THE Charitable Pestmaster, OR, The cure of the PLAGUE, containing a few short and necessary instructions how to preserve the body from infection of the PLAGVE, as also to cure those that are Infected.  
Together with a little treatise concerning the cure of the Small Pox.  
Published for the benefit of the poor of this City and not unmeet for the Rich, By THOMAS Sherwood Practitioner in physic.  2 Kings 20. 7. And ISAIAH said, take a lump of Figs, and they took, and laid it upon the boil, and he recovered. 
LONDON  
Printed by A. N. for John Franklin, and are to be sold at his Shop in Lothbury, near the Windmill. 1641.   

To the worshipful Alexander Read, Doctor of physic and Chirurgery, one of the society of the college of Physicians for the city of London.  
SIr, having finished this treatise, I considered what entertainment it might find in the world; and fearing that it would be envied, for the good that it offereth unto this kingdom, as I the Author have been for my practice, I bethought myself that it might safely hover under your wings, whereupon I am bold to thrust it into your protection, that it may the better be defended from the calumnies of these times. The Subject of it is, that which I have practised and proved by Experience, so that if there be occasion, I believe I shall be able to render sufficient reasons to prove it, from the most authentic rules in physic. And if there be any errors escaped in it, I shall rather desire that they may be corrected by the discretion of you or any of the college of Physicians, then disputed upon by new beginners in the practice of physic, who have but small experience. As for those Medicines published at the latter end of this book, I shall not desire your protection for them, because I never made you, nor any man acquainted with them, For I intended that they should be Protectors for themselves: but however I hope that my endeavours in this small treatise will not be unpleasant, but acceptable to you, for the good which I believe it will do in the World; and so for this time I rest in some measure of assurance of your worship's favour.  
Your Servant, THO: Sherwood.   

To the friendly Reader.  
HAving considered with myself in these dangerous times the great distresses of the poor of this City, by reason of the contagious disease of the pestilence, now reigning amongst them; and seeing them to be altogether ignorant, in the use of those means that are convenient for their cure, as purging, vomiting, bleeding, sweating, and the like: Therefore considering what good these few rules (experimented by myself) may do unto many, I was thereby moved to print them, for the benefit of such who want the help of the skilful and faithful Physician. For the understanding and memory of those that shall have occasion to use them, I have divided them into three Chapters, with contents. As for the medicines prescribed, they are sold by Apothecaries, who may afford them reasonably to the poor: The others adjoined I shall give to the poor for God's sake, and the rich shall have them for competent satisfaction; but I shall esteem it my greatest reward, if any shall receive good and benefit by my small labours and endeavours.  
Thine T. S.   


CHAP. 1.  
1. What are the causes of the Pestilence. 2. How they are avoided. 3. Means to preserve the body from Infection.  
THere are divers causes of this disease. The first is sin, which ought to be repented of. The second an infected and corrupted air, which should be avoided. The third an evil diet, which should be amended. The fourth are evil humours heaped together in the body, being apt to putrify, and beget a Fever, which must be taken away by convenient medicines.  
Therefore whosoever would preserve their bodies from infection, let them first make their peace with God, in whose hand is the power of life and death. Then let them use the means, and shun all those things that are able to beget this disease, as all infected and corrupted air, all fogs and mists that do arise from the earth or water, and all stinking smells that do arise from dunghills, sinks, graves, carrion, snuffs of candles, or rotten fruits, or any thing else that doth putrify and stink. Abstain from all meats and drinks that beget rottenness and filthiness in the body (& so consequently a Fever or the Plague) as excessive eating of fruits, especially those that are unripe. Also forbear all sorts of fish that have neither scales nor shells, as Eels, Lampreys, and the like. Lastly, take heed of overcharging the stomach with meats, or drinks, or hot Wines; but especially your unripe medium Wines.  
If any shall find themselves oppressed with gross & corrupt humours, so that they are in danger of this disease they shall be cleansed, by taking one ounce and half, or two ounces, of the infusion Crocus metallorum, (which is to be bought at every Apothecaries) & put to it Oximel half an ounce, this shall give them five or six vomits, and almost as many stools. And after every vomit, let them drink some warm posset drink; so let them keep themselves warm that day: one hour after it hath done working let them eat a mess of warm broth made with a neck of Mutton, or with such fresh meat as the sick are best able to buy; of which meat let them eat sparingly for the present. Those that are so tender or weakly that they cannot brook this vomit, they may be very well purged from corrupt humours, by taking one or two drams of pilulae Pestilentiales: But the poorer sort that cannot go to this charge, may take instead thereof Aloes one dram in the pap of an Apple, stewed Prunes, or else in a little Ale or beer. This pill, and this Aloes, are excellent remedies for women and children, and they are so safe that women with child may take them. After the body is purged, it shall be necessary to draw six or eight ounces of blood from the liver or middle vein of the arm, if the party be able to sustain the loss of it.  
Such as have lived temperately and sparingly, and so consequently are not oppressed with corrupted humours, such shall not need any the aforesaid evacuations or purgations; but let them shun, as much as they can, all infectious and corrupted air: But seeing it is a thing almost impossible in the city of London; therefore they that are timorous and fearful may carry about them the roots of Enula campana, and Angelica, dried or candied, of which they may bite now and then. Also the waters of Scabies, Angelica, or pimpernel, are great preservations for children against the Plague, if two spoonfuls thereof be taken in a morning fasting.   

