The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latine and compared with the French. by Th: Johnson

CHAP. IX. Of other things to be observed for prevention, in feare of the Plague.

VENERY is chiefly to be eschewed, for by it the powers are debilitated, the spirits dissipated, and the breathing places of the body diminished, * 1.1 and lastly, all the strength of nature weakened. A sedentary life is to be shunned, as also excesse in diet, for hence proceeds obstruction, the cor∣ruption of the juices, and preparation of the body to putrefaction and the pestilence.

Women must be very carefull that they have their courses duely, for stopping be∣sides the custome, they easily acquire corruption, and draw by contagion the rest of the humours into their society. Such as have fistulous, or otherwise old ulcers, must not heale them up in a pestilent season, for it is then more convenient rather to make * 1.2 new ones, and these in convenient and declining places; that as by these channels, the sinke of the humors of the body may be emptied.

The Haemorrhoids, bleedings, & other the like accustomed evacuations, must not be stopped, unlesse they exceed measure. Moreover, they must at such times take heed that they touch or handle not any of these things wherein the seedes or fuell of the pestilence may lye hid, such as are, hempe, flaxe, quilts and coverings wherein such as have had the plague, have laid; skins and all leathern things, hangings and cloaths. You must dwell farre from church-yards, especially from those wherein the corps of such as have died of the plague, are not buried deep in the ground, as in the church * 1.3

of the Innocents in Paris, in which place by the same reason it sundry times happens that the buried bodies are plucked up, rent and torne by dogs. Also let them dwell farre from places of execution, shambles of flesh and fish, from tanne-houses, diers, tallow-chandlers, cloth-dressers, farriers, skinners, and from the places wherein metals are cast or wrought. The filth and dung, especially of Swine, Privies, stan∣ding and muddy waters, and lastly all things of the like evill smell, must be farre re∣mote from your habitation; the belly must not bee emptied into those places, into which the excrements of such as have the plague are cast. The company of such as * 1.4 usually visite those sicke of the plague, must be eschewed, as of Physitians, Apothe∣caries, Surgeons, Nurse-Keepers, Grave-makers and Bearers. For though they have not the plague, yet comming forth of a pestilent place, they may carry with them ly∣ing hid in their garments, the seedes thereof. You may gather this by such as have for a little while stayed in a perfumers shoppe, for the perfume diffused in the aire, bestowes the smel upon the garments of such persons, so that gone from thence, such as meet them, will judge them to carry perfumes with them. They shall also shunne * 1.5 long watchings, sound sleeping, all passions of the minde, especially anger, hunger, thirst, journying in the sun, for that hath oft-times occasioned a diary feaver, which hath not seldome beene seene to turne into a pestilent one, for by dilating the pores of the skinne, they have given entrance to the pestilent aire, which by that meanes hath easily taken hold of the humour disposed to putrefaction.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Why venery is to be shunned.
• * 1.2

  Running ulcers good in time of pestilence.
• * 1.3

  Places to be shunned in time of plague.
• * 1.4

  What company to be avoided.
• * 1.5

  You must doe nothing in a pestilent season whereby you may grow too hot.