THE PLAGVES Approved PHYSICIAN. Showing the natural causes of the Infection of the Air, and of the Plague. With divers observations to be used, preserving from the Plague, And signs to know the Insected therewith. Also many True and Approved Medicines for the perfect cure thereof.  
Chiefly, a Godly and Penitent PRAYER unto Almighty GOD, for our Preservation, and Deliverance therefrom.  
Printed at London, by R. Raworth.   

THE PLAGVES Approved Physician.  

¶ Of the Natural causes of the infection of the Air, and of the Plague.  
OF all the diseases whereunto the body of man is subject, the Plague or Pestilence is the most terrible and fearful, and most contagious; therefore we must seek all means, both Natural and Artificial, to preserve ourselves and Families from it: Therefore first we will speak of the Natural causes of this infection.  
There be two special causes of the Pestilence.  
The first is, An infected, corrupted and putrified Air.  
The second is, Evil and corrupt humours engendered in the body.  
The air is corrupted and infected divers ways as Astronomers say, by the influences, aspects, conjunctions, and opposition of ill planets, the Eclipse of the Sun and Moon, through the immoderate heat of the Air, where the temperature of the air is turned from his natural state to excessive heat and moisture, which is the worst temperament of the Air, vapours being drawn up by the heat of the Sun, remaining unconsumed, do rot, putrify, and corrupt, an so with the venom, the Air becometh corrupted and infected.  
Also the air is often corrupted by the evaporation of dead carcases lying unburied, as it often chanceth in the wars, as also by the evaporation of Pools, Fens, Marshes, stinking and noisome sinks and kenells.  
A man falleth into the Pestilence by disordering of himself, either in diet, or with other exercises.  
Therefore, during the time of this contagious sickness, he must have a special regard, to keep himself from all outrages, and surfeits (to wit) from all excess of meat, drink, sweeting, baths, letehery, and all other things that open the pores of the body, and causeth the bad airs to enter, which entering, invenome the lively spirits of man, and infect, and endanger the whole body.  
And seeing it is evident, that the Plague or Pestilence is not caused, but through the breathing in of pestilent and corrupt Air; there cannot be a more safe and present remedy to preserve one, then by flying from that corrupt Air, there is no other means to avoid the pestilent Air, because, whether we will or no, we must draw in such Air, unless we get us away into some other place where the air is not corrupted nor infected, but pure and good, neither must you return home again from that place oversoone.   

¶ Observations to be used, preserving from the Plague.  
But if upon urgent occasion of business you may not fly: then have a special care that the house in which you must tarry, be cept clean and sweet, without all kind of stink, filthiness, or sluttishness, let the windows be kept close, and shut especially in cloudy and rainy weather, that the pestilent air enter not in, but if you will open them, do it about midday.  
You must come abroad as seldom as you can, and not (if you may) except the element be clear and bright, but before you come abroad you must take some medicine, which is able to preserve you from infection, as the root of Angelica, Pimpernell, etc. chewed in the mouth.  
Also you must make fires daily in your houses, that thereby the corrupt air that is in the house, may be the better purged and amended; for there is a marvellous great virtue and strength in fire, to purge, correct & amend the rottenness and corruption of the air.  
Also if you burn Juniper, Tamariscus, Bay-leaves, Rosemary, and such like are very good to purge the house of all ill airs, and to sweeten: or take a Chafindish of coals, and strew upon it the powder of Rosemary, Sage, Rew, Betonie, Wormwood, Majoram, Origaen, Juniper-berries, Myrrh, Frankincense and Mastic, Cipresse-barkes, Angelica the root or leaves, Lavender, wood of Aloes, Gallia Muschata, Cloves, or any one of all these are very good to air your house withal.  
It is best in door weather to correct and purify the air with cold things, as with Roses, Violets, Water-lillies, Vine-leaves, and branches of Willows, etc. and to sprinkle the floor with cold water mixed with Vinegar, Roses, or Sorrell, etc.  
It is very good when one goeth abroad, to have something in their hands to smell too, the better to avoid those noisome stinks, and filthy savours which are in every corner, therefore it is very good to carry in the hand a branch of Rew, Rosemary, Roses, or Camphire; and the smell of Vinegar is very good, or a Pomander something like this.  