CHAP. 2.  
1 By what signs you may know whether the sick be infected with the Pestilence. 2 How those signs do increase or decrease every day; 3 Whether life or death be likely to ensue; 4 A caveat not to tamper with those that begin to amend of themselves.  
THose that are infected with the Pestilence, in the beginning or first day thereof, are taken with an extraordinary cold outwardly, and a burning heat inwardly, a great pain and girding about the stomach, a sluggishness and drowsiness of the whole body, a loss of appetite, a bitterness in the throat, with a desire to vomit, & sometimes they do vomit.  
The disease continuing unto the second and third day, the heat breaketh outwardly, stronger, and stronger, so that there followeth a great pain in the head, and a difficulty of breathing, superfluous sleeps, and sometimes superfluous watchings, they grow frantic and lightheaded, and they look very staringly: And if there doth any swelling appear under the ears, arms, cheeks, or groins, and that these signs aforenamed do begin to cease, Then shall the sick recover immediately without any medicine, only give him a plaster or poultice to ripen the tumour, which must be applied the next day after the swelling appeareth; but give him nothing inwardly, except it be a warm Caudle, or ale-brew, or Broth; for for if you give him a vomit or purge, you shall strike the swelling into the noble parts, and the sick shall be in danger of his life: and if you let him blood, you shall draw the venomous humour from the Soare into the veins, and disperse it with the blood through the whole body, and thereby destroy the health of the patient, and shorten his life; as it came to pass with a good friend of mine. Also if you give him any medicine to provoke sweat, you shall restore the Fever again, and so the sick shall die without redemption; yea, and more miserably, than those that never amended, unless God be more merciful unto him; whereof I have had a sorrowful experience.  
Therefore be careful that you do not tamper with those that do begin to amend: for those very Medicines that are excellently available against any Fevers in the beginning or increase of them, being given in the declination or recovery, will bring the patient into a Relapse, which is worse than the former disease, and which shall greatly endanger life. For how many have died by the unseasonable taking of Treacle, Mithridate, and other good Medicines? Wherefore I have often said, that a skilful Physician by watching his time shall do more with à cup of warm drink in the cure of the Plague, or any Fever, than the ignorant shall do with all the excellent Medicines that are in the apothecary's Shop.  
Now if the rising do appear, & that the symptoms or signs aforenamed do not begin to cease, but rather increase, Then shortly after there will appear some blains or spots, & so death ensueth, unless you draw ten or twelve ounces of blood (according to the strength of the sick) from the liver or middle vein of the arm, on that side where the rising is.  
But if so be that the sickness continueth unto the third and fourth day, and the symptoms remain in their full vigour, then shortly will the spots come forth; and then I know no medicine that can deliver from death, except God be more merciful to the sick: But only on the third day before the spots appear it shall be greatly available to give him one of the cordial sweats prescribed in the ensuing Chapter.   

