Dr. Willis's practice of physick being the whole works of that renowned and famous physician wherein most of the diseases belonging to the body of man are treated of, with excellent methods and receipts for the cure of the same : fitted to the meanest capacity by an index for the explaining of all the hard and unusual words and terms of art derived from the Greek, Latine, or other languages for the benefit of the English reader : with forty copper plates.

CHAP. XIV. Of Pestilential and Malignant Feavers in Specie, and of others Epidemical.

AFter having having unfolded the Nature of the Plague, by the order of our Tract, we ought to proceed to the Diseases which seem to be nearest like its Nature; which chiefly are Feavers, called Pestilent and Malignant; for it is commonly noted, that Feavers sometimes reign popularly, which for the vehemency of Symptoms, the great slaugh∣ter of the Sick, and the great force of Contagion, scarce give place to the Pestilence; which however, because they imitate the Type of putrid Feavers, and do not so certainly kill the sick, as the Plague, or so certainly infect others, they deserve the name not of the Plague, but by a more minute appellation of a Peslilential Feaver: Besides these, there are Feavers of another kind, the perniciousness and contagion of which appear more remiss, yet because they are in∣festous, beyond the force of putrid Feavers, and seem to contain in themselves in a manner, the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or Hand of God of Hippocrates, are yet by a more soft Appellation, called Ma∣lignant Feavers.

Those Feavers differ both from the Pest, and from one another according to the degree, and vehemency of Contagion and deadliness; as the Plague is a Disease highly contagious, and deadly to humane kind; 'tis the Pestilent Feaver, which commonly spreads with a lesser diffu∣sion of its infection, and frequency of Burials. When the infection is only suspected, and the Crisis happens beyond the Event of vulgar Feavers, only not to be trusted, or less safe, it is esteemed for a Malignant Feaver, They are yet more fully described thus;

When the Feaver commonly spreads abroad, which for the variety of Symptoms, puts on the likeness of the putrid Feaver so called, to wit, when there are present, Thirst, Burning, Weariness, Anxiety, roughness of the Tongue, Watchings, Phrensie, Vomiting, want of Ap∣petite, Syncopy, Swooning, Heart-pains, and a concourse of other most terrible Accidents; if there happen besides, Spots either like to the little Flea-bites, or broad ones, like black and blew strokes, and livid, we esteem this Disease of an evil Nature. If besides these, it is not cured

after the wonted manner of Feav ers, but that the strength of the Sick is cast down, without any manifest cause, and that Death comes often unlooked for, and unsuspected, against the Progno∣stick of the Physician, there is yet a greater cause of suspition of malignity: But if it kills very ma∣ny of the sick, and that those who converse with the sick, contract the evil of the same Disease, that the same Disease spreads through all the Villages or Cities, it may be said to be more than malignant, a pestilential Feaver; which is yet fully proved, if it rages in very many ordina∣rily with a certain common symptom, as when a Squinancy, Dysentery or deadly Sweat, such as in times past spred in England, accompany these sort of Feavers.

If that a Feaver arises, which distempers many living in the same Region together, almost after the same manner, which notwithstanding observes the Laws of a common putrid Feaver in its course, and is cured almost after the same manner, this is not said to be Pestilent, but only a Malignant Feaver; unless that in some labouring with a remarkable Cacochimy, or fulness of ill humors, the appearances of Buboes, or of spots, sometimes with a deadly Crisis, and a Con∣tagion creeping upon others, betray some signs of Malignity.

If it be demanded, to which Class of the aforesaid Feavers these sort of Pestilential and Malignant Feavers ought to be placed, we ascribe them only to the rank of continual Feavers; we dischage or acquit intermitting Feavers, because by intervals they grant such firm Truces to Nature, and then they regularly and exactly observe their periods, which does not consist with an envenomed disposition. Also we except Hectick Feavers from malignity, beause otherwise their mortality would not be so long delayed, but that partaking of poyson, they would kill sooner: among continual Feavers, although we affirm, that the simple synochal Feavers are not free, yet they are rarely touched with this evil; but most of all, the Feaver which shews the notes of Pestility or Malignity, is of that sort, which resembles the figure of the putrid Feaver so called: for when in these Feavers, besides the appearances of virulency, we perceive a continual grow∣ing hot of the Blood, which passes through the courses or stadia of beginning, increase, stand∣ing and declination, as in putrid Feavers, we deservedly affirm here, the sulphureous part of the Blood to be heated and enkindled, and by its burning to have brought in the Feaver; where∣fore in these kind of Feavers two things are especially to be noted, the growing hot of the Blood, and the malignity joyned with it, of which now this, now that is the greater: also, in both there is a great latitude, and very many degrees of its intension or heat, according to which the Feaver becomes more or less acute or malignant.

