A NEW TREATISE OF THE PESTILENCE, containing the Causes, Signs, preservatives and Cure thereof. The like not before this time published. And therefore necessary for all manner of persons, in this time of contagion. S. H. Studious in Physic.  
LONDON, Printed by john Windet, for Matthew Law, and are to be sold at his Shop at the sign of the Fox in Paul's Churchyard. 1603.   

A TREATISE OF the Pestilence.  
Having an intent to write certain Precautions and preservatives against the pestilence, I think not necessary to be over tedious or so precise as those that write exquisitely and perfectly of the same disease: only I am determined to set down such things as shall be necessary for to be known by those which in this case shall have need.  
And first, I will make a true description of the pestilence, what it is. Secondly, the causes, thou the Signs, and lastly precautions and remedies against the same.  
The pestilence is nothing else then a rotten or pestilent fever, 
Definition.  which being engendered by a rotten and corruptayre by a hidden and secret property which it hath, doth kill and destroy mortal creatures. The causes are said to be four fold, as the first & chiefest cause is supernatural, as being immediately sent from God for the punishment of sin and disobedience of mankind, as doth appear in Deut. 28 15. If thou wilt not obey the voice of the Lord thy God to keep and to do all his commandments and his ordinances which I command thee this day: then all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee. Cursed shalt thou be in the town, and cursed in the field, etc. The Lord shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee until he have consumed thee from the Land which thou goest to possess, etc. Moreover we read that the sin of David was the cause that the Lord sent his Angel which did kill the pestilence in a small time threescore and ten thousand souls.  
Now this may be proof sufficient that sin is the original and chief cause of this most cruel disease of the pestilence.  
The second cause is attributed to an evil constellation which Astronomers affirm to proceed by the placing of the Sun, Moon, and Stars, being in the firmament or circles of the heavens by their conjunctions, oppositions, and other Aspects the one to the other.  
The third cause is attributed to the corruption of the air, which being corrupted is apt for infection of man's body, for all living creatures draw their breath from the air that is round about them, which if it be stinking, wenomous, and corrupt, the body of man living therein is in danger to be corrupted: whereby often times the pestilence is engendered.  
The fourth cause is the aptness of the body of man, through corrupt and rotten humours fit to receive the effects of a venomous air, putrefying and corrupting the body whereby the pestilence is engendered. And this aptnsse to infection proceedeth by the abuse of the six things which are called by the Physicians not natural, which are 

1. Air.  
2. Meat and drink.  
3. Sleep, and watch.  
4. Exercise, and rest.  
5. Emptiness, and repletion.  
6. The perturbations and affections of the mind.    
Now as the true use of these things that are called not natural doth maintain and cherish health, so the abuse thereof is the occasion of disease & sickness. For which cause I counsel all manner of persons in this time of contagion to fly surfeiting, gormandizing, and other unseasonable banquetings, whereby the health of the body is at all times impaired, for who knoweth not that great and often feeding breedeth crudity, and raw waterish humours in the body (which crudity is a fit sediment or subject for the venomous and corrupt air to work on. For which cause the learned Physicians as well Ancient as modern give counsel that in the time of pestilence and contagion, those bodies that are humid and moist, must be by all manner of means made dry, and those that are dry to be kept and preserved in their dryness: for by observation it is very well known that the Phiegmaticke and sanguine body is sooner subject to infection then the Choleric or Melancholic, and experience doth daily teach us when for the most part women, children, and men of young years are those that die in this disease of the pestilence as those bodies that are hot and moist and thereby fittest to receive so.  
But for as much as I promised in the beginning not to be over-tedious as those that make a long discourse, I purpose to proceed briefly unto the signs whereby a man may know and perceive when the contagion hath taken hold of him, and thereby run speedily unto such means & helps, as by the rules of Physic shall be to him described.  

Signs.  The signs to know when the body is infected, are for the most part an Apostum or tumour about the ear, neck, under the arm holes, or flank, with a fever, and sometimes there ariseth in some other parts of the body, a dark green or evil coloured sore. These signs for the most port doth appear but not always. But for the more certainty, we must consider these symptoms or signs that follow, there happeneth after infection a great pricking, and shooting in the body and especially in the neck armholes and flanks, also extreme heat within the body, and in the hands, knees, and feet very cold so that there is joined with the same a shivering as in a fever: also their is heaviness of the head, dryness of the mouth, with extreme thirst; also a drowsiness and great desire to sleep: some again are so watchful that they cannot sleep, so that they rave as though they were in a frenzy: there happeneth also great pain in the head faintness sluggishness, weakness of the l●mmee, pensiveness, no desire of meat with often vomiting, the matter being bitter & of divers colours, the urine troubled, thick and stinking & for the most part without residence.  
These are the principal signs of infection & yet not certain, for sometimes a man may be infected and yet none of these signs apparent. And in like manner a man may have these signs, and yet free from infection. Some Physicians are of opinion that there is scarcely any disease where the Pestilence reigneth, but that it is either of the nature of the pestilence or apt to be turned into the same.  
And thus much shall suffice as concerning signs of the infection with the pestilence: we will now proceed to the preservatives and cure.  