Take of Lapdanum, three drachmas.  
Take of Storax calamintae, two drachmas.  
Take of Cinomon, of each a drachma.  
Take of Cloves, of each a drachma.  
Take of Nutmegs, of each a drachma.  
Take of Wood of Aloes, a scruple.  
Take of spikenard, half a scruple.  
Take of Myrrh, of each half a drach.  
Take of mastic, of each half a drach.  
Take of Frankincense, of each half a drach.  
Take of Musk, of each three grains.  
Take of Amber, of each three grains.   
Make them to powder and searce them, and take Majoram-water, and Rose-viniger, wherein gum Arabike is dissolved, and so make it up in a Pomander.  
Seeing also, that gluttony, excess, and drunkenness, is at all times to be shunned, so at this time of infection is most dangerous, breeding the humours, and corrupting the body: Therefore they that love their health, let them use temperance in their diet and choose such meats as engender good blood, and be not ready to putrify and rot, but be of easy digestion, and eat with them sharp Sauces, as Vinegar, or the juices of sharp things, as verjuice, juice of Citrons, Lemons, Oranges, etc.  
Also use for potherbs, Sage, or otherwise, Parsley, Margerum, Balm, Hyssop, Buglose, Endive, Succory, and Lettuce.  
Also he must refrain from eating of much fruit, for it doth breed corrupt blood and if he eat any it must be sour.  
Also he must eat little garlic, Onions, or Leeks, for these cause unkind heat.  
Also suffer not thirst greatly, and when thou dost thirst drink but measurably, and that but small and thin drink, or barley water, or clarified whey sod with cool herbs.  
Another special regard must be had in exercises, ubi quomodo & quando. The place where, must be in a wholesome and pure air, and he must use them temperately, and moderately, and must eschew all violent exercises, as dancing, running, leaping: and whatsoever such like kind of exercise that causeth often breathing in of Air, he must refrain in the extreme heat of the day, and in places where is much concourse of people  
As for his sleep and watchings, let them be mean and moderate, only his sleep must be sufficient to suffice Nature, and in a close Chamber, well stopped, and the windows and doors close shut, left the ill air enter into it, and he must have regard that his sheets be clean and sweet, well ayred by the fire, if perfumed or sweetened they be the better. Therefore that use is good of Rose-cakes and sweet bags in chests where they keep linen.  
It is good also at night afore you go to bed to air the chamber with a good fire, or with a chase dish of coals, wherein it were good to strew some powder of Rew, Sage, Betonie, or of juniper and such like.  
When you walk in the morning, first empty the body of all superfluities and excrements, & take heed: and beware the body, be not to costive at any time. Therefore, if of thyself naturally at any time thou canst not void out excrements, thou shalt take either a potion of pills, or else a clyster or suppositary of pills, take pilulae rufis, or pestilentiales or Communes: or else  

Take of Aloes epatick, two parts,  
Take of Amoniacum, of each one part.  
Take of Myrrh. of each one part.   
With white wine or with the Water of Seabious make pills of them, which Minister daily, if you will one scruple at a time.  
These pills do most resist putrefaction, and have a very great virtue against the infecting of the pestilent air.  
Blood-letting also is very wholesome for young folk, and such as have great store of blood, for it doth much cool the state of the body, and bringeth it to a moderate heat, and letteth out the corrupt humours, which do make the body more subject to infection: blood letting is very necessary in the time of infection, and doth much profit, and preserve health.  
Also it is very ill to be too passionate or melancholy: for the passions of sadness, Anger, hatred, fear, great cares, and heavy thoughts and sighing, do much distemper the body and make it more unfit to withstand the infection: but on the contrary it is very good to use joy and mirth with temperance.   

Signs to know the infected.  
HAving before showed the natural and original causes of the plague and pestilence, with the best means for the preservation of a man's self from it, we will proceed and show, first the signs whereby a man may best judge of himself, whether he be already infected, or not, and the means to cure the sick.  
As concerning the signs that declare one to be already infected, they are many.  
First when the outward members are cold, and the inward parts burning hot, when there is a pain and heaviness of the head, and a great inclination to sleep. A weariness, heaviness, and difficulty in breathing. A sadness and carefulness of the mind: a change of countenance, with a frowning look of the eyes: loss of stomach and appetite: immoderate thirst and often vomiting: a bitterness and dryness of the mouth: The pulse frequent, small and deep, the Urine troublous, thick, and stinking like beasts urine.  
The surest token of all to know the infected of the plague, is, if there do arise and engender botches behind the ears, or under the arm holes, or about the share: or also if Carbuncles do arise in any member suddenly, for when they do appear they betoken strength of Nature: Which being strong and mighty, doth labour to drive the poison out of the body, but if botches do not appear, it is more perilous and dangerous: for it betokeneth that nature is weak and feeble, and not able to expel and drive out the venomous humours, and then you must have respect to the signs before rehearsed.  
Also these botches which do appear, they do declare which members of the the body be infected above any other, and do thrust out venomous humours from them.  
The infection of the plague entereth into a man in this sort.  
In a man are three principal parts (that is) the heart, liver, and arms, and each of these hath his cleansing place: Therefore if they do appear in the neck, they do show the brains to be chiefly vexed: if under the armholes, the heart, but if they appear in the share, the Liver is most infected.  
For a man having taken some venom, it is mingled with the blood, and runs to the heart, which is the chief part of man: and the heart by kind putteth the venom to his cleansing place which is the armholes: and it being stopped, putteth to the next principal part, that is the Liver, and it passeth it to his cleansing place, which is the Thigh-holes or share: Likewise they being stopped, pass it to the next principal place (that is) the arms, and to their cleansing places which are under the ears, or under the throat, and they being stopped, suffer it not to pass out, than it is moved 12, hours before it rest in any place, and if it be not let out within the space of four and twenty hours by bleeding it casts a man into an ague, and maketh a botch in one of the three places, or near them.   

