A way to health, long life and happiness, or, A discourse of temperance and the particular nature of all things requisite for the life of man as all sorts of meats, drinks, air, exercise &c., with special directions how to use each of them to the best advantage of the body and mind : shewing from the true ground of nature whence most diseases proceed and how to prevent them : to which is added a treatise of most sorts of English herbs ... the whole treatise displaying the most hidden secrets of philosophy ... / communicated to the world for the general good by Thomas Tryon.

CHAP. XVII.

Of BUGS; and from what Matter and Aliment they do proceed, and how to prevent their Generations. Of the Excellency of clean sweet Beds, and perniciousness of old stink∣ing Feather-Beds. Also, several Receipts how to kill Bugs and Fleas.

CLeanness in Houses, especially in Beds, is a great preserver of Health. Now Beds for the most part stand in Corners of Chambers, and being pon∣derous close Substances, the refreshing Influences of the Air have no power to penetrate or destroy the gross Humidity that all such places contract, where the Air hath not its free egress and regress. In these shady dull places Beds are continued for many years, and hardly see the Sun or Elements. Besides, Beds suck in, and receive all sorts of pernicious Excrements that are breathed forth by the sweating of various sorts of people, which have Leprous and Languishing Dis∣eases, which lie and die on them: The Beds, I say,

receive all these several Vapours and Spirits, and the same Beds are often continued for several Generations, without changing the Feathers, until the Ticks be rotten. Besides, we have many Feathers that are im∣ported from several Countries, which are the Drivings of old Beds, the uncleanness whereof is not conside∣red. As to the Nature of Feathers, they are of a strong, hot, sulsome Quality; for Fowls, of all Crea∣tures are for the most part the hottest, and their Fea∣thers contain the same Nature: Therefore the con∣stant lying on soft Feather-Beds, does not only over∣heat the Back and Reins, weakening the Joynts and Nerves; but they have power also not only to re∣ceive, but retain all evil Vapours and Excrements that proceed from, and are breathed forth by various Dis∣eased people. Hence it comes to pass that sundry Di∣stempers are transferred from one to another, by lying upon or in such Beds, which Distempers do secretly steal on a man by degrees, so that he cannot imagine whence the Disorder proceeds, or what the cause thereof should be. But I would not have the Reader mistake me; all people are not subject to get Diseases this way: There are some whose Constitutions are strong, and their Natural Heat and Spirits are vigo∣rous and lively, by the Power and Virtue whereof they withstand and repel all such evil Vapours and Scents as do proceed from such Beds, when a man is hot and sweats in them, that they have no power to seize the Spirit: But, on the contrary, when such peo∣ple shall lie on such Beds, whose Natural Heat is weak, their Spirits few, and whose central heat is not able to withstand or repel those Vapours and Scents which such Beds send forth when a man is hot in them; this last sort of people are subject to receive Injuries, and contract Diseases; for those evil Vapours do powerful∣ly penetrate the whole Body, and if they are not with∣stood by the central heat and power of the Spirits,

then these evil Vapours do seise the Spirits, and in∣corporate themselves with their likenesses; for every particular thing does sensibly and powerfully seek out its likeness, and wheresoever it finds its simile, it hath power to incorporate and become essential. These are the chief Reasons why one man gets Diseases by lying with Diseased Persons, and in unclean Beds, and o∣thers not. It is a general custom when men go a∣broad or travel, to desire clean Sheets, imagining them to be a sufficient bulwark to defend them from the pernicious Fumes and Vapours of old stale Beds; but it is too short. For it is certain, that most or all Beds do perfectly stink, not only those in Inns and Houses of Entertainment, but others; not but that every ones Bed does smell indifferent well to himself; but when he lies in a strange Bed, let a man put his Nose into the Bed when he is thorowly hot, and hardly any com∣mon Vault is like it.

