A treatise of the plague containing the nature, signes, and accidents of the same, with the certaine and absolute cure of the feuers, botches and carbuncles that raigne in these times: and aboue all things most singular experiments and preseruatiues in the same, gathered by the obseruation of diuers worthy trauailers, and selected out of the writing of the best learned phisitians in this age. By Thomas Lodge, Doctor in Phisicke.

Chap. IX. Of the building of an Hospitall for the Plague.

THat which is most necessary in great Citties, is to haue a certaine selected place, whither they may con∣uey the sicke men in time of the plague, when God inflict∣eth sickenesse vpon them. And therefore it concerneth a weale publike before necessitie happen, to prouide a house to this purpose answerable to the charitable intēt of those good men, who haue already contributed to the same. The forme wherof, since as yet I perceiue it vnfinished, should (in my opinion) be after this manner: It ought to be sci∣tuate, (as already it is begunne) without the Citty in a se∣perate and vnfrequented place, and not so néere the high wayes or walkes of the Citizens as it is, for feare lest the Passengers should be infected. It ought also to be builded very amply and largely, that it may be able to receiue the number of the sicke, the aspect thereof ought to be betwéen the orient equinoctiall and the north, to the intent that the heate of the midday warme it not too much, and that in summer it may haue competent fresh ayre: which it will haue if it be thus builded: for it highly concerneth that such a house should receiue the northerne winde, for that it is the most dry, and healthfull, and such a winde as pur∣geth and driueth away all euill vapors and infection, be∣cause the ayre thereof is colde and drie, which consumeth the superfluities of the body, as Galen and Hippocrates testifie in the third booke of the Aphorismes, and Hippo∣crates himselfe in diuers places witnesseth. The like al∣so doth Auicen auerre at large, where hée speaketh of the north winde, to which he attributeth this property, to cor∣rect all pestilentiall and corrupted ayre. And therefore it is necessary that the aspect thereof should be after this ma∣ner: It ought also to be more long than large, to the in∣tent

the vpper story may containe eight and twenty or thirty chambers aboue, and as many beneathe. For in regarde of the multitude of the sicke that are likely to bée brought thither, there ought to be many lodgings, and so many, if not more. These Chambers ought to be sepera∣ted the one from the other, and yet adioyne one an other after the manner of the Dortuaries in Religions houses. Each of these ought to haue a chimney, and be so disposed, that they may receiue lights from the East and the North. In each of these chambers there ought to be two beds, that the sicke may change from the one to the other vpon opor∣tunitie. The scituation and place of the Hospitall ought to be in a pure aire, and in no place that abutteth on dong∣hils: it ought likewise to haue many springs deriued into the same, that the ministers that attend the same, may the better cleanse their cloathes and houses: The Chambers of the Phisition, Surgeon, and Minister appoynted to at∣tend the sicke, ought to be builded apart from the sickmens lodgings: and likewise the Apothecarie, who must haue his shop furnished apart with all necessaries at the Cities charge, which custome in all well policied Citties is ob∣serued. It behooueth also that all the doores of the Cham∣bers open into some Gallery, where in the sicke may take ayre for their recreation, and beate their cloathes and bed∣ding, when néede requireth: some fifty foote aparte from that Hospitall, an other body of building should be made, wherein they that are recouered may make their proba∣tions. It is also requisite that a Chapell be builded some∣what seperated from the body, & after such a manner, that the diseased may heare their Preacher, and assist him in his deuotions. This is the order I thought méete to ad∣uise in the building of a Pest-house, which by the particu∣lar liberality and faithfull performance of the deceaseds will, may be builded and furnished. Towards the finish∣ing whereof, all they that haue the zeale of our Lorde in their heartes, and that haue the means to distribute their

goodes to the poore, ought to be diligent and charitable, to the end they may receiue the rewarde which is promised vnto them, whereas Christ saith, Come vnto me you bles∣sed of my Father, because that being sicke you haue visited mee, and being hungry you haue giuen mee meate, I was a stranger and you receiued me; Possesse the kingdom which is prepared for you from the beginning of the world. This is a maruelous rewarde for a litle pelfe and worldly plea∣sure bestowed on their neighbour, to obtaine the eternall glory of heauen, which is a treasure of incomparable felici∣tie. Thus much as concerning this matter.