DIRECTIONS FOR THE PREVENTION and CURE of the PLAGUE.  
Fitted for the Poorer sort.  Wisdom 17. 12. For FEAR is nothing else but a Betraying of those Succours which Reason offereth. 
LONDON, Printed by J. Grismond, 1665.   
Directions for the Prevention and Cure of the PLAGUE.  
Fitted for the Poorer sort.  

I. DIET.  
LET every man's Diet be moderate, and of such Nourishments as are least subject to putrefy and corrupt. A small Breakfast, a Dinner of solid and wholesome meats, and a light Supper. Those who cannot go to the price of Flesh, may make use of Flesh-broths, (which may be had at every Cooks) also of Bread and Butter, old Cheese, Toast and Drink, Toast and Butter, and the like, drinking sometimes in the day a draught or two of Purl●, or strong Beer or Ale, especially in the morning.  
Let them abstain from the boiled herbs of Colliflowers, Cabbage, Coleworts, spinach, and Beets; also from all wallowish and lushy fruits, as sweet Plums, sweet Apples, Pears, Peaches, Mallacotoons, Cucumbers, Pompions, Melons, ripe Gooseberries, ripe Grapes, Apricocks unless eaten with the kernels; also from raw herbs, as Reddish, spinach, etc. But all fruits baked or thoroughly corrected by the fire, are better than raw.  
For Salads, those that desire them may use Sampire boiled and pickled, and served with Vinegar; and so Capers, Ashen-keys, Broom-buds, Elder-flowers, Clove-gilliflowers. etc. Or for raw Salads, Lettuce, Purslane, Woodsorrel, common Sorrel, Tarragon, white Endive, Borage and Bugloss-flowers, both wild and garden, served with a little Mustard (for them that can bear it) and Vinegar and Oil, or at least with Vinegar; and all moderately used.  
It is thought very expedient that all Brewers, both about the City and Suburbs, do fume their empty Casks yery well with Brimstone before they fill them; and withal add unto each Barrel about an handful of Bay Salt burnt in a Crusible or Earthen pot unglazed till it leave crackling, together with a handful of Bran, and both put into the same Barrel: For it may be a great means to stop and cease the Plague, because it will reach even to the poorest sort, who are otherwise (by means of their poverty) like to be destitute of any other Preservatives.   

II. PRESERVATIVES.  
TAke every morning and evening one good spoonful of one of these Liquors following, drinking immediately after it a draught of Mace-ale, or Pearl, or strong Beer, if they find themselves in any imminent danger.  
1. Take the best White-wine Vinegar one pint, of London-treakle four ounces, mix them well together in a glass, bottle and keep them close stopped. Or,  
2. Take Carduus benedictus seeds, and Bur-dock seeds, Ivy berries, and Juniper berries, of each well bruised one ounce; the roots of Celandine, Angelica, Elecampane, and Valerian, of each 6 drams, Garlic half an ounce, Baum, Mint, and Vervine, each half an handful; let them all be cut and bruised, and then infused in 6 pints of the best White-wine Vinegar in a bottle close stopped for 5 or 6 days, then strain out the Vinegar, and keep it for use as before. Or,  
3. Take of this following Electuary a dram, or half a dram, according to the age and strength of the Patient, but for a Child much less, drinking after it a draught of Pearl, or as before.  
Take Conserve of Woodsorrel 2 ounces, of flower of Brimstone finely powdered 2 drams, Diascordium half an ounce, of the temperate cordial Species 4 scruples, of syrup of Woodsorrel as much as will make it up into a moist Electuary.  
Let the Rooms of every house, especially such as are infected, be well fumed at least twice every day, either with about half an ounce of Brimstone grossly powdered, and leapt up in a paper, and laid on a piece of Board or Tile, and set on fire, and carried from Room to Room till it be burnt out. Or with a Link lighted, and carried in like manner from Room to Room till all be well smoked, and then put it out.  
It will be advantageous in the way of Preservation to forbid the sale or carrying out any infected Clothes, or indeed any thing from infected houses, till such time as it shall please God the Plague totally cease.  
It is the general received Opinion of Physicians, that all those who meet in public Congregations should beforehand take some little refreshment, and if they are so accommodated, to make use of some Antidote withal; and not by being altogether empty to expose themselves to receive any Contagion each from other, which may easily happen when many (as is usually found) having the Infection in their clothes or otherwise, do press into the same place. For long Fasting draws in the Pulse and Vital strength, weakens the Animal Spirits, and consequently induces Fear and Melancholy, whereby Contagion easily enters the enfeebled Body, and so spreads and continues the Plague.  
Further it is convenient for the preventing the spreading of the Infection, that about half an hour at least before the people meet there be burned in the Churches in several places some Powder of Brimstone, or some Pitch, or Tar, or other Perfume of like nature and efficacy against the Plague, but there is none like Brimstone.  
It will without doubt be advantageous, that plenty of Sea-coles be timely provided, that they may be had at reasonable prizes, that so the Poor may be able to keep Cole-fires in their houses, which will be a great Preservative against the increase of the Sickness.  
Also that there be especial care had about Burials of the Dead of the Plague. First, that none be buried in the Churches. Secondly, that they be buried very deep in the earth. Thirdly, that no Grave that hath been made since the first appearing of this Plague be digged up, or another made very near it, lest the venomous reeks of the body break forth at the place opened, and infect the Air. In case there be not room enough in the Churchyard, some other ground-must be allotted and provided without the City and Suburbs, where the Dead may be buried distinctly, and not heaped one upon another, because when many are buried together, their putrid ferment will easily grow to that strength, that the Earth will hardly be sufficient to suppress the steams of it. Fourthly, that the constant Bearers be admonished not promiscuously and needlessly to mingle themselves with others, nor entertain discourses with heedless Boys and Children, who may easily receive harm from them.   