The growing hot of the Blood is performed after the same manner, as is already said con∣cerning Putrid Feavers, to wit, the sulphureous part of the Blood growing hot above mea∣sure, as it were takes fire by its fervor; in the time of its burning, it accumulates a great quan∣tity of adust matter, upon whose subaction and seclusion, depend the State and Crisis after the wonted manner of Feavers; but besides these, the Blood being infected with a certain venomous taint, in the burning it begins by reason of the malignant ferment, to be coagulated into parts, and to putrifie: wherefore besides the usual Symptoms of the common Feaver, by reason of some congealed portions of the Blood, follow either deadly Distempers, Swooning, a Dejection of the Spirits, also appearances of Spots and Marks; besides venomous Effluvia, which depart from the sick, that are able to raise up the like Distemper in others, by the force of their Con∣tagion; wherefore by reason of its perniciousness and contagion, and their various degrees, it is called either a Pestilent or Malignant Feaver.

Also whilst the Blood growing hot, is infected with a venomous and malignant ferment, not only proper coagulations of its mass, with a disposition to putrefaction, are induced; but also the Nervous Liquor, easily contracts the taint of this, from whence it being made impropor∣tionate to the Brain and Regiment of the Animal Spirits, stirs up great irregularities in them: wherefore upon these sort of Feavers, come not only spots and whelks, but most often a Deli∣rium, Phrensie, Sleepiness, Tremblings of the Limbs, Cramps, and Convulsive Motions; I have often observed, that in some certain years, Malignant Feavers have increased, which have shewn their virulency, without the appearances of Marks, chiefly about the Nervous stock; be∣cause in some, presently after the beginning, has followed a sleepiness, with a mighty heavi∣ness of the Head, in others, strong Watchings, a perturbation of Mind, with Trembling and Convulsive Motions, but in most, either none, or only an uncertain Crisis, and instead of it, a translation of the Feaverish Matter to the Brain; besides it is observed, that these Feavers creep upon others Contagion, and that very many are killed by them, that therefore they do d•…•…serve to be called Malignant.

But these kind of Feavers are sometimes first begun from a venomous infection, and the Blood being touched with the Particles of the Venom, conceives of it self an Effervescency, and is en∣kindled; as when from a Contagion or Malignant Air being inspired, any one hath fallen into a Malignant Feaver, without any evident cause or predisposition: But sometimes the Feaverish Distemper is induced from a proper Cause, and then the Seeds of the Malignity, either lying hid within the Body, exert themselves in the effervent Blood, or they come from another place by the contaminated Air, as it were the Food of the Flame before enkindled; for it appears by

frequent observation in the time in which an Epidemical Feaver spreads, that others being any way arisen, turn into it.

Malignant Feavers, as also Pestilential, for the most part are popular, and invade many at once; but sometimes they are private, and not ordinary, so that perhaps only one or two are taken in the whole Region; in such a case it is to be suspected that they come not from a malig∣nant Air, or Epidemical cause, but from a morbous provision of the Body; for I have often ob∣served that when in the Spring or Autumn, a Feaver sufficiently common, hath spred in some City or Town, of which very many have died, perhaps some one on whom an evil predisposi∣tion and a more strong evident cause, hath brought the Feaver, hath lain by it, with more hor∣rid Symptoms, and great notes of malignity: in which case that malignity is not to be called common to the Feaver, but not ordinary and accidental only.

