[Logos alexipharmakos] or, Hyperphysicall directions in time of plague collected out of the sole-authentick dispensatory of the chief physitian both of soule and body, and, disposed more particularly, though not without some alteration and addition, according to the method of those physicall directions printed by command of the Lords of the Counsell at Oxford 1644 and very requisite to be used with them : also, certain aphorismes, premised, and conclusions from them deduced, concerning the plague, necesiary to be knovvn and observed of all, that would either prevent it, or get it cured / by Lionell Gatford ...

PHYSICALL DIRECTIONS IN time of Plague.

DWelling-houses are to be kept cleane, free from filth, and ill smells, the Windowes neare infected houses kept close with Glasse, or oyled, waxed paper, that light, but no infected aire, may come in. In houses farther from infection, windowes open sometimes, toward wholsome aire and wind.

Fires to be made in houses infected, and the neighbouring hou∣ses, and in Churches, at times of publike Prayers and Preaching, and at all publique meetings, not in Chimnies onely, but in move∣able pannes; the fires made with dry wood, Oake, Ashe, Beech, dry Vine-branches, Willow, Baytree, Rosemary sticks, &c. Juni∣per, Rosemary, dryed, Bay-leaves, Angelica, Lavender, Sage, Hyssope, Marioram, Thyme, Mints, Balme, Pitch, Tarre, Rosin, Turpentine, Frankincense; some of these cast on the coales, to perfume the house.

Richer persons may have suming candles or cakes, made with Benzoin, Storax, Muske, &c. For which order shall be given by the Physitians, if any please to have them, and be not otherwise provided. Oake boughs, Ashe, Willow, Bay leaves, Hysope, Ma∣rioram, Thyme, Lavander, Mints, Rosemary, Fennell, Sage, Worm∣wood, Meadsweet, &c. may be laid in the Chimnies and Win∣dowes.

Sometimes the fume of Vineger, Rosewater, and Rosemary, and Cloves, over the fire.

Wearing cloathes perfumed with juniper, red Sanders, or Rose∣mary hurned.

Going abroad, or talking with any, it is good to hold in the Mouth, a clove or two, a peece of Nutmeg, Zedoary, Angelica, Gentian, Tormentill, or Enulacampana root; in the hand a Sponge dipped in Vineger and Rosewater, wherein Rosemary, Sage, Angelica, or Rue have beene infused, or a toast of browne bread dipped therein, tied up in a linned cloath, or the Sponge in a

Juniper or Ivory box with holes. For persons of better ranke, Pomanders made of Ladanum, Benzoin, red and white Sanders, Storax, Myrrhe, Saffron, Amber, Camphyre, Muske, &c.

Go not forth early in the Morning, nor fasting; eate not much: Sage and butter, a Potched Egge with Vineger, or such like will suffice; be not late abroad at night. In the