A treatise of the small-pox and measles describing their nature, causes, and signs, diagnostick and prognostick, in a different way to what hath hitherto been known : together, with the method of curing the said distempers, and all, or most, of the best remedies : also, a particular discourse of opium, diacodium, and other sleeping medicines : with a reference to a very great case / by Gideon Harvey ...

CHAP. VIII. Of the analogy and resemblance be∣tween the Small-Pox and Plague.

1. IT is the great analogy and re∣semblance between the Small-pox and the Plague, that hath gi∣ven me the occation of interweaving the foregoing Discourses, especially since the latter being so well under∣stood by most in those enumerated Instances, will render the theory and practice of the Small-pox and Measles so intelligible, that accord∣ing to my pretence in the First and Second Chapters, very ordinary Ca∣pacities will be qualified to make a decision in the Debate.

Wherefore, if I make the analogy appear, and give Reasons of those Inferences, the same will serve to satisfy the Objections and Queries, that may be made of the Small-pox.

2. In relation to the analogy, I say, 1. They are both contagious Diseases, and originally caused by malign particles received out of the Air into the Body, and with very little distinction, those of the Small-pox and Measles being in these Nor∣thern Regions admitted sometimes immediately after the Birth, though commonly within a few years after, and the other any time after the Air is loaded with pestiferous particles, which differ from the former in ma∣lignity only, secundum magis & mi∣nus.

From the next preceding Dis∣course you will infer, That since at all times some Men, Women, and chiefly Children, have the Small-pox stragling here and there (spo∣radicè) I do suppose that the Air is always indued with variolous ma∣lign particles in these cold Regions. Most certainly, I do suppose the said particles are ever floating in parcels here and there, as it will be explain'd

hereafter; and in resemblance to that particular, in some warm Coun∣tries, as Egypt, and many places of Turky, there is always a scattering (sporadic) Plague (which, as the Small-pox, is sometimes epidemick and universal) occasioned by the putrefaction, and putrid steams, the overflowing of the River Nilus in the former, and morassy Grounds of the latter do emit. And therefore for the said Reason it is, I have named the particles, or effluvia, or steams reeking out of the putrid grounds in these parts into the Air half pestilential, which in the time of the Plague (that may happen once in thirty or forty years) do pass into whole pestilential; and therefore it is, that commonly an epidemic Small-pox does precede the Plague.

2dly, They both occasion either an ebullition only, or a continual Fe∣ver, that may either be simply such (synocha imputris) or putrid, or high∣ly malignant; for many have had a

slight Plague, that hath been attend∣ed with no other than an ebullition of the Blood; others with a simple continual Fever, or synocha imputris.

3dly, As some sort of Small-pox and Measles do appear mild, others malign; some mortal, others cura∣ble; and some never have either of them, though all are subject to them, in the sense I have exprest above; so in like manner some have been seized with a mild, others with a malign; some with a mortal, others with a curable Plague; and some have escaped it wholly, at least as to a visible appearance.

4thly, The common symptoms of shiverings and shakings (rigores) a great oppression about their Stomack and Heart, pains in the Back, Head∣ach, a burning heat, and sometimes none at all extraordinary; a very high large strong quick pulse, and sometimes low, quick, (in others slow or moderate) inequal, and feeble pulse; the Urine in some very

high coloured, thin, without any hy∣postasis or sediment, in others citrin, with a pyramidal hypostasis, like unto a well-Urin, and in some few very pale, with a divell'd and disperst sediment; in some very few the Urine is bloody; excessive drought, through in others none at all, or ve∣ry moderate; scabrous, dry inflamed tongues; in others white, foul, and slimy, and in some moist and well-colour'd; vomitings, looseness, deliri∣um, or light-headedness, restlesness, an∣guishings, and jactitations, vigiliae nocturnae, or want of sleep, and com∣monly in the beginning drowsiness, and abundance of others, though all various in every particular subject, are the same in both, differing only in degree. Besides, as in the Small-pox you have pimples, pale, red, brown or leadish, of an Olive-colour, and sometimes black; spots also in∣tersperst between the pimples, as va∣rious in colours as these, oft very small, of the extension of Fleabites.

After these arise sometimes great tu∣mors about the emunctories, in or about the Face, which turning to maturation, become sordid and fetid Ulcers, of a nature so malign, that I have known them to resist all man∣ner of cure for three, four, or six months successively.

2. The Plague is ordinarily at∣tended with spots of all complexions, whereof the black are usually call'd Tokens, (which the Dutch name Peppercorns) also with pimples e∣qually various in colour, among which those that are of a shining purpre red, are named Carbuncles, and soon after turning into a black Crust, is call'd a Coal, and is a per∣fect sphacelus, or mortification; with great and sometimes small tumors in the emunctories (are called Bubo's) also about the Nose, Eyes, Cheeks, Neck, and other parts, that exchange into the most fowl, malign and du∣rable Ulcers; and are such, that

some have lost an Eye, their Nose, and a Joint through them, besides all the other Symptoms mentioned in the Small-pox, that are equally com∣mon in the Plague, excepting only, that generally here the Tongue is very dry, and usually the Patient is very droughty.

3. In respect of the second Infe∣rence, it cannot be doubted, that many do fall into the Small-pox, that proves mortal, and incurable per se, or accidentally so, very oft by the ignorance and unskilful boldness of Physicians; many others are cu∣red by Nature, and a true regimen only of the six non naturals, and par∣ticularly by abstinence, and rest, (quiete & obstinnentia, as Celsus ex∣presses it) that is, not tampering at all with Medicines or Remedies, but keeping quiet, still, and tempe∣rately warm from the crude, cold and rough Air abroad, and attended by a careful and unbusie Nurse. And many escape those Diseases,

as I hinted before, all their life∣time.

4. The third Inference is plainly answered by many falling into the Small-pox in the beginning of a reigning Season, and many more in the height. Furthermore, as some may have, and have had the Plague two or three times; the like hath been asserted of the Small-pox, tho some, very few only, have had them the third time.

5. The fourth needs no proof, to wit, that some have been taken with the Small-pox soon after they are born; others some weeks, months, or years, though most within seven years, not many after thirty or forty, and very few after three or four∣score.

5. These Parallels and Resem∣blances may very justly challenge a ready belief from all men, that those Diseases are very near a-kin, and the Causes much the same, being no otherwise distinguishable than in

degree, or secundum magis & minus, both being venomous and contagi∣ous. Wherefore, for further illu∣stration, and that I may plainly shew you the manner how variolous and pestilential particles are return'd out of the retired parts of the Body and Humors, into the Small-pox, and pestilential Eruptions, I will give you my sense very briefly of the nature of Venoms in relation to the Body of Main, in the next suc∣ceeding Chapter.