III. CURE.  
THose Poor People that are actually infected and begin to be sick, must by all means (as they tender the possibility of their recovery) keep themselves within doors, and avoid rambling out into the open Air, or looking out at windows, either of which strikes the venom inward to the Heart and Bowels; wherefore their safest course is presently to betake themselves to their beds, where they must lie alone, and in bed take this Medicine following, or the like.  
Take London-treakle a quarter of an ounce, one ounce of White-wine Vinegar, one ounce of the juice of Woodsorrel or juice of Oranges, 20 grains of the Salt of Wormwood, and one ounce and an half of Plague-water of Mathias, described in the College last book, pag. 13. and if they vomit it, renew it again as soon as the Stomach begins to be settled. About an hour after let them drink about half a pint of White-wine or other Posset-drink, and lie in bed as quiet as they can, and sweat as long as they can well bear it, taking now and then a draught of the same or other Posset-drink; and about 6 hours after the first draught, take another of the same Medicine; and so continue every 6 or 8 hours till the poison of the disease be spent. In the mean time once in 12 hours at the least let them be refreshed with Water-gruel, Mace-ale, Oatmeal-caudle, Hartshorn jelly, Chicken-broth with Mace, Marigold-flower, and Hartshorn, with a handful of Woodsorrel boiled together, or any such like, which they can best get.  
Children and Women with child being infected may take Gascoine powder made by the Apothecary, 20 grains in a spoonful of White-wine Posset-drink, drinking immediately after it a good draught of the same with two spoonfuls of the Plague-water, or one for a Child.  
It is expedient in the course of cure that Blisters be raised in several parts of the body, provided that not above four (if large) be applied at once; only the disease continuing or increasing, others may be successively laid on some two or three days after the first; lest otherwise if there should be too many laid on at once, they should procure such a difficulty and pain in making water, as will not easily then be born. The places most proper for Blisters are the inside of the Arms a little above or a little below the Elbow, the insides of the Thighs a little above the Knees, the insides of the Calves of the Legs, also a little below the Croin, and a little below, the Armpits; likewise behind the Ears: and upon the shape of the Neck, which may be near double as large as any of the others. The place ought to be elected by the present Physician; so that it may best evacuate the matter from the parts to which Nature endeavours to thrust it.  
Let the Rooms whereany sick persons are lodged be diligently kept clean and sweet, free from allmastiness and sluttishness, & where conveniently there may let Sea-coal fires be made; and sometimes let the Rooms be fumed with Brimstone, as before directed. Some change their Linen before the disease be fully sweated out, which is conceived to be very dangerous; therefore we advise they do not change till all Symptoms cease.  

For the Bubo or Batch.  
Those that cannot apply such Poultices as are appointed by the College for want of attendance, may make use of this Plaster following.  
Take Empl. de amoniac. and diachyl. simple. of each half an ounce, and of the Plaster of Muccilag. a quarter of an ounce, mix them at the fire, and spread it upon thin leather punched full of holes, and apply it to the place; it will ripen and break the Sore, and draw out the Matter.   

For the Carbuncle.  
Take Wheat-flowre and Soot of each an ounce, sweet Soap, and Turpentine half an ounce, make it up with the yolks of two Eggs, the Turpentine and Eggs must be first mingled in a Mortar with a hot pestle, then add the rest, and apply it warm to the place.  
There are two Cardinal Sudonifick Powders, proper against the Plague, the one for Men, the other for Women, at Mr. Coniers at the Unicorn in Fleetstreet, with Directions for their use.  
FINIS.