The Cure of the infected of the Plague.  
THe best way to cure the Plague is this when thou findest thyself to be infected, and feelest the blood flickering, bleed in the first hour or within six hours after drink not, and tarry not above 12. hours from bleeding, for when thy blood is so flickering, the venom is then moving and not yet settled, and after it is too late: those that are fat may be let blood, or else not.  
If the matter be gathered under the armholes, it comes from the heart by the vein Cardiall, then bleed on the same side: on the innermost vein of the arm commonly called Basollica: but bleed not on both sides, except it be in both armholes for that is dangerous, and loss of good blood.  
And if the botch doth appear behind the ears, or above the chin, or in any other part of the face, or neck, you must let blood out of vein Cephalica, on the same side: let blood with cupping-glasses for that is the best, or a horseleech, or horse hair.  
But if the botch appear in the share, you must then bleed in the Ankle of the same side, and then in any case bleed not in the Arm, for it will draw up the matter again.  
But if there appear no botch outwardly, you must then draw blood out of the same side where is felt the greatest pain and heaviness, and out of which vein the pain and grief of the members afflicted will declare.  
For if the members above the breast be most grieved and afflicted, cut the Cephalica vein. But if the parts about the neck be most grieved bleed in the Basillica, or middle vein.  
And if the nether parts be most grieved and vexed, bleed in the ham or ankles. And if nature be strong, and other things not letting, draw out blood abundantly.  
But if through age or for other causes you may not use blood letting, than you must fasten cupping glasses and use them.  
And if you perceive the pestilence to infect or invade you at meat, or upon a full stomach, than vomit straiteway, and when the body and stomach is empty, then take some medicine that can resist poison, as Methrydate, or treacle.  
When the patient hath taken some medicines that will expel the venom, lay him in a warmed bed, being made with soft sheets, and well covered with clothes, that there he may sweat well, for the space of four or 5. hours, or more according to his strength. But if by this means you can scarcely provoke him to sweat, you may use some other means, as by the heating of tiles, and laying them hot to the feet of the patient, or with stone bottles filled with hot water, and being close stopped with cork, that the water spill not, and so put into the bed to the sick, they will by their heat provoke him readily to sweat. And all the time the sick doth sweat, you must take heed that he neither sleep, eat, nor drink.  
And after he hath sweat, you must wipe diligently off the sweat, with very clean and fine linen clothes. Then afterward let the sick rise from his bed, if he either will or can: But let him not come into the open air, but eschew it as much as may be: Also let the Air of the Chamber in the which the sick doth lie, be corrected and amended and purified with odoriferous things, and with sweet smelling perfumes, such as are before declared.  
Lastly, the principal and whole body being cleansed by bleeding, or cupping and sweeting, the patient must be very wary, and measurable in his diet, for in the Fever Acute which is accidental to this sickness; it is good to eat no flesh but little chickens sod with fresh water, but it is best to give unto him the broth of a chicken two or three hours after he hath sweat, and often, according to his strength, for the sick and weak must be nourished and refreshed by little and little: If the broth have in it the juice of lemons, Oranges, verivice, or vinegar, it is the better.   

¶ Preservatives against the Plague, and Pestilence.  
TAke Wormwood and Rew, of each a little, and lay them in a little Vinegar, then take a sponge and wet it therein, and this you may carry about you in a box or any thing else, to smell thereon, and this will preserve you from the infected.   