Now this sort of Uncleanness, which does proceed from old Beds, is not only the greatest, but also the most injurious to the Health and Preservation of Man∣kind, and the least care is taken to prevent it. Eve∣ry one that can, will have plentiful Changes both of Linnen and Woollen Garments, for if they have not, experience does shew, that the Excrements and Breathings of the Body will generate Vermin: Also, do not most people take care that their Furnitures are daily brushed and rubbed, and their very Floors wash∣ed, as tho they were to eat their Food on them? But all this while they lie on Beds that have not been changed, or hardly aired in several years. Let an indifferent person judge which is most pleasurable and healthful, to have a clean Floor to tread on, (which costs many a hard days labour to keep so, and is dirtied in a mo∣ments time) or to have a clean sweet Bed to lie on? There is no comparison to be made, the difference is so great; the one being essential either to health or sick∣ness;

the other an indifferent thing. If there was but the tenth part of the care taken to keep Beds clean and sweet, as there is of Clothing and Furniture, then there would be no Matter for the getting of Diseases, nor for the generation of Bugs. I woutd have all House∣wives and others, consider the Reasons of these things. Are not Lice, that troublesome Vermin, bred from the breathings of the Body, for want of often change both of Linnen and Woollen? And will not Fleas breed from the very Dust of Chambers where people lie? Al∣so any Woollen that hath been used about Beds, although the cold Winter have destroyed them, yet if these Clothes lie in any close place, where the Air hath not its free egress and regress, these very Garments will gene∣rate Fleas the Summer following; but if these Clothes had never been used about Men and Women, they would never have bred Fleas; for there is no matter of Element in Wool or Cloth for the generation of such Creatures; but Wool, Cloth, Furs and Hair, are chief∣ly the Element of Moths, and sometimes of small Worms; that is, if such are kept in places where the refreshing Influences of the Air have not their free e∣gress; for all such places do contract great store of Moisture, which when hot Weather comes, causeth Putrefaction, whence all such Vermin do proceed. But if those things be in daily use, and exposed to the open Element, they never breed any Vermin: so that the generation of those things are generally caused by Accidents; not but that there is matter in the Ra∣dixes of such things for the generation of such Ver∣min.

2. From the pernicious Smells and putrified Vapours that do proceed from old Beds, are generated the Ver∣min called Bugs, (of which, neither the Ancients, nor the Modern Writers of this Age, have taken notice) according to the degrees of Uncleanness, Nature of the Excrements, and the closeness of the Places where Beds

stand; for some Peoples Excrements are not so unclean as others: Also, in all close places, especially in Cities and great Towns, the Spirits and thin Vapours of the Air are suffocated, which makes the same Air sulphe∣rous and humid, whence does proceed Putrefaction. Therefore it is not to be thought a general Rule, That all Old Beds should breed Bugs, as some (who are ig∣norant of the Operation of Nature) will be apt to say, If one Bed do breed them, why not all? No, it is according to the nature of the uncleanness, and other accidents that do happen: for where, (as is said be∣fore) the thin pure Air, with the refreshing Influences of the Sun and Elements, have their free egress and re∣gress, all such matter is destroyed, whence such Vermin are produced. The Original of these Creatures called Bugs, is from Putrefaction, occasioned by stinking Scents and Vapours, which do proceed from the Bodies and Nature of Men and Women, and the mixing or incor∣porating of these Vapours with moist and sulpherous Airs; for where there is no heat nor humidity, there can begin no Putrefaction. Therefore all that have at∣tributed the generation of this Vermin to Wood, as Bed∣steads, and the like, are grosly mistaken in the produc∣tions of Nature; for there is no matter in Wood that can generate such a Vermin, it being productive only or chiefly of two Creatures in England, viz. of Wood-Lice, and a small Worm. These Wood-Lice are never generated but in places where the Sun and Air have not their free influences, so that there is store of hu∣midity contracted; and when the Sun comes to such Degrees of the Zodiack, this Creature is generated, which is of as different a Nature from Bugs, as Sweet-wood is from a stinking Bed. Also Wood does breed a certain small Worm, but never till the Salts Nature and Power is decayed through length of time: then the Air enters it which does presently cause it to contract a humid Quality, from whence proceeds Pu∣trefaction,

whereof when the Sun is powerful, this Worm is bred. But so long as Wood continues sound, and is kept dry, the Air having its free influences on it, I affirm, That no sort of Wood ever breeds any kind of Vermin.

