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. X. Of the manner how to gouerne and heale such as are sicke of the plague, as well in diet, chamber beds, as in fit reme∣dies, both for their botches and carbuncles.

AS soone as the sicknes hath seazed any patient (which by the proper signes & accidents is presently known) as a burning feuer outwardly of litle appearance, but gen∣tle and easie, but inwardly malignant, full of anguish and very tedious to the sicke; disquiet of the bodie, passions of the hart, vomit, soundings, extreame thirst, paine and lassi∣tude through the whole body, with appearance of spots or markes, or swellings vnder the arme pits, or in the groine or vnder the eares, or in any part of the body, then is it e∣uident that the person so affected is infected with the plague, by reasons of such signes or accidents (especially if he that is surprised, hath cōuersed with any, or in any place that hath béen infected.) By these signes and accidents wée may easily know the nature of that sickenesse, as Auicen and Ra••is do testifie: otherwise the sayd sicknesse is verie often times so fraudulent and deceiuable, that for the most part it deceiueth the patient and the Phisition, as Auicen

after Galen doth testifie. For diuers of those that are in∣fected, supposing themselues to be frée frō the plague, make no account thereof in the beginning, nay, during the first and second dayes, they onely suffer a gentle feuer without any other appearance, so that nature desisteth not to per∣forme hir functions, being as yet vnassailed by the ve∣nime. For which cause the patient will haue a good pulse, and healthful vrine, almost as perfect as when they were in health, when as sodainly they are séene to die without any manifest occasion, which bréedes doubt and trouble in the Phisition, as Galen and Auicen do testifie. For this cause men ought not to maruell though the Phisitions in this case are pusseld and doubtful, since this sicknes in his nature, is so doubtfull, fraudulent, and deceiuable. This notwithstanding, whenas with the feuer, the tokens, tu∣mor, or carbuncle do appeare, there is no cause of suspition or doubt of the disease. Then ought they readily to with∣stand the same by a fit and conuenient diet, and by exquisit and proper medicines sodainly and exquisitely ordained; for a sickenes of that nature admits no delay without cer∣taine danger of death. And therefore Hipocrates saith that it is expedient in such sickenesses to minister euacuations and other meanes the very same day: Now for that it is one of the principall intentions of a Phisition, in this case, to correct the aire, and prohibite the venime, that it may haue no operation in the body, we will beginne with the same, and so consequently discourse vpon the rest.

The preparation of a Chamber.

FIrst therefore, men ought to make choice of a chamber for the patient, that is wel aired, if it be possible, hauing the windowes towards the North or East. And if it be in summer time, it is good to kéep those windows that regard the North opened, to the end that the ayre of the chamber

may be purified and cleansed. Care likewise must be had to haue the Chamber cleansed twoo or thrée times a day, and that the floore be sprinckled, & the wals bedewed with good Rose-vineger, mixed with common-water, or with Rose-water, if the patient be rich. The said chamber like∣wise must be strewed with odoriferous flowres and swéete smelling hearbs, namely in Summer time, with roses, vi∣olets and pinkes, with the leaues of willow and the vine. It is good also to haue quinces & citrons to smell to, to the end that the ayre may be more odoriferous. Neyther is it amisse at what time soeuer it be, to make a light fire in the Chamber in Summer time, for it purgeth the infected ayre very much. And if it be in Winter, it is not amisse to make a great fire in the Chamber of Rosemary; bayes, Iuniper, and such like, perfuming the Roome with Benia∣min, Storax, Frankinscence, Cloues, Iuniper-berries, or such like. And if the patient be of abilitie, so as he may change chambers, it shal not be amisse to do it oftentimes, so as it be prepared, as we haue aduised.

The bed of the patient ought to be large, cleane, and perfumed with good odors according to the season of the yeare, as is aforesaide. He ought also oftentimes to change his shéets and his shirt if he haue meanes twise or at least∣wise once in the day: Round about his bed if it be summer time, and on the top of his couerlets you shal strew floures and odoriferous fruit and boughs, and the sicke party shal haue by him diuerse orenges, quinces, limons, or citrons to smell to: And if he be rich, he shall cause certaine shéets to be stéeped in vineger and water, and hung round about his bed, not onely to refresh the place, but to repulse the e∣uill vapour of the chamber: He shall likewise oftentimes wash his hands, his pulses, and his face and forhead with this mixture. Take of white rose vineger foure ounces, or halfe a pinte of rose water, a pinte of good malmsey, claret, or white wine foure ounces, of the powlder of zodoarie, cloues, dried roses, and muske, of each two graines, let al

these be beaten and mixed together, and let him rubbe his nose, his eares, handes and face therewith, for it will comforte and quicken the heart and vitall spirites, and driue away all euill vapours: Lo here the preparation of the chamber and bed of him that is diseased and sick of the plague. Hereafter insueth the maner of his diet.