Another.  
ALso take Angelica root, and hold in your mouth, for it is excellent good to keep your body that no corrupted air come therein: Likewise Sytron pills is very good to hold in your mouth, or Cloves.   

Another.  
IT is good to keep the head and stomach clean purged, and not to overly it with eating and drinking, nor to eat gross meats but to abstain from all manner of slimy and gross meats, and to purge yourself as oft as you can with some gentle purge, as Cassia pills, or such like.   

Another excellent Preservative.  
TAke a Fig or a Walnut, and in a morning fasting, take a little Rew, and a corn of bay salt, and eat them together, and this will preserve you, that you need not fear the infection.   

Another preservative by purging the Blood.  
TAke in you pottage, Buglase, Burrige, Suckory, lettuce, and such like herbs: It shall be also very good at your meat to eat the inside of a Cytteron, with a little sugar, at morning, at noon, and at night when you go to bed: and it would be very good to wash your hands, and to b●●●e your temples and your pulses with Vinegar Rosset, and it would be good to perfume your houses with Vinegar and Rew upon a tile-stone being heated in the fire: it is very good to hold your head over it; it is excellent good to keep your body that no infected air enter therein.   

A proved remedy for the Plague.  
TAke an Onion, and cut him overthwart, or asunder then make a little hole in each piece, the which ye shall fill with fine Treacle, and set the pieces together again, then wrap them in a wet linen cloth, putting it as you would a warden, and so roost him in the embers, seeing it be covered with embers, and when it is roasted enough, strain out all the juice thereof, and give the patient a spoonful thereof to drink, and it will heal him by the grace of God.  
Take Sorrell, and lay it in steep in Vinegar a day, and then still it, and when the patient feeleth himself ill, give him a draught thereof, and if he brook it, two or three hours after give him more thereof to drink, and by the grace of God he shall be healed.   

Another for those that feel themselves Infected.  
TAke Cardus Benedictus, the leaf, and dry it, than beat it to powder, and give the patient to drink of it, and then let him sweat, and it will heal him by the grace of God.   

A Preservative.  
TAke London Treacle, which you shall have, at divers Apoticaries' shops, in London, which do make it themselves, and in a morning fasting. Take as much thereof as a hazell-nut, and drink a little after it, and this will keep your body that no venomed air enter therein, and if you feel yourself ill at any time, take a little thereof and sweat upon it, and this will help you.  
Also it is good to take some when you go to bedward at evening, and in the morning fasting: You may have it for two pence the ounce, and it is excellent good to have it always in a readiness, Approved.   

If there do a botch appear.  
TAke a Pigeon, and pluck the feathers off her tail, very bare, and set her tail to the sore, and she will draw out the venom till she die; then take another and set too likewise, continving so till all the venom be drawn out, which you shall see by the Pigeons, for they will die with the venom as long as there is any in it: also a chicken or a hen is very good.  
FINIS.    

¶ A Godly PRAYER, to be used in the time of any common Plague or Sickness.  JOEL. 2. 
Rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the LORD your GOD, because He is gentle and merciful, He is patient, and of much mercy, and such a one that is sorry for your afflictions.  
O Almighty God, we do confess and acknowledge, that by many and divers sins, we have often and grievously offended thee, and therefore deserve most heavy Plagues and punishments. We have all declined and gone out of the way, like vile wretches, we have fallen from thy Word, and are become unprofitable servants: we nor our forefathers have not kept thy Commandments and Ordinances. Notwithstanding which transgressions, we beseech the with a contrite and broken heart, of thine infinite mercy, for JESUS Christ's sake, thine only beloved Son, not to punish us according to our offences, but to have mercy upon us, according to thy great goodness and long sufferance. O Lord we are not unmindful of the many and great deliverances from time to time, even from the jaws of death and destruction, for which above all Nations, we are bound to offer ourselves, our souls and bodies which thou hast delivered, to be a living sacrifice unto thee, always praising and magnifying thy mercies in the midst of the Congregation; And seeing (O Lord) that our sins have provoked thee daily to deliver us up to ourselves, to the noisome pestilence, to all plagues and punishments, yet we know that there is mercy with thee, that thou mayest be feared, in which confidence, we fly unto thee, the true Physician of soul and body, beseeching thee for thy Son's sake, to bless all means which thou in mercy hast ordained for the preservation and cure of soul or body. Finally heavenly Father, keep us in the faith of thy beloved Son jesus Christ, who is the everlasting, perpetual, and daily reconciliation, the pure and perfect oblation, and the sweet and accepted sacrifice for our sins. Amen.  
FINIS.