3. There are many also that attribute the generati∣on of this Creature to Hogs-Hair, which being mixed with Lime, and Houses plaistered with it, does occasion (say they) the Generation of Bugs. Now it is most cer∣tain that there is no possibility in Nature for this Pro∣duction: for no kind of Hair ever breeds any Living Creature, except it be put into Water or Mud when the Sun is powerful, and then this Creature thus ge∣nerated, retains its first Species, viz. a Hair, with a live Head, which was its Element whence it proceed∣ed: but if you take it out of the Water, it presently dies: so also it doth when the Sun declines in heat, as most sorts of Vermin that are bred through Heat and Moisture do. But Hair being mixed with Lime, all Matter of generation is thereby totally destroyed: For Lime does chiefly contain a harsh, fiery, keen, sharp, corroding Quality; it is so sharp, that it does destroy all Life, and is as contrary to it, as Light is to Dark∣ness; the predominant Qualities in it is the Salts Na∣ture, from which no Living Creature can be produced. Besides, if there were never so much matter in Hair for the generation of such Vermin, Lime would destroy it; for in Lime there is only a Salnitral fiery Virtue.

4. If the Reasons before mentioned be not sufficient to convince the ignorant of their erroneous Opinions in this particular, then I hope the following one will, which is more familiar to every one. It hath never been known, that this troublesome Vermin was ever seen in Warehouses, Kitchins, Parlours, Dining-rooms, or any places where Beds have never been, except they have by accident been brought into such Rooms or Warehouses, by Furniture of Chambers that have been

troubled with them, tho all such places have the same Furniture as Chambers, except Beds.

5. From the same Substance or Matter whence Bugs are bred, is also occasioned the generation of many nasty Diseases in the Blood; so that the destruction of the Matter that breeds them, is of greater Consequence than most people are sensible of: And if these following Rules be observed, I dare affirm, That the Generation of Bugs will cease, and also many other Inconveniences and Distempers that are got by this sort of Uncleanness, will be avoided.

First, You are to destroy all Press-Bedsteads, which stand in Corners of Rooms, being made up with Boards so close, that the Air cannot penetrate, or dry up and consume the moist sulpherous Vapours that are contrac∣ted. These Sorts of Beds, that stand so, are apt to have them more than others. Also, you are to set your o∣ther Sorts of Beds as near as you can in the most airy places of your Rooms, exposing them to the Air the most part of the Day, with your Chamber-windows open, that the Air may freely pass, which is the most excellent Element that does sweeten all things, and prevents Putrefaction. In the Night also you ought not to have your Window-Curtains drawn, nor your Curtains that are about your Beds; for it hinders the sweet refreshing Influ∣ences of the Air, so that the Air of all close places becomes of a hot sulpherous Nature and Operation; the thin pure Vapours, which do wonderfully refresh Nature, are as it were suffocated: And this preventing the In∣fluenees of the Air, is in an especial manner observable, when people are sick, or out of order, as tho the sweet pleasant Air had been the cause of their Disease: such Rooms being so very close, with great Fires in them, that if a Healthy Person do but continue three or four Hours in them, the fulsome Steams, and thick Vapours will much disorder him, and take away the edge of his Appetite: And if so, what will the Operation be

on those whose Spirits are weak and disordered with Distempers?

What is more pleasant and healthful than good Air? It chears and comforts the Spirits, it opens the Passa∣ges of the Joynts and Nerves, it purifies the Blood, creates an Appetite, increasing Strength and Vigour. But on the contrary, hot, thick, sulpherous Airs, do not only obstruct the Passages of the Spirits, but suffocate them, loading the Joynts and Nerves with evil Juices, whereby the Limbs and Members become full of pain, causing a general Tenderness to possess the whole Bo∣dy, and destroying the Appetite, and the power of the digestive Faculty in the Stomach. Also, do not all Houses and Places grow Musty, and contract too great store of Moisture, if the Air be any way prevented by Window-shutters, or the like, that it cannot have its free egress and regress? Therefore moderate Cloathing, hard Beds, Houses that stand so as that the pleasant Briezes of Wind may air and refresh them, and also Houses that are full of W••••••ows, are to be preferr'd. For where the Air hath not its free Influences, the Spirit becomes dull and heavy, this being the true Life of the Spirit in every thing.

