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. VI. A Rule and direction, whereby, by Potions, Pils, Pow∣ders, Opiates, and Losenges (which are most fit, apt, and conuenient to preserue the body from Contagion,) the Plague may be preuented.

THe Diuine prouidence of God, being care∣full for his creatures, and the preseruation of mankind, hath produced many remedies to represse and preuent the daungerous insultes and assaults of y^e Plague, or any other vene∣mous contagion whatsoeuer: (which reme∣dies our ancient Phisitians haue called Antidotes, that is to say, certaine medecines which in their nature and hidden pro∣perty inclosed in them, are contrary vnto them, as Galen in ij. books of Antidotes hath learnedly declared.) Of these reme∣dies I wil set down some, and those the most effectuall in this Chapter, as well for the rich as for the poore, whose miserie and distresse we ought more inwardly to releiue then the rest: partly because God hath especially enioyned vs no lesse, part∣ly because they of thēselues haue no meanes to succour them∣selues, for which cause we are in charitie bound to relieue thē, as herafter shalbe proued. And of these remedies we ought to vse some change, to the ende, that nature making vse of one of them do ••ot dispise the vertue thereof, as Galen writeth in his fift booke, de Sanitate Tuenda. The body therefore being first of all well purged, it is good to make vse of Guidos Electuarie Theriacal, especiall in Winter or Autumne, namely in those who are of a colde and moyst complection, especially where it may euery waies be commodiously applyed. The Apotheca∣ries either haue or may conueniently haue the Species therof ready prepared, of which a man may take a drā at once in Bu∣glos,

or Sorrel-water, or in good White wine, or in the win∣ter time with Claret wine. This powder is very effectuall in this case, if it be wel and faithfully dispensed, neither is the price ouer valued for the poore: of this powder may you make vse two or thrée dayes, either with some fit water, or else in the forme of Losings. This powder also which ensueth is a very singular remedie, which in stead of the former, and in way of chaunge, you may vse for two or three dayes space. Take the rootes of Tormentill, the rootes of Zedoary, and Angelica, of each a Dramme; Fine Cinamon, yellow Sanders, of the séedes of Citrons and Sorrell, of each a Dramme and a halfe, of the shauings of Iuorie, of Cardus benedictus, & the rindes of Citron, of each foure scruples, of bole Armenus prepared two Drammes, of fine Sugar as much as shall suffice: make thereof a a very fine powder, of which those that are strong and in yeares may take a dram, & the yonger sort, half a dram in Scabious water, and Sorrell water, or in three good spoone∣fuls of good White wine. Galen, (in his second booke of An∣tidotes) setteth downe this singular remedie for the poore, which was made and composed by Apollonius. Take twen∣tie leaues of Rew, two common Nuttes, two dried and fatte Figges, a little Salt, mixe all together and take euery Mor∣ning a morsell, and drinke a little pure White wine after: If any one fasting taketh this medecine, no venome may hurt him that day, as Galen (according to Appolonius opinion) testifieth, in the place afore alleaged. There is an other easie and excellent medecine which followeth, the which King Ni∣comedes vsed against all venome and poyson. Take of Iu∣niper berryes two Drams, of Terra Sigillata as much, make hereof a powder, & incorporate the same with good Honie, and reduce it to the forme of an Opiate, of which a man may take a bole or bit to the valew of ij. drams for the rich, & for the poore, in stead of Terra Sigillata, you may vse as much bole Arme∣nus prepared. This remedy is set down by Galen, in the fore∣said place, & is of great efficacy. The Electuary de bolo Arme∣no, also is commonly vsed, & hath no vnpleasant taste therwith.