Although the greatest reason of the difference, by which these kind of Feavers are distin∣guished from one another, and from other Feavers, consists in their deadliness and contagion; yet sometimes they are noted with a certain peculiar Symptom, from which they take for that time, both the note of malignity, and the appellation of the name: hence in some years an Epidemical Feaver reigns, which induces to most of the Sick a Squinancy, another time an In∣flammation of the Lungs, a Pleurisie, Dysentery, or some other Distemper, and that often∣times most dangerous, and contagious; so the seeds of Diseases, not only derived from the Parents by traduction, excite their fruits as it were by a certain designation, in the same part or member; but also those received from an infection commonly spreading, produce in all, a distem∣per of the same mode and figure; which yet I think to happen, not because the seeds of the ve∣nomous Infection, respect either this or that Region of the Body, with a certain peculiar Vir∣tue; but these so affect the Mass of Blood, by a like manner in all, that there is a necessity, for the sake of washing away this stain, that a Crisis be attempted after the same manner in all. For when, without malignity, the Bloud, by coagulation, or perhaps other Causes, is apt to be extravasa∣ted, the usual places, in which portions of the same being extravasated, are wont to be fixed, are the Throat, Pleura, Lungs, and Intestines; wherefore, 'tis no wonder, when from a ma∣lignant cause, the congelation of the Bloud, and for that reason an extravasation is induced, if the Disease is nested in the accustomed cherishing place of Nature.

Concerning the Causes of these kind of Feavers, there is not much business; they are for the most part deduced, in respect of the malignity, from the vicious constitution of the Air; in respect of the Feaverish heat, from the morbous provision of the Body; either of these are easily made clear, by what hath been already said concerning a putrid Feaver, and the Causes of the Pestilence: If the malignity be stronger than the Feaver, and hath induced it, the impression of it is to be imputed to the inspired Air, or to a contagion received from others, if the Feaver be first, its inkindling is ascribed to transpiration being hindred, to a Surfeit, or to some other of the evident Causes above enumerated.

As to the Signs, besides Contagion and Destruction, these shew the malignity of the Feaver, a sudden loss of strength, a weak and unequal Pulse, and evil affection of the Brain and Nervous parts, being suddenly induced, cruel Vomitings, Blackness of the Tongue, a suffusion of Dark∣ness through the whole Body, but chiefly the appearance of Spots, Buboes, and of other Marks.

For the Cure of Feavers, both Pestilential and Malignant, there is greater need of Judgment and Circumspection, than in any others whatsoever: For when there are two primary Indicati∣ons, to wit, the Malignity, and the Feaverish Intemperance, and when one can scarcely provide for the one, without detriment to the other, it is not easily to be discerned, which should first be helped, or soonest regarded. In respect of the Feaver, Purging, opening a Vein, and cool∣ing things do chiefly help; but whilst these are performed, the Malignity, for the most part is increased, and being neglected, spreads abroad more largely its Poison; against the Malignity, Poyson-resisting Cordials, and Diaphoreticks are required, but these extreamly heighten the Feaver, they more shake the Bloud and Spirits before inkindled, as it were with the blast of Bellows, and force all as it were into a Flame; wherefore, here is great need of Skill, that these things be rightly ordered in themselves, and where there is most of danger appearing, thence the curative intentions are to be more immediately designed; but so, as whilst one is consulted about, the other be not neglected. But in these Cases, besides the private Judg∣ment of every Physitian, experience may supply the chief means of healing; for whenas these Feavers first spread, every one almost tries several Remedies, and by the success of them collated together, it may be easily reckoned, what kind of Method is to be relied on, till at last, by a frequent trial, or the footsteps of those passing before, there is made as it were a high and broad Road, for the curing of these sorts of Distempers, bounded both with various observations and warnings.