Of the cure of the Pestilence.  
AS I have already declared that there is a fourfold cause of this cruel disease of the pestilence: 
Cure.  so also there is a fourfold means to cure the same.  
The first consisteth in evacuation and mundification of the body.  
The second, in a due observation of diet.  
The third, in comforting and strengthening of the principal members; which are the heart, the liver, and the brain, with asseveration of the potential and operative powers.  
The fourth, in giving and administering of Antidotes, Alexipharmacon, and other preservatives against venomous and contagious airs, with the office of the Chirurgeon, for Phlebotomy, blood letring, maturation, extraction, and healing of Carbuncles.  
For preservative against the Pestilence they must be such as have faculty of resisting putrefaction, and even presently from the beginning those bodies (as I have before said) which are humid & moist, must be by all possible means that may be made dry, and those that are dry must be kept & preserved. But in those bodies that do abound with corrupt, rotten, & hurtful humours: it shall be needful for them before infection, to use purgation and blood letting by advice of the skilful and learned Physician.  
And whereas the Physician in other fevers are accustomed to use a longer process: that is to say, by preparing the body, by digesting of humours offending, and last of all by evacuation and purging out of the same: in this cruel disease which will not add pacis conditiones descendere, that is, endure no dalliance or delay, we must fly forthwith unto the cure and remedies for the same.  
And for because it seldom happeneth that persons which are infected with the pestilence, are visited with the Physician, or Chirurgeon whereby many want cure & remedy which live & recover, I am therefore determined by God's assistance to set down such means and remedies as shall be profitable to all those that shall have need to use the same.  
And first of all for preservative before the body be infected may be used this following.  

Take 

Oxysaccharum.  
Syrup of Sorrell.  
Oxymel Symplex, of either of them half an ounce.  
Waters of Endive, Scabios, Carduus benedictus, of either one ounce.     
Let all these be mixed together and taken in the morning fasting, and so continue it every other day day during the time of the Pestilence.   

Pills for the resisting of the Pestilence.  

Take 

Aloes elect one ounce.  
Myrrh.  
Safferne of either two. Dragons.  
Agarick prepared.  
rhubarb, elect of either so much.  
Camphor, 1. dram, and 2. Scruples.  
Red and yellow Saunders.  
Red Roses.  
Red Coral of either 1. dram.  
Dictamni.  
Gentian root.  
Zedoary.  
Tormentil of either 4. Scruples.     
Let all those be made into a mass with the Syr●●●●l●ed Aeotosi●atis ci●●i, as much as shall be sufficient, and when any will use thereof, let him take the weight of one scruple made into a ●il in the evening when he entereth into his bed, & so let him continue every day during the time of the Pestilence, if you give thereof to children half a scruple shall suffice, these pills have a wonderful property in resisting venom, and in evacuating of rotten and corrupt humours with strengthening and confirming of the principal members.   

another preservative against the Pestilence.  

Take 

Of Andromachas treacle of either 1. dram.  
Of the best Mithridate, of either 1. dram.  
Sugar roset.  
Saccharie boraginati,  
Sacchari buglossatis,  
Of the citren rind condite.  
Of either of them one ounce and a half.  
Electuari de gemmis 10. drams.  
Diarhodon Abbatis.  
Diatrion santuli of either 1. ounce.     
Myxe altogether with the syrup of the rind of Citrens as much as shall suffice, and take of the same Electuary everyday, or every other day the quantity of a Chest nut in the morning four hours before dinner. And for as much as every man cannot be at so great a charge as to attain these former things prescribed, they may use every morning fasting one scruple of the pills called Pilulae Ruffi which doth excellently resist putrefaction, or they may use every morning upon the point of a knife The●iac● Diates●aron which also is a preservative against the Pestilence.  
They may also take one ounce of London treacle, with the powder of Carduus Benedictus, and the root of Angelica of either of them half a dram, and mix them together, and thereof take every morning fasting upon the point of a knife often times in the day. I omit to speak of the unicorns Horn, and Bezars stone, because their value is so great, and the grain held at so dear a rate: only I advise every man that will seek the preservation of his own health, to keep their houses sweet, and clean, using in their common rooms not only fires in the chimneys, but also in earthen pans, with perfumes and sweet vapours, which be not only pleasant to the senses, but also have property to cleanse and purify the air, such as is Rose vinegar, red Rose water, lignum Aloes, Olibanum, Bengimin, Storax Calamint, Juniper Buris; with the wood and such like Besides, to be careful not to be much out of their own doors before the Sumre have been up for two hours space, or after it is set and gone down. And thus much briefly by way of precaution and preservative before infection. Now it resteth to describe the cure of the Pestilence after infection according to the practice and cures of Physic.   