The Pilles of Rufus also are an excellent preseruatiue against the Plague, which are made after this manner following: Take Aloes and Armoniack of each two drammes, and make a composition thereof with white Wine and vse the same, for they are of Paulus Aeginetas description: but if you wil more properly dispence the same, leaue out the Armoniac, and in stead thereof, put therto a litle Saffron, according to the forme which ensueth, and you shall make a most excellent medicine to this effect. Take of Aloes washed in Rose water, one ounce of Mirrh and Saffron, of each two drammes, of Bole Arme∣nus two drammes, make Pilles thereof with white Wine, or the iuice of Limons in Sommer. Of this composition you may forme fiue Pilles for a dramme, and take them euery morning. An other preseruatiue, and very profitable for the poore, is this that followeth. Take one or two handfuls of Sor∣rell, stéepe them in a Uioll in good Rose-Wine Uinegar, and kéepe it close stopped, and in the morning when you rise, take thrée of foure leaues of the Sorrell thus stéeped, and eate the same, for it is a profitable medicine: the reason is, because Sorrell by his vertue represseth the heate of the blood, and resisteth against all putrifaction. And if you drinke a spoonefull or two of the saide Uineger in the morning: Or stéepe a toste of white bread in the same, and ouerspread it with Sugar, it is both comfortable and wholesome at all times: Some there are that vse the leaues of Rew after the same sort, but this me∣medicine is not allowable but in the cold time of the yeare, and in such bodies as are cold and phlegmatique by reason of the heate thereof, Iuniper berries also being stéeped in Rose Ui∣neger and taken in the morning, as wonderfully profitable to that ef••••ct.

These remedies which ensue are very excellent and appropriate for the Plague.

A Pomander of excellent sent and sauour good a∣gainst Pestilent aires.

TAke pure and swéete Ladanum, Beniamin, Storax Ca∣lamite, of the Trocisques of Gallia Moscata, of Cloues, Mace, Spikenard, the wood of Aloes, the thrée Saun∣••••rs, the rootes of Orace, of eache halfe an ounce, let all these 〈◊〉〈◊〉 beaten to a fine powder and searsed, and then incorporate the whole with liquide Storax, adding therevnto of Muske ••nd Amber, of each a dramme, of Ciuet two drammes, make •• ••aste hereof with the infection of Gumme Tragacents in ••ose water.

•• prettie preseruatiue to be carried in a mans mouth du∣ring the time of infection, which procureth a sauoury and sweete breath.

TAke of fine Sugar one ounce, of Orace halfe an ounce, of the shell of an Egge the inward skin being taken away halfe an ounce, put the shell of the Egge into Muske Rose water till it be mollified for the space of eight dayes, beat 〈◊〉〈◊〉 these to a fine powder, and with Rose water wherin Gum Tracagant hath bene infused, make prettie Pellets according so what bignesse you please. These are very wholesome, and make the breath swéete, and comfort the heart inwardly, and are of a temperat qualitie, which you may kéep in your mouth some thrée houres.

An admirable and excellent defensatiue in forme of an oyntment to defend the heart in time of infection, pro∣fitable both for the healthy and diseased, and of admi∣rable effects.

TAke of the best Treacle you can get, or in stead thereof Methridate (but Treacle is the better) take I say two ounces. The iuice of sixe Limons mixed together, and put them into a litle glassed pipkin, and let them boyle therein till halfe the iuice be consumed. Then suffer it to coole, and af∣terwards take two drams of beaten Saffron, of Caroline and white Diptamy, of each two drammes, incorporate all these things together after they are well pounded, and bring them to the forme of an ointment, wherwith euery day annoint the

region of the heart vnder the left pappe, making a circle with the same round about the pap. Afterward take an ounce of Christaline & pure Arsenick, and wrap it in Gossapine Cotton and red Taffata, after the forme of a litle bag, carry the same about you, being bounde vnderneath or hard vpon your left pap: by this meanes each man may be assured that he shall not be infected, if so be he vse those interior remedies which I shal set downe and haue heretofore declared for the good of my Country.

An other excellent preseruatiue against the Plague.