7. Now the certain means and way not only to pre∣vent the Generation of this Vermin, but also to pre∣serve Health and Strength, is Straw, or rather Chaff-Beds, with Ticks of Canvas, and Quilts made of Wooll or Flocks to lay on them; which certainly is the most easy and pleasant Lodging that can be invented; and a little Custom will make it appear friendly to Nature, and in every respect far beyond the softest Feather-beds on which, when a Man lies down, he sinks into them, as into an Hole, with Banks rising on each side of him; especially if two lye together, when first they go to Bed they lye close, and after a little time, when they begin to be hot or sweat, they are generally wil∣ling to lye a little further off, that they may cool them∣selves,

but cannot do it without great difficulty and trouble, by reason of the softness of the Bed, and those Banks that rise on each side. Besides such soft Feather-Beds do over-heat the Reins and Back, making all the parts tender, and causing Sweating, and many other Inconveniences to attend the Body. Feather-Beds also are nothing so easy as Quilts, after a little time being accustomed to them; they are also extream ful∣some, and by their Heat they do powerfully dry up the Radical Moisture, causing a general Faintiness to at∣tend the whole Body. But on the contrary, hard, even Beds, that lye smooth, are not only easy through Cu∣stom, as is mentioned before, but a Man may turn freely, both Sleeping and Waking. They harden and strengthen the whole Body, especially the Back and Reins, make the Nerves and Sinews strong, preventing the im∣moderate Evacuations by Sweating, and keeping the Bo∣dy in a temperate Heat. Besides, such Beds may be often changed with but little Trouble and less Cost; they send forth no stinking Fumes or ••••eams, as Fea∣ther-beds do; but are sweat and clean. Certainly no∣thing is more healthy, next to Temperance in Meat and Drink, than clean hard Beds.

8. All sorts of Beds, especially Feather-beds, ought to be changed, driven or washed, at the least three or four times in a year; or else it is impossible to keep them sweet and clean, and to prevent the Generation of Vermin, or. the other Inconveniences before-men∣tioned. Would not every one condemn a Man, if he should wear a Shirt a year, and lye in one pair of Sheets seven years? Which if any should do, it would not so much endanger his Health, nor bring half the In∣conveniencies on his Body, as old stinking Feather-beds do: which possibly stunk before ever they were lain on, by reason of the fulsom Excrements that the Quills of the Feathers contain. Also Feathers do certainly contain an unclean putrified Matter, that hath a near

affinity with the Nature of Bugs; and therefore Feather-beds are more apt to breed them, than Wooll or Flocks; tho both will do it, if the fore-mentioned Rules be not observed. But if you are not willing, or so lowly∣minded, as to have Straw or Chaff-beds under your Quilts, then you may have Flock-beds with Canvas-Tickings, which may be both aired and washed as often as you please, with little Trouble and Charge. If any shall question the Truth of what I have alledged concerning Beds, I desire they would please but to try the Experiment, by filling a Bed with the freshest and cleanest Straw or Chaff, which will smell very pleasant; and having so done, let them lye on it half a year in a corner of a Room, as Beds generally stand, and then smell to it; and instead of sending forth a Pleasant Scent, as it did at first, it will send forth a strong, ful∣some, musty Steam or Fume. And if this will do so, what will Feathers do, that in the Boot of Nature are unclean fulsom Excrements, of a hot strong Quality? Therefore they have the greater power not only to attract and suck into themselves the fulsom Excrements that are breathed forth of the Body by Sweatings, and the like; but they have also power to retain such evil Vapours; and when others come to lye on them, and are throughly hot, it awakens those pernicious Steams, which often bring many Inconveniencies on the Body. Besides, it is very unpleasant to lye in such Beds; a Man must always be forced to keep his Nose above∣board. Indeed each Mans own Bed does not stink or smell strong to himself, because he is accustomed to it; neither does a Tallow-Chandler smell those horrible Scents and pernicious Fumes, that old Tallow sends forth when it is melted. But let any other Person that is not accustomed to it, be near such things, and it will be very offensive to him. Even so it is in all other stinking Trades, and things of this nature; so that the greatest Slut in the World does hardly

smell her own House or Bed stink. For in Man is con∣tained the true Nature and Property of all things, both of Good and Evil; therefore he is both liable, and also apt to receive all Impressions, and to be wrought on by all things he shall either communicate with, or joyn himself to, whether it be Cleanness, or the contrary. Also by Meats, Drinks, and Communica∣tion, all things have power by a Sympathetical Ope∣ration to work on Man, because he is like unto all, bearing a proportionable Nature unto all things. If People did understand this, they would prefer Sobriety and Temperance with Cleanness, far beyond what they do; and then Men would not be subject to so many Diseases, as now they are.