CHAP. 3.  
1 Here are prescribed certain approved remedies for the cure of the Pestilence, 2 The order and manner how to use them.  
WHosoever shall perceive their bodies infected with the Plague, let them take on the first day of the sickness the vomit, in that order and manner as it is laid down in the first Chapter. And after it hath done working with them, they shall find themselves as well as ever they were in their lives: for it cleanseth the stomach and bowels from all corrupt humours, which is one of the chiefest causes of the sickness. But if the sick be weak and cannot bear a vomit, it shall be good to give him one dram of the foresaid pillulae pestilentiales, or instead thereof one dram of Aloes, you may give it either in pill or in potion, according as the sick can best take it, and in the workking of it let him drink some warm broth.  
But if it be so, that this course hath been neglected the first day, or beyond the time of 24 hours, it will be in vain to use it the second day: Yea, it will be dangerous, seeing that the infection is dispersed by the blood throughout all the veins of the body. Therefore on the second day of Visitation it shall be good to draw from the Median vein of the arm so much blood as the patient can endure to bleed: and if the sick hath not gone to the stool during the time of his sickness, you shall give him either before or after bleeding this Clyster. Take of Beets, Violet leaves, borage, bugloss, Scabios, of each one handful, French barley one ounce; boil all these in a sufficient quantity of water until it be half consumed, then strain it, and take three quarters of a pint of the decoction, and put to it of the Electuary of Hierapicra five or six drams, oil of Rue one dram, red Sugar one ounce, the yolk of an egg, and a little salt; so make you a Clyster thereof, and administer it blood warm. Also you may administer to the sick this Clyster. boil an handful of Rue, in a pint of posset drink, and put to it a piece of sweet butter, a little honey, the yolk of an egg, and a thimble full of salt; make a clyster and administer it blood warm.  
But if that the sick amend not upon this course taken the second day, or that this means hath not been used, but that he continueth sick until the third and fourth day, so that the infection hath taken hold of the vital spirits, Then keeping him warm in his bed, you shall use this cordial to sweat with all. Take of the water of Scabios, borage, bugloss, and Angelica, of each half an ounce, the Electuary of eggs two scruples, or one dram, of Bole Armoniak one scruple, syrup of Roses half an ounce, make it into a potion, and let the sick drink it up at once or twice: two or three spoonfuls hereof is sufficient for a child. Or the poorer sort may take two pennyworth of Treacle or Mithridate, in a quarter of a pint of Dragon water. With either of these Medicines you may sweat the sick, until some tumour doth appear, or that he cometh to know himself amended. For this is the last medicinal refuge we have in the cure of the Plague. If you can, keep the sick from drinking and sleeping for the space of three hours until the medicine hath done workking. But if you cannot, let the patient drink a little Limon posset, made with some Marigold flowers, and heart's horn.  
And if signs of amendment do appear, do not take him out of his bed, or let him cool suddenly: But let him sweat on gently of his own accord, for it is nature's sweat following the medicine, which will do him more good than a kingdom. In this last sweat you may give him some Caudle or Alebrue: & when the sweats begin to cease of themselves, & his skin grows dry and warm, then let him sit up by a good fire; air his clothes, and so let him give God thanks for his life.  
Add, if any tumour appear you may ripen it with this Emplaster. Take six figs, raisins of the Sun stoned half an ounce, salt two drams, honey one ounce, beat them all together, and heat it well with some oil of camomile upon the fire, so spread it upon some cloth, and lay it warm to the tumour, shifting it every twelve hours until it look with a white head: and when it is ripe, if it be difficult to break, lay to it some Goose dung made warm with some sweet butter or salad oil; also the root of a white lily roasted, with some sorrel, to which put a piece of sweet butter, & apply it very warm to the sore, But if it will not break with this means, than you must open it with a penknife or lancet; else the corruption will rot the flesh, even to the very bone, and when you have opened it, squeeze out the corruption with your hands, and put into the sore, a tent made with unguentum basilicon, or Aegyptiacum, & mel rosarum, and lay upon the tent a plaster made with Diachilon: Continue your tents until all the corruption be drawn out, than the plaster of Diachilon will cure it perfectly.  
If any that are ancient or weak shall be infected with the Pestilence, it shall not be necessary to give them any purge, vomit, or sweat, or to let them blood; because they cannot bear the loss of so many spirits as are spent by such evacuations. Therefore you may lay upon the pit of the stomach of the sick a young live puppy, and if the sick can but sleep the space of three or four hours, they shall recover presently, and the dog shall die of the Plague. This I have known approved; and I do believe that it will be a cure for all lean, spare, and weak bodies both young and old: provided, that the dog be younger than the sick.    