TAke of the leaues of Mary-golds, which the Latines call Calendula, of Uerveine, Scabious and Sorrell, of each a handfull: of the rootes of Gentian, Zedoary, and white Diptamy, of each two drams, boyle them all together for two houres space in good and pure fountaine-water, from the va∣lue of a quart to a pinte, adde thervnto the iuice of sixe Limons and as much Sugar as shal be sufficient, make a sirope here∣of, and aromatise it with Cinamom, and take thereof euery morning foure or fiue spoonefulls.

A singular water both for the healthy and diseased in the time of the sicknesse, whereof they may take an ounce euery morning with much comfort.

TAke Ualerian, Carline, Zedoary, good Mirrhe, Bole Armenus, Gentian, of round Birtwoort of Aristolochia, of Calamus Aromaticus, of white Diptamy, Impera∣toria, of each one ounce and a halfe: of fiue Aloes two drams, of Saffron a scruple, beate all these to a fine powder, and af∣terwards stéepe them in fiue pintes of excellently wel r••ctified spirit of Wine, and let them in••use therein sixe houres, and sée the body wherein you put them be well luted. After the sixe houres be past, adde thervnto fiue pintes of good Malmessie, and straine the same, or rather you may leaue the simples in

the bottome and dreine it clearly and gently: Of this water euery morning fasting, take two or thrée spoonefulls, for it is an excellent and well approued remedy.

Excellent Pilles against the Plague.

TAke of Aloes one ounce, of Mirrh and Saffron, of each thrée drammes, of Bole Armenus, Terra Sigillata, Zodoarie, white Diptamus, the rootes of Tormentil, of each a dramme, make Pilles of these, being all of them well poudered and mixed with the iuice of Mary-goldes or redde Coleworts, of which, euery day take one, and once euery mo∣neth a dramme.

An excellent and approued remedie allowed by diuers learned mens experience.

TAke the rootes of Tormentil, and of white Diptamus, the rootes of Ualerian, and white Daises (and if it be pos∣sible to get them gréene it shal be the better:) Take these aboue named rootes, as much of the one as of the other, pound them and make a fine pouder of them: Then take the decocti∣on of Sorrel, and let the aboue named pouder be infused in the same, then let it be taken out and dried in the Sunne; Af∣terwards beate it to pouder againe, and infuse it anew, and afterwards dry it in the Sunne as before: which when you haue done thrée or foure times, reserue the same pouder clear∣ly in some conuenient vessell, and when as any one feeleth himselfe strooken with the Plague, giue him presently halfe an ounce of this pouder in Rose water, or Scabious water, or in nine houres after he shall séele himselfe infected. This remedy in diuers persons and very oftentimes hath bene ex∣perimented, and hath wrought wonderfull effects, if it were giuen within the time prescribed.

A singular and secret Remedie the which I receiued from a worthy man of Venice, admirable for his learning in all Sciences, who of curtesie imparted the same vnto me, with protestation that he had seene wonderfull ef∣fects of the same.

TAke of the Rootes of Tormentil and white Diptamy, as much of the one as of the other, of Bole Armenus washt in Rose water, the quantitie of a great Chestnut; of ori∣entall Pearles one dramme: of the sharings of Iuory one dramme and a halfe, beate all these into a fine powder, and incorporate them with conserue of Roses in a marble Morter, reserue this confection in a vessell of glasse well couered. Take hereof the quantitie of a great Nut in the Morning, and drinke a spoonefull of the Iuice of Mary-golds or Lemons with Sugar after it. The Gentleman that gaue me this, assured mée that hée had giuen it to many in the time of the great Plague in Venice, who though continually con∣uersant in the houses of those that were infected, receiued no infection or preiudice by them. A Remedie worthy the vse and noting.

An Opiate against the Plague, extracted partly out of Galen, partly out of Dioscorides, and others of excellent effect.