Besides these sort of Feavers, which spread on many at once, and by reason of the Conta∣gion, Deadliness, and conspicuous Notes of Virulency, deserve to be called Pestilent or Malig∣nant; there are some others, Epidemical or Popular, which almost every Year, either in the Spring or Autumn rage in some Countries; of which the Inhabitants for the most part of them are wont to be sick, and not few, especially of the Elder, to die: In which notwithstanding, no signs of Pestilence or Malignity appear, neither does the Disease seem to spread, from one and so to another, so much by contagion, as to lay hold on many, by reason of a predisposition, impressed almost on all. But these kind of Distempers depend chiefly upon the foregoing consti∣tution of the Year: for if the season going before was very intemperate, by reason of excess of cold or heat, of driness or humidity, and so had continued for a long time, it changes our Blood very much from its due temperature, whereby it is apt afterwards to conceive Feaverish Effervescencies; and from hence a Feaver, now of this Type or Figure, now of that is produ∣ced; which presently becomes Epidemical, because it draws its beginning from a common cause, wherewith the bodies of all are in a manner affected: But such Feavers, forasmuch as they de∣pend upon the Blood having gotten a disposition, now sharp, now austere, or of some other kind, by reason of the temper of the Year, for the most part are of the rank of intermitting Feavers; yet by a proper provision of Symptoms, they are wont to be noted according to the pecu∣liar constitution of every Year. These are not able to be comprehended under a certain common Rule, or formal Reason, which may quadrat to the Nature of each of these; because they vary every year according to their several Accidents. However, we will give you the descriptions of these kind of Feavers, spreading of late years in this Region, had at that time, for some specimen of the rest, and add it for a conclusion at the end of this Tract.

There yet remains to be ascribed to the rank of Malignant Feavers, some other private Fea∣vers, and participating of no contagion; of which sort chiefly are those which are wont to happen to Child-bearing Women, by reason of difficult and hard Labour, or by reason of the stoppage of their Courses. Indeed it sufficiently appears by common observation, that these are very dangerous, and often mortal: for if by the parts of the Womb being hurt, or by Cold being admitted, or perhaps by any other cause, the Courses are stopped, and the Humor which ought to be thrust forth, shall be confused with the Mass of Blood, it most wickedly in∣fects it, as it were with a certain venomous mixture; that by that means, presently a Feaver is excited, which with an evil provision of Symptoms, is very much beset, viz. with heat and cruel Thirst, Vomiting, pain of the Heart, and Watchings, and for the most part obtains, either no Crisis, or a very difficult one; because, unless the wonted way of the flux of the Courses, may be at length restored, it is wont, after the heat of the Blood hath been conti∣nued for some days, to communicate the evil to the Brain and Nervous Stock; from whence, by and by, a Delirium, Phrensie, Convulsions, and other most wicked Distempers, are most of∣ten induced, which do not seldom end in Death: but these sort of Feavers deserve a peculiar consideration, which we have more fully determined to shew hereafter in a particular Discourse concerning this business; in the mean time, we will undertake to propose some Instances or Ex∣amples of the Feavers, but now delivered, viz. of the Pestilent, and Malignant.

The Pestilent Feaver, of late years, hath more rarely spred in these Regions, than the Plague it self: of the only one of this kind, which fell under our observation, I will give you a brief Description. In the Year 1643. when in the coming on of the Spring, the Earl of Essex besieged Reading, being held for the King, in both Armies there began a Disease to arise very Epidemical; however, they persisting in that work, till the besieged were forced to surren∣der, this Disease grew so grievous; that in a short time after, either side left off, and from that time, for many Months, fought not with the Enemy, but with the Disease; as if there had not been leisure to turn aside to another kind of Death, this deadly Disease increasing, they being already overthrown by Fate, and as it were falling down before this one Death. Essex's Camp moving to the Thames, pitched in the places adjacent, where he shortly lost a great part of his men; but the King returned to Oxford, where at first, the Souldiers being disposed in the open Fields, then afterwards among the Towns and Villages, suffered not much less; For his Foot (which it chiefly invaded) being pack'd together in close Houses, when they had filled all things with filthiness, and unwholsom nastiness, and stinking Odors (that the very Air seemed to be infected) they fell sick by Troops, and as it were by Squadrons. At length the Feaver, now more than a Camp Feaver, invaded the unarmed and peaceable Troops, to wit, the Entertain∣ers of the Souldiers, and generally all others, yet at first (the Disease being yet but lightly in∣fllcted) though beset with an heavy and long languishment, however many escaped. About the Summer Solstice, this Feaver began also to increase with worse provision of Symptoms, and to lay hold on the Husbandmen, and others inhabiting the Country. Then afterwards spred through our City, and all the Country round, for at least ten Miles about. In the mean time, they who dwelt far from us, in other Counties, remained free from hurt, being as it were without the sphere of the Contagion. But here this Disease became so Epidemical, that a great part of the people was killed by it; and assoon as it had entred an house, it run through the same,