Certain Instructions for the cure of the Small Pox.  
THe nature of the small Pox dispersed this year throughout many parts of this kingdom, I have found to be more malignant, than any that have reigned in my remembrance; so that many of all ages and sexes, but especially children have miserably died of them: because for the most part, the pestilence is joined with them, as it doth plainly appear by those spots, blains, and risings, that follow them. I have likewise observed that those medicines, as Mithridate, Treacle, Safforn and the like, that formerly have cured the small Pox, now avail nothing: yea, they are dangerous, if inwardly taken (especially if the Patient hath been long sick) but if they be outwardly applied, as I shall show eftsoons, they will prove good remedies at this time. But how many a tender hearted mother have I seen that, out of an unhappy care of her sick child, hath by rash counsel & the unseasonable giving to it hot cordial medicines, increased the Fever, multiplied the matter of the small pox, and inflamed the Spirits, so that the Pestilence hath many times followed? But howsoever the child hath been uncurable, which otherwise if nothing at all, or else some small thing of little strength, had been administered, might have recovered; whereupon I observed the sundry ways and means practised by physicians, women, and myself, and seeing the diverse events of them, I laboured to find out a certain and secure way for the cure of this disease; which having found by experience I have (together with this treatise of the Plague) sent it to the press, hoping that no man will either hate me, or envy me, for doing good, and that those that find benefit by it will thank me for it.  
The Primitive or external causes of the Small Pox are all one with those which are of the Plague, as an evil and corrupted air, a disorderly diet, that begets surfeits; as also for the antecedent causes which are corrupt humours heaped together in the body: therefore those means that I have prescribed in the first Chapter to preserve the body from the infection of the Plague, they will also be a means to preserve from the Small Pox. Those that are taken sick this year with the Small Pox are affected after the same manner as those that are infected with the pestilence, & in the beginning it can scarcely be discerned by an expert physician from it, But only by these signs.  
Those that are infected by the small Pox are not so violently affected with heat and cold, nor pains in the stomach and head, as those that are sick with the Pestilence,  
Moreover, those that will have the small Pox their skin is puffed up, and blown like a bladder, so that their face and eyes do shine: they have a great itching in many parts of their bodies, but chiefly about their Nose; they yawn much, also they find a great pain and heaviness in their back bone.  
Now if you shall perceive by these signs, that the sick will have the small Pox, keep him warm, but not too hot; neither let him take cold; but give him breathing room enough, as he lieth in his bed: Then lay a plaster of Mithridate or Treacle to the pit of his stomach, and if he be at man's estate, let him drink up all this cordial by two or three spoonfuls at a time every hour; but if it be a child, the one half will be sufficient. Take of the waters of Roses, borage, bugloss, and Treacle-water, of each an ounce & half, of the syrup of lemons, and Clove-gilly-flowers of each one ounce, mix them together, and make thereof a potion: Also the poorer sort may take Roses, borage, Carduus, Marigold Flowers, and heart's horn, of each a like quantity, and boil them in posset drink, turned with a Limon, or white wine: for one above twenty years of age let him drink three quarters of a pint at several times, sweetened with Sugar; and for a child half the quantity will suffice. Let the sick sweat gently with either of these Medicines so long as he can well endure it: for the longer the better; seeing the Medicines of themselves are no violent sweats; & during the sweat you may give him now and then to quench his thirst a very little Limon posset-drink by itself. If he can you may let him sleep whilst he sweateth. And if he lie quiet during the sweat, by God's blessing, within the space of eight or ten hours at the most, he shall find himself finely recovered of his sickness. Then give him no more of his Cordial or sweating posset drink, but only of his limon-posset drink, if he be thirsty; but let him lie warm in his bed till his skin grow dry, then shortly after the Pox will begin to show themselves. But they will not be many although every one of them will be far greater than the small Pox do use to be; yet none of them will pit except they be much tampered withal, or picked with the nails. But if so be that those which have white heads do burn and rage extremely, you may prick their heads with a Needle and let out the corruption: there is nothing else to be done with those upon whom they are come out, and the Fever abated but that they keep themselves warm, sit still and be quiet.  
But if that the sick hath not gone to stool in a long time: before you give him this cordial to sweat, you shall cause him to go to stool by a clyster, or else which is better by a Suppositor made with Honey and Salt, or a Violet Comfit. And if the sick be young, strong, and full of blood, you shall without danger do very well, if you draw from him eight or ten ounces of blood before you lay him to sweat; for then the cordial will have more power, room, and liberty, to play upon the disease, and will the sooner and better drive out the Pox. If the quintessentia vitae be given in the waters of Roses, borage, or bugloss, it will drive out the small Pox without sweating, and cure the sick immediately.  
But if the small Pox be come forth, and that the Fever continue in his full vigour still, so that the sick doth not amend, but grow worse and worse, than you shall not give them any hot Medicines inwardly, nor any thing that doth provoke sweat; for now hot cordial Medicines will increase the Fever (and in the beginning they would have quenched the Fever) and turn all the humours of the body into the matter of the small Pox; so that there is nothing but a miserable death likely to follow, oftentimes accompanied with the Pestilence.  
This evil is much practised by those women that pretend they will drive the small Pox further out, when they are come out already. Wherefore they do but beget the Fever again, and where there are but ten they will make a thousand. Therefore be careful in this case, what you do, and give to the sick every hour nothing else but two or three spoonfuls of Rose water, sweetened with a little sugar. This will cool the body, quench the Fever, cause rest, and then a stool, and thereby the sick shall recover presently. By these means I have cured many very suddenly that have been dangerously sick in all men's sight even to Death, as many in the City can bear me witness.  
As I have warned you not to give many hot things when the small Pox are come forth, so I would have you beware of giving those that are very cold, as the waters of plantain, Lettuce, Purslane, Poppy, and the like; which (as I have known) have relieved many for the present, and wrought an admirable cure in the sight of the common people; but by their cold qualities, they have so congealed and settled the humours in the body, that the sick will never be healthful all the days of their lives, as I could instance in many.  