TAke twentie common Nuttes, of dried Figges, to the number of 15. and of Rue and Scabious, of each twen∣tie leaues: Of the rootes of both sorts of Aristolochia, the round and long, of each halfe an ounce, of Tormentil, white Diptamy, Pimpernell, Bay Berries, Borage flowers, the Kinde of the roote of Capres, of each two drammes & a halfe: of Galingale, Harts horne, Mace and Mirrhe, of eache two drammes: of Bole Armenus, Terra Sigillata, common Salt, of each two scruples, beat all these to fine pouder, and incorpo∣rate them with two pound of pure clarified Hony, and make an Opiate therof: wherof in the morning take the quantitie of a Nut, and drinke thereafter a litle white Rose Uinegre and Rose water, and you shall find this medicine very effectuall.

A perfume for to aire the Chamber of him that is infec∣ted, correcting the venemous aire.

TAke blacke Pitch, Rosin, white Frankincence, of each sixe ounces, of Mirrhe foure ounces, of the wood of Aloes halfe a dramme, of Storax and Beniamin, of eache a dramme, of Iuniper berries, and the leaues of Rosemary, of each two drammes, make a grosse powder of these, and in a Chafingdish and coales cast of the same & perfume the Cham∣ber.

A powder of great vertue against the Plague, which was sent by Philip King of Spaine, to Charles the ninth King of France, in the yeare 1564. when as almost the whole kingdome of France was infected with the Plague.

TAke chosen and perfect Mirrhe, the wood of Aloes, Ter∣ra Sigillata, of Bole of Armenia prepared, of Mace, Cloues, and Saffron, of each an ounce, beat them to a fine powder, of which you may take a dramme in Rose wa∣ter, or the iuice of Limons in sommer, and in winter with good wine. This powder was sent to the King and Quéenes Ma∣iestie for a soueraine remedy. Valleriola in his third booke of his Phisicall obseruations the first Enarration, setteth downe a composition to this effect, taken out of the best Authors in Phisicke, especially out of Galen, Paulus, Aegineta, Diasco∣rides, and Auicen, according to this forme following.

Take of the best Bole of Armenia one ounce, of perfect Ci∣namom halfe an ounce, of the rootes of the hearbe called in La∣tin and Gréeke Pentaphillon, or else Tormentil, of each halfe an ounce, of the roote of Gentian thrée drammes, of the rootes of both the sorts of Aristolochia the round and long, of the rootes of Florentine Lillies, of each two drammes, of the rootes of Enula, Campana, thrée drammes, of the dried rinde of O∣ranges or Pomecytrons (which is farre better and more ef∣fectual)

thrée drammes, of Pomecytron séeds, or in stead therof Orange or Limon, of Tornep séede, and Sorrel séede, of each two drammes. Of Iuniper berries, Cloues, Mace, Nutmegs, Zedoary and Angelica, of each two drammes, of the leaues of Rosemary, Sage, Rew, Bittony, and Chama Pilis, of each a dramme, of Bay-berries, Saffron, Masticke, Frankinsence, the shauings of Iuory, orient Pearles, white, red, and yealow, Saunders, of each a dramme, of the flowers of red Roses, of Uiolets, of water Lillies and Buglosse, of each two drammes: let all these be beaten to a fine powder and with clarified Ho∣ny, or the iuice of Limons, make an Opiate thereof. The dose of the powder to those that are in health is a dramme for pre∣seruation: and in those that are sick two drammes, with Sca∣bious or Rose water in sommer, and with good wine in win∣ter, and if a man desire to haue it in an Opiate, he may well take halfe an ounce.

A soueraine and excellent Remedie ta∣ken out of Alexis.

TAke Iuie berries of the oake in their full maturitie, (ga∣thered if it be possible in such places as are Northward) dry them in the shadow, and afterwards kéepe them in a boxe or leather Sachell, and reserue them for an especiall Re∣medy, and when you would make vse thereof, you shall giue of this pouder to those that are infected to the value of a dram, as much as will couer a French Crowne, mixe this powder with good white wine, and let the Patient drinke thereof, and couer him wel in his bed, that he may sweat so long as he may endure, and afterwards cause him to change his shirt, shéetes, and bed, if it be possible. And by experience it will profite, for proofe wherof the Author produceth maruellous effects of this medicine, especially of a Millanors being at Allep in Siria, who witnesseth that he tooke this medicine, and that sodainly the Carbuncle or Botch brake. And this was in the yeare 1523.