Of the cure of the Pestilence.  
WE have already set down in brief manner precautions and preservatives against the Pestilence. Now if it happen any man to be infected, let him presently with all the speed that possible may be, take two drams of this powder following in half a draft of good white wine.  

Take 

Tormentil. of either 1. dram.  
Dictamni. of either 1. dram.  
Zedoari. of either 1. dram.  
The root of Gentian,  
Of the root Carlinae,  
Of the root Verbascus, dried in the shade and powdered of either 1. dram.     
Make all these into fine powder and as soon as it may be, let the patient that is infected take 2. drams in half a draft of good white wine, then let him go into his bed & be covered warm with clothes that he may sweat thoroughly. And to the intent he may sweat the sooner, you may put into the bed earthen bottles filled with hot water, and so let him sweat for the space of two or three hours keeping him from sleep and drink, all that while. In like manner this powder may be used.  

Take 

the roots of Pimpinella.  
Of Tormentil,  
Of Cinnamon, of either 1. ounce.  
Lignum aloes,  
Greek mints, of either 2. ounces.  
juniper berries,  
Narde seed, of either so much.     
Make all into fine powder and mix 2. drams thereof with Andromachus treacle, and of choice Mithradat of either half an ounce, with half an ounce of syrup the ribs: and give thereof at one time a dram or better & so provoke him to sweat as aforesaid, if you add to every dram or does. 6. grains of Bezars stone, you shall see a marvelous effect for it resisteth the Pestilence and all manner of venom.   

another electuary to be taken after infection.  

Take 

Bolearmonick washed in red rose-water.  
Two Dragmes.  
Terrae Sigillatae.  
Red Coral, of either 1. dram.  
Of the Citren rind,  
zedoary.  
Safferne, of either half a dram.  
Sugar rosat, of red roses, 6. ounces.  
Syrupus acetositatis citri, 10. ounces.     
Let all be made into fine powder, and make an electuary of this electuary, the patient shall take one dram, and of Andromachas treacle so much, and mix them together and receive all presently at one Dose, and drink presently after a draft of Scabios water or sorrel water with a little of vinegar of roses, or take the foresaid treacle and electuary and mix it with the water and so drink it, presently provoking sweat as aforesaid.  
And thus much I think to be sufficient at this time, as concerning this cruel disease of the Pestilence, I know much more may be written, but for as much as I promised to avoid prolixity, I will end only with advice unto such Chirurgious as shall be called, or shall adventure themselves to the cure of this so dangerous a sickness.  
The chief matter belonging to the Chirurgeon is blood letting, extraction, and maturation of Carbuncles and Apostumes, as for blood-letting, let not the Chirurgeon draw so much forth as may be an occasion of fainting, or swooning to the patient, but let him draw forth blood by degrees, and iterate the same, as if the patient bleed in the morning 5. ounces, he may bleed at three of the clock in the after noon, 3. ounces more, and so again the next morning if need shall require.  
And this is to be noted, that this blood letting is to be used at the beginning of infection and not otherwise; provided always that there with some one or other of this Antidotes or electuaries before declared be used.  
And whereas I have observed that the patient infected with this disease having absessus tumour or Carbuncle arising either in the groin, Armholes or under the ears, or in some emunctuarie or cleansing place of the body weyting the suppuration and ripening of the same either by nature, or medicine, they have died, which if the Chirurgeon would either by extirpation, or incision, with present application of some ripening and attractive plaster, nature would thereby be eased & the venomous and corrupt vapours by nature expelled, for nature being weak, and not able to expel the venom fast enough, if by insensible transpiration, the venom returneth back to the heart, and so presently destroyeth nature. But if the Chirurgeon or the patient himself do follow my advise, he shall presently either with incision, knife, or other instrument remove that turnor where nature may have way made to expel that venomous and corrupt matter which is noisome unto it.  
And thus by the grace of God and his blessing, whosoever shall follow the foresaid precepts, and rules, shall preserve both himself and his family from the Pestilence. And I beseech the Almighty to hold his holy hand over this Realm of England which by sin hath deserved far greater punishments.  
FINIS.