9. Heat and Moisture is the Root of all Putrefaction; and therefore Bugs are bred in Summer, but they live all the Winter, tho they are not then so troublesome. They harbour in Bedsteads, Holes, and Hangings, Nit∣ting, and breeding as Lice do in Cloaths: But all Men know, that Woollen and Linnen are not the Element of Lice, but they are bred from the fulsome Scents and Excrements that are breathed forth from the Body. The very same Radix have Bugs; and if there be any difference, they are from a higher Putrefaction, and therefore they are a more noisome stinking Creature.

Several Receipts to destroy Bugs and Fleas.

TAke a convenient quantity of unslaked Lime, and put it into some Water, and let it stand three or four days, then pour off your Water, and add to it a quantity of common Salt more or less, as you think good, (but the stronger the Water is made, both of Lime and Salt, the better it will perform the Cure); then take this Liquor and wash the Floor, and the Sides of the Wall, and the Bedstead very well two or

three times a Week, for a Month or two together, (not forgetting to give your Room as much Air as you can, by setting your Windows open most part of the day) this Liquor will destroy both Bugs and Fleas, if other Circumstances of good Housewifery and Cleanness be ob∣served.

Another.

Take Colliquinto Seeds, a sufficient quantity to make Water strong, boyl them one quarter of an hour in Water, and wash the Walls, Floot, and Bedstead with this Water two or three times in a Week in the hottest Season for a Month, or as you see occasion. This will also prevent the breeding both of Bugs and Fleas, [But do not forget to let into your Rooms your Friend the Air.]

Another.

Take Wormwood in its proper Season, dry it accord∣ing to our Directions, and slip it from the stalks, and put it into White Paper Bags made flat, and prick Holes in them to let the Fumes out, and put some of these Bags between your Bed and the Sacking, Mats or Boards, and some of them under your Boulster, and also under your Bed on the Floor, and some of the same Wormwood loose on the Tester of your Bed. The Fumes and Scents of this Herb, doth not only prevent the Generation of all kinds of Vermin, but it makes the Air of such Rooms, where it lies, whol∣some.

Another.

Take Wormwood and Rue, a good quantity, boyl them a quarter of an hour in Water, then take common Salt, and add to this Water what quantity you please, (the stronger the better) then wash the Sides of the Wall, Floor, and Bedstead with this Wa∣ter two or three times a Week, and it will kill both Bugs and Fleas.

Another.

Take the Rinds or Outsides of Green Wall-nuts, bruise them, and steep them in Water three or four days, and wash your Rooms and Bedstead with it two or three times a Week, and it will work the same effect.

Another.

Take Wormwood and Mustard-Seed bruised, boyl them in Water a quarter of an hour, then add Salt to the Water, and wash the Wall, Floor, and Bedstead with it, which will prevent the Generation of all kinds of Vermin, if the sweet Influences of the Sun and Air be not prevented.

Another.

Take the Lees of Sope after you have done washing, and boyl Onions in it, then add a little Salt to it, and wash your Room and Bedstead with it.

Another.

Take strong Vinegar, and mix some Salt to it, and sprinkle your Room; this doth not only prevent and kill Bugs and Fleas, but it is otherways whol∣some.

A Fume.

Take Brimstone, and burn it on a Chafing-dish of Coles in the middle of your Room, (but remember to shut your Windows) this do two or three times a Week, or as often as you please, the oftner you do it, the soo∣ner will the Cure be performed.

Another.

Take three or four Ounces of Genny-Pepper, more or less, burn it on a Chafing-dish of Coles in the middle of your Chamber, shut your Windows and Doors, and go out, or else it will serve you as it will the Bugs and Fleas. If you do thus two or three times a Week for a Month or two in the hot Seasons, it will destroy all kind of Vermin in the bud.

Another.

To conclude, There is nothing better to prevent the Generation of Bugs and Fleas, and to keep your Bed sweet, than every Morning when you rise to set open your Windows, and lay open your Bed-cloths, and so let it continue four or five hours, in which time the excrementitious Fumes, and gross humid Steems, which the Body breathed forth in the foregoing Night, will Evaporate by the help of the Air; this is a very good way to keep the Bed sweet, and to prevent the breeding of Vermin, it being impossible for any to keep their Bed sweet, if they do not more or less observe this Rule.