The Almaines and Flemmings in the time of the Plague, vse this Remedie that ensueth.

TAke one part of Aqua Uita of the best, thrée partes of Malmesie, or other pure wine, of Iuniper Berries halfe a handfull, or of common Nuttes thrée or foure, these doo they stéepe in the abouesaid Liquor thrée houres, and after∣wards eate them morning and euening. This Remedie in old folkes & in the winter time is not to be misliked: Treacle and Methridate, are excellent remedies in the Plague time, if you take a dramme in sommer time in Rose water, or Sor∣rell water, and in winter with good Wine. But those that take the same ought to abstaine from meate for the space of sixe houres after, and to suppe little or nothing at all the day be∣fore: for otherwise the saide medicines takes no effect.

See here the most soueraigne and exquisite remedies that may be found to preserue those that are in health, as well the rich as the poore in this contagious time, which interchangea∣bly vpon all opportunities a man may vse. But aboue all things it is behoueful to kéepe a good diet & order euery waies, and to sée the body be soluble, for that it is one of the most prin∣cipall points to preserue & continue the body in health. But a∣mōgst those things that are most necessary & requisit towards the continuance and preseruation of health, and auoydance of contagion, nothing is more to be respected then sobrietie and an orderly course of life: for continence is the mother & fostresse of all good disposition in mans body, by reason that by sobrietie the health is confirmed and continued in his estate; the hu∣mors are well tempered, and naturall heate fortified, the na∣turall passages of the body entertained in their due harmony, the operations of nature euery one in themselues well and duly accomplished: and by these reasons sobrietie is the foun∣dation to warrantise the body from all euils: as contrariwise, intemperance is the source and and originall of all mishap and fatall infirmitie. All which is confirmed by Hypocrates and

Galen, in the second booke Of the Aphorismes: Aphorisme, 17. and Hipocrates himselfe in the sixt of his Epidemies, where he saith, That the chiefest care that is to be had for to continue health, consisteth principally in this: to liue sober∣ly, to vse conuenient exercise, and not to gorge a mans self with surfets. The like also is confirmed by Galen and Plu∣tarch, in their writings and Bookes, De Sanitate Tuenda, wherein the error & folly of the common sort appeareth most manifestly, who dare in the time of infection and pestilence, to ouercharge themselues with wine, and fill their stomackes in the morning before they goe out of doores, thinking by this time to coniure the time, (according to their lewd discourse) and abate the euill vapour of the ayre, whereas in effect, they effect nothing but the contrarie. For wine being taken fa∣sting, maketh the body more apt to conceiue infection through the heate thereof, and the piercing qualitie and opening it, cau∣seth in the parts & vessels of the body, namely the vaines and arteries, making thē by these meanes more capable to receiue the euill influence of the ayre, if any raigne at that time. Let therefore all men be curious to obserue this commendable so∣briety, if they be desirous to auoyd the dangers of the Plague, by forbearing al diuersities of meats, and surceasing to fil their stomackes with vnmeasurable repastes, and let them féede so∣berly, and no more then is néedfull to sustaine life, obseruing a temperate exercise in pleasant and delightfull places. Let them leade their life in peace, and quiet of minde, in ioy, dis∣port and honest pleasure, auoyding all perturbations of the spirit, and especially sadnesse, melancholy, wrath, feare, and suspect, which are the most daungerous accedents that may encounter a man in such like times: as Galen in his Booke, (Of the Art of Medecine) hath written, and of this kinde of temperate life, I wil make a particular discourse in the Chap∣ter ensewing, to the ende that euery one may vnderstand what meanes he ought to obserue, in the maintenance of his health by good diet and order.