Boil all these together in
the form of a Julep, and give three or four spoonfuls thereof at a time.
_Another Julep._
Take Sirrup of Ribes, Sorrell, Nenuphare, _ana_ ℥. i. Juice of Limons,
℥ i. Sorrell water, ℥ viii. Mix all these together, and take two or
three spoonfulls thereof oftentimes, which will both comfort the heart,
and quench thirst.
And if in the time of his sweat he be very thirstie, then may you give
him to drink a Tysane made with water, clean Barly and Licorice scrapt
clean and bruised, boil them together, then strein it, and unto a quart
of the liquor add three ounces of Sirrup of Limons, and give thereof
at any time; small beer or ale is also tolerable, or you may give a
spoonfull of this Julep following at any time.
_A Julep to quench thirst._
℞. Sorrell-water, four ounces, Burrage-water, Scabios water, of either
one ounce, Sirrup of Lemons and sowre Citrons, of either one ounce.
Mix all these together and so use it as occasion requireth at any time:
and give oftentimes a cake of _Manus Christi_, made with Perls for him
to eat. But if in the time of his sweat you see the sick to faint or
swoun, then apply to his temples, and the region of the heart, this
mixture following.
℞. Conserve of Roses, Burrage, Bugloss, Broom floures, of either one
ounce: Mithridate, four ounces, Triacle, one ounce, Floures of Violets,
Pellamountaine, Red Roses, of either one drachme, Roots of Ireos, one
drachm, Musk, Sivet, of either eight graines.
Mix all these together with a quantity of Rose-Vinegar in the form
of an Opiat, this must be spread on Plaisters, and applied to the
heart and temples, and to the soales of the feet apply this plaister
following.
Take of the aforesaid Opiat, ℥ ii. unto the which you must put so much
more of an Onyon, which must have the middle part thereof taken out,
and the hole filled with Mithridate, and _Aqua vitæ_, and so rosted in
the ashes, and then mix it with the Opiat, and apply it to both soales
of the feet.
Now when all this is done, and that one hour is past after his sweat
and body dried as aforesaid: it were good you did give the sick some
good comfortable broth, although he vomit it up againe, then let him
rest two houres, and then offer him more, which you must do oftentimes,
and but little at a time.
And if after all this done he continue still weak and faint without any
amendment, then give him another Cordiall, as ye did at the first, and
so cause him to sweat again so long as his strength can well endure
it, and after sweat give more of the Julep aforesaid, for by this
meanes you shall oftentimes see the sore, which did offer it self to
come forth, will be clean discussed and consumed away: but if it do
not by this means go away, then use all the means you can to bring it
to suppuration, and then open it with some caustick or incision, as
hereafter shall be shewed you at large.
The next day after his sweat, you may tollerate him to sleep one hour
or two in the forenoon, whereby to prevent pain or lightnesse of the
head, which may chance through want thereof: and if after his sleep the
party be sick and faint, then immediately give him some good Cordiall,
according as the state of his body requireth, either in temperate or
extream heat, as before is shewed: and in one hour after that give him
some comfortable broth made with Veale, Mutton, Chicken, or such like,
wherein some Burrage, Bugloss, Pimpernell, and a little Hysop, with
some Parsley roots, the inner pith being taken out, must be boiled,
whereof he must take a little at a time, three or four times a day, and
betwixt times in taking of his broth, give him three or four spoonfulls
of this Julep following, which doth resist venenosity from the heart,
and also quench thirst.
_A Julep to quench thirst and resist Venenosity._
℞. Water of Scabios, Burrage, Sorrell, _ana_ ℥. ii. Sirrup of Lemons,
sowre Citrons, and the juice of Sorrell, of either one ounce.
Mix all these together, and give thereof as cause requireth.
Then at night he may sleep three or four houres more, and the next day,
being the third or fourth day of his accubet, you may purge him with
one of the purgations here following, but in any case you must take
heed that you do not purge with any strong or Scammoniate medicine,
because it may cause an extream flux, which will be most dangerous,
because it will overmuch weaken the body, and hinder concoction, for
most commonly in this disease the body of it self is subject to fluxes.
_A good Purgation in a strong body._
℞. _Rad. Cichoriæ_, ʒ. iiii. _Rad. Petasitis_, ʒ. ß. _Fol. Scabiosæ_,
_Card. Benedictus_ _Pimpinellæ_, _Acetosæ_, _ana_ M. i. _Florum Cord._
P. i. _Prunorum dammas._ _no._ x. _Sem Coriandri_, ʒ ß. _Aqua font._ ℥.
ix.
Boyle them untill a third part be consumed, then strain it.
℞. _Decoct. col._ ℥. iiii. _Fol. Senna_, ʒ. iii. _Rhab. elect._ ʒ.
iiii. _Spicæ_. G. iii.
Infuse them together twelve hours, then strain it strongly, and add
thereto these things.
_Sir. de Cichoriæ, cum Rhab._ ʒ vi. _Oxisacchart,
Simp._ ʒ. ii.
Mix them altogether, and drink it in the morning refraining from meat,
drink, and sleep three houres after, and then eat some good broth.
_Another in a plethorick and full body._
℞. _Fol. Scabiosæ_, _Buglossæ_, _Card. B._ _ana_ M. i. _Florum Cord._
P. i. _Rad. Tormentillæ_. ʒ. iii. _Rad. Fenic._ _licho._ _ana_ ʒ. iiii.
_Passularum enucleat_, ℥. i. _Prunorum dammas._ _no._ vi. _Sem anis._
_Coriandri_, _Oxialidis_, _ana_ ℈. 1. _Sennæ_, _Polipod._ q. _ana_ ℥. i.
Boyle all these in a sufficient quantity of water untill half the water
be consumed, then strain it, and keep it.