that there was scarce one left well to administer to the Sick; Strangers, or such as were sent for to help the sick, were presently taken with the Disease: that at length, for fear of the Contagion, those who were sick of this Feaver, were avoided by those who were well, almost as much, as if they had been sick of the Plague.

Nor indeed, did there a less Mortality, or slaughter of men accompany this Disease; be∣cause Cachectick and Phthisical old men, or otherwise unhealthful, were killed by it; also not few of Children, young men, and those of a more mature and robust age. I remember in soma Villages, that almost all the old men died this year, that there were any left who were able to defend the Manners and Priviledges of the Parish, by the more anciently received Tradie∣tions.

When this Feaver first began, it was something like the Figure of a putrid Synochus; but it was harder to be cured: and when it seemed to be helped by a Sweat or Loosness, presently it was wont to be renewed again; but for the most part, after the deflagration of the Blood, continued for six or seven days, this remitting, and instead of a Crisis, the adust matter being translated to the Brain, the Sick for a long time keeping their Beds with raging sometimes, but more often with a stupefaction, with great Weakness, and sometimes with Convulsive Motions, scarcely escaped at last. About the middle of the Summer, besides the Contagion and frequent Burials, this Disease betrayed its Malignity, and Pestilential force in open Signs, viz, by the eruption of Whelks and Spots; because about this time in many there appeared without any great burning of the Feaver, an unequal, weak, and very much disordered Pulse; also without a manifest expence of Spirits, their strength presently became languishing, and very much de∣jected: In others, Sick after the same manner, appeared little Blisters or Measles, now small and red, now broad and livid: in many, Buboes (as in the Plague) about the Glandula's: of these some died silently and unforeseen, without any great strugling of the Spirits, or Feaverish Burn∣ing excited in the Blood: in the mean time others, by and by becoming furibundous, whilst they lived, suffered most horrid Distractions of the Animal Spirits. Those about to escape from this Disease, without any laudable Crisis (unless they were the sooner freed by a Sweat provoked by Art) the Brain, and nervous stock becoming distempered, at length, with a be∣nummedness of the Senses, Tremblings, Vertigo, Debility of Members, and Convulsive Moti∣ons, did not grow well but of a long time after. During the Dog-days, this Disease being still infestous, began to be handled not as a Feaver, but as a lesser Plague, and to be overcome only by Poyson-resisting Remedies; letting of Blood, was believed to be fatal to this: Vo∣mits and Purges, sometimes though not often, were made use of, but the chiefest means of Cure, were accounted to be procured by Alexiteriums, and timely Sweat. For this end, besides the Prescripts of Physicians, to be had at the Apothecaries, some Empirical Remedies deserved no small praise; then first of all, the Pouder of the Countess of Kent, began to be of great esteem in this Country; also of no less note was another Pouder, of the colour of Ashes, which a cer∣tain Courtier staying by chance in this City, gave to many with good success; and to others approving of the use of it, he sold it at a great price; the sick were wont having taken half a dram of this, in any Liquor, to fall into a most plentiful Sweat, and so to be freed from the vi∣rulency of the Disease; That Diaphoretick (whose Preparation I afterwards learnt from the Cozen German of the Author) was only the Pouder of Toads, purged throughly with Salt, and then washed in the best Wine, and lightly Calcined in an earthen Pot. The Autumn com∣ing on, this Disease by degrees remitted its wonted sierceness, that fewer grew sick of it, and of them many grew well; till the approach of the Winter, when this Feaver almost wholly vanished, and Health was rendred to this City, and the Country round about fully and wholly.