THose that desire further information concerning any particulars not expressed at large in this brief Treatise, they shall be fully satisfied, if they repair to the Author living in honeysuckle Court in Grubstreet▪ where he hath by chemical Art prepared six Catholical Medicines, with which he cureth the Pestilence, small Pox, and most curable diseases whatsoever.  

1 Vomitivum Benedictum.  
This Medicine being taken from five grains to eight, in some convenient distilled water or wine, or else with some Conserve or Pill, doth safely purge upwards and downwards, so that it may be given to a child, of three or four years of age: it cureth all diseases that arise from the foulness of the stomach, and is good in the beginning of the Pestilence, small Pox, or any Fever, or Ague.   

2 Catharticum Catholicum.  
The dose of it is from ten grains to twenty, it purgeth gently by stool, and cleanseth the lower belly from all offensive humours, & cureth the French Pox, Scurvy, jaundice, and dropsy, also it freeth children from Worms.   

3 Diureticum Aperitivum.  
This openeth all obstructions of the body, but chiefly of the Liver, Spleen, reins, and Bladder, it cureth the v and the Rickets in children, also it helpeth those that cannot make water.   

4 Diaphoreticum Cordiale.  
This being given in a small dose doth gently provoke sweat, expelleth all venomous humours from the heart outwardly, and driveth out the small Pox, thrusteth out the tumors in the Pestilence, and some it cureth without bringing forth a Rising.   

5 Quinta Essentia vitae.  
This reviveth the vital spirits, and hath an admirable virtue in fortifying the heart against all infectious, & venomous vapours; so that it is good for those that have occasion to visit sick people. If ten or twelve drops thereof be taken in a morning's draught it preserveth the body from infection, and if twenty or thirty drops of it be given to the sick of the Pestilence, within the space of six hours after they are infected, they shall be cured in one hour, as I have often proved: it driveth out the small Pox, and cureth the sick without sweating.   

6 Julapium Restaurativum.  
By the virtue this Medicine hath in resisting the putrefaction of humours, it doth cure all sorts of Fevers and Agues, it may be given in any time of the disease, but especially in the latter end of the sickness, when no other Medicine can be administered without danger. With it I have cured the hectic Fever, and those that have fallen into the Relapse of the small Pox, and such as have been nigh unto death, by reason of violent Fevers.  
Any of the aforesaid Medicines, the Author administereth both outwardly and inwardly in many several ways and manners, according to the age, temperature, complexion, and disposition, of the body; and according to the nature, degrees, and time of the disease.  Artis Apollineae vis sola est numen Olympi, Quo sine languenti Pharmaca frustra dabis. 
If that our art from God receive not strength,  
In vain we seek man's life for to prolength.    
FINIS.