Thus you have seen the Beginning, Progress, and End of this Feaver, at first only a Camp-Feaver, but at length became Pestilential and Epidemical. That at first the Disease began in the Souldiers Camp, may seem to be imputed not only to their Nastiness and stinking Smells, but in some sort to a common Vice of the Air, for as these Feavers come not every year, their Original may be ascribed, partly to the peculiar Constitution of the Year; because by that means a more light intemperance of the Air being contracted, though it did not affect the more healthful Inhabitants; yet in the Army, where evident Causes, viz. Errors in the six non-naturals, very much happen to the general procatartick Cause, there is a necessity for these kind of Sick∣nesses easily to be excited. For the constitution of this year, was in the Spring very moist, and slabbery, almost with continual shours, to which a more hot Summer succeeding, and the infecti∣on of the Feaverish Contagion here first increasing, still grew worse, and disposed all Bodies the more for the receiving it; wherefore, that this Disease was almost proper to this Region, and at this time Epidemical, the seed of it ought to be ascribed to its first rising from the Army, being quar∣tered round about. But forasmuch as it afterwards being made Pestilential, and very Epidemi∣cal, it infected most of the People living here, and killed not a few, the reason was, the evil affection of the Air; which because of the intemperance of the year, being unwholsom, besides by the continual breathing forth of stinking Vapors from the Souldiers Camp, and the quarters of the Sick, it became at last so vicious, that the infection of the Feaver, being dispersed in it,

was greatly exalted, and arose almost to the virulency of the Plague▪ Diemerbrochius relates from the like Camp-Feaver, arising in the Summer at Spires, afterwards another Malignant and Pestilential, and then the Plague it self to have accrued. Also, it was a sign that this Feaver of ours, became at last equal to the Plague it self, besides the great force of the Contagion, and the frequency of Burials, most wicked Distempers of the Blood, and nervous Liquor, being brought presently upon all, by it: because, strength being suddenly overthrown, the weak intermitting Pulse, the creeping forth of Measly Blisters, the eruption of Buboes, argued the Coagulation, and corruptive disposition of the Blood: besides, the Delirium, Madness, Phrensie, Stupefaction, Sleepiness, Vertigo, Tremblings, Convulsive Motions, and divers other Distempers of the Head, shewed the great hurt of the Brain, and nervous Stock.

That the Figure or Idea of this malignant Feaver, may be painted to the Life, very many Observations or Histories of sick people are easily to be had; of the many Examples of this Dis∣ease, I shall only mention a few, which hapned some years since in the House of a venerable man, and as with a mournful slaughter, so not without some admiration.

About the Winter Solstice, in the Year 1653. a Youth of about seven years old, without any manifest cause, found himself ill, being troubled with a pain in his Head, Sleepiness, and mighty Stupefaction; with it he had a Feaver, though not strong, with an ordinary burning, which grew more grievous, only by wandring fits, sometimes once, sometimes twice in twenty four hours space: presently from the beginning, he slept almost continually; also he was wont in his sleep to cry out, to talk idly, to leap often out of his Bed; being awakened, and sometimes of his own accord awaking, he presently came to himself, and constantly called for drink; his U∣rine was red, and full of Contents, his Pulse equal, and strong enough; in his Wrists appear∣ed light contractures of the Tendons, and in his Neck, and other parts of his Body, some red Spots like Flea-bites. At the first, was ordered a light Purgation, and a frequent taking down os the Belly, by the use of Clysters; he daily took Cordial Juleps, with Poyson-resisters; Ve∣sicatories or blistering Plaisters were applied to his Neck, and other Plaisters to the Soles of his feet: on the sixth day, a little Blood streamed from his Nostrils; on the seventh, without any manifest through Crisis, the Feaver very much abated, the heat so gentle as to be perceived only by the Touch; also the Urine pale, thin, and without any sediment, yet he was much more grievously troubled with sleepiness, and a stupefaction of the Head, so that his Urine, and the Excrements of his Belly came away involuntarily; however, being called upon, he knew the standers by, and answered to their Questions: These Distempers, notwithstanding the Remedies, every day grew worse: About the fourteenth day, the sick Youth became so stupid, as neitherto be able to understand, nor to speak, yet he swallowed still what was put into his Mouth, though unknowingly, and his Pulse was laudable enough: About this time, he fell into a Flux, excited of it self by Nature for four days, which at last ceasing, a whitish Crust or Scurf, and as it were Chalky, began to spread over the whole Cavity of his Mouth and Throat, which being often in a day wiped away, new presently broke forth: when he had thus for four days more been sick, he became better in his Intellect and Sense, so that he was able to know his Parents and Friends, to take notice of their words, and to do something as he was bid; but as his sensitive Faculty began to be restored, so he began to grow worse as to his Speech and the Organs of swallowing; without doubt the matter being fallen from the Brain, into the beginnings of the Nerves, a Palsie in the Tongue and Throat had succeeded to the heaviness and stupefaction: which Distem∣per in a short time so increased, that afterwards the sick person could not swallow at all, but that what he took in at the Mouth, presently flowed back again, neither could any thing go down into the Stomach; when besides the cruelty of the Disease, there was danger lest he should be killed by Famine, an Instrument was prepared of a Pin of Chalk, put into a little pliant Wand, and on the top of it a little tuft of Silk made fit; and this being thrust down his Throat, opened the closing for a time, whereby the Food taken in, was suffered to pass; after the use of this for a day or two, he was able to swallow again, and afterwards to take his Food well enough; and within a few days, he began to speak, to discern any thing, and becoming won∣derful hungry, to ask for, all day long, all sorts of Food, and greedily to devour whatever was brought to him. In the mean time, by reason of his long Sickness, and the nervous parts being grievously hurt, he was grown so lean, that the Bones scarce sticking to the Skin, he re∣presented exactly a living Skeleton. But afterwards, by the sedulous, indefatigable, and pru∣dent Care of the Mother about his Diet, he recovered perfect Health, and is yet living, and well.

When this Child had hardly arrived to the height of his Sickness, his Brother, elder about two years, on the Ides of January, was taken almost after the same manner: At first he was troubled with a Torpor and heaviness of the Head, then growing Feaverish, with a sleepiness and stupidity; he began to talk idly in his Sleep, then being awake hardly to come to himself: after four or five days, these Symptoms grew more grievous; he was able to understand little, nor scarce to speak articulately, and not without stammering. His Urine was thick, cloudy, without Hypostasis, or setling of the Contents: There appeared, as in his Brother, red spots,

small, like Flea-Bites: his Excrements both of his Belly and Bladder, came away involuntari∣ly: but his Pulse was yet strong and equal; his Hypochondria were stretched out, and inflated with a tumor of the Abdomen; about the eighth day, he had a small stream of Blood: on the eleventh day of his Sickness, he fell into a Diarrhaea, by which, in the space of five hours, he cast forth seven times, bilous, thin, and highly stinking stuff, from whence there was some hope of his amendment; but the next day after, the flux of his Belly ceasing, pains and torments cru∣elly infested his Belly, that crying out and moaning night and day, he sent forth most heavy complaints; his Hypochondria and Abdomen were tumid like a Tympany, and mightily distented; when he could not receive any thing of ease, from no Remedies, the most exquisite Skill of many Physicians being tried, on the fourteenth day he died Convulsive, in these Tor∣ments.

A little after his Death, viz. on the thirteenth of February, his Brother, elder than him, about eleven years old, a Youth of great hopes, began to be Feaverish; and as the others, with a torpor and heaviness of his Head, though less strongly affected; but the heat in the Blood was greater, which was of a more hot temperament, and greater perturbation appeared, that for the first six days, besides heat and thirst, he was troubled with a continual endeavour of ex∣cretion, now by Sweat, now by Stool. His Urine was red and troubled; some red Spots, as in the rest broke forth; on the seventh day he had a bleeding about five Ounces, which ceasing, a great benummedness succeeded, that for all that day and the night following, he could scarce lift up his Eyes: On the eighth day, a most plentiful bleeding followed again at the Nose, that there was danger, lest he should have lost his Life, together with his Blood; the Blood sprang so copiously from his left Nostril, that being received in a Bason, it made little Bladders or Bubbles by its fall: when he had lost above two pound of Blood, and being taken with a cold Sweat, began to lose his strength, Remedies were at length administred, and the Flux was yet hardly stopped. The Haemorrhage being stayed, the Youth slept soundly, and all that day became sleepy; yet often awaking, he remained well in his Senses, and was quick in sense, and understanding; and being asked of his health, he said he was pretty well; his Urine, which which was before red and troubled, then appeared pale, thin, and with a laudable Hypostasis, that the Sick seemed (especially because he wanted thirst, or immoderate heat) to be perfectly cured and freed from the Feaver: on the following Morning, being the ninth day of the Fea∣ver, he remained yet torpid, but being raised up, he living chearfully and intemperance, seemed to be in a condition of growing well, but that he began a little to faulter in his Speech: in the Evening, when it was least suspected, the Feaver being again enkindled, on a sudden he fell into a Lethargy, that he was scarce able to be awakened from sleep, and being pulled, scarce to know any body, or to speak plainly; although so great a loss of Blood had gone before, the Pulse was yet quick, high, and vehement; also the Urine red; after deriving and withdraw∣ing Remedies had been used all that night, this Youth seemed to be in a little better condition, so that in the morning, he continued a long time from Sleep, but began to rowl about his Eyes hither and thither, and to set himself up a little; yet without speaking, or knowledge of those that were about him: before noon, his Eyes being shut again, he wholly lost the use of every Ani∣mal Faculty: he lay for three days as it it were Apoplectick, with an high and vehement Pulse, with a palpitation of the Heart, and a difficult and painful breathing; his Pulse at length grow∣ing lesser by degrees, he died the thirteenth day of the Feaver.

On the fifteenth of F•…•…bruary, his Sister somewhat lesser than he was, began to complain of a pain and torment in her Belly, a trembling in her hands, and a painful tension or stretching out of the Muscles of her Neck, with a feaverish intemperance and thirst: on the last day of Fe∣bruary, she growing plainly into a Feaver, could not keep out of her Bed: moreover, she was troubled with a wandring heat, now in her Face, now about her lower parts; also she became heavy and somnolent, and awaking from sleep, could not presently come to her self. On the first of March she was lightly Purged and with ease, with an expression of Rhubarb: her Urine was thick and red; also petechial red spots (as in the rest) were conspicuous: we gave her after that, for four days, at several times, to wit, after the interval of every six hours space, ten drops of the Spirit of Harts-Horn, in a spoonful of Cordial Julep; the aforesaid Symptoms afterwards leisurely remitted, and this sick Child, though slowly, recovered health without any manifest through Crisis.

About the same time her little Brother, younger than any of these, fell sick almost after the like manner; who, yet, a Loosness arising naturally of it self, for many days, voyding Chole∣rick and greenish stuff, was easily cured. Also in the same Family, many other Domesticks, and some Strangers coming to help them, the evil being propagated by Contagion, fell sick of the same Disease: who notwithstanding, at length became well, though with difficulty, and slowly, without any regular Crisis being made.

That this Feaver was malignant, plainly appears by the Contagion, Mortality, and Appear∣ances of Spots, and many other signs; though that infecting Contagion, whereby it spred from one to another, shewed it self slow, and of lesser efficacy; because, between the Sicknesses of

each of them, many days, and oftentimes weeks hapned to be, that the Infection of this though acute Disease, and the dissemination on others, was scarcely finished in four months space, in the same House. The Feaver about the first beginning seemed gentle and mild, not very ter∣rible as to burning; but the matter being heaped together, from the deflagration of the Blood, became presently untameable, hard to be exterminated, also enemical to the Brain and Nervous Stock; wherefore in each of them, the beginning of the Disease was to be known ra∣ther by the torpor and somnolency, than the fervor and heat; also the Crisis, though by several ways attempted, viz. by Sweat, Flux, Bleeding, did not happily succeed, but for most part, the Blood growing turgid with the Critical Motion, endeavoured to transfer the Feaverish matter, upon the dwellings of the Animal Spirits; yet it self notwithstanding, became not pu∣trefied by this means, but that about the standing of the Disease, both humors (to wit, the Blood, and Nervous Juice) being vitiated, by an impure mixture together, and grievously touch∣ed, caused the event of the Disea•…•…e, to be either deadly, or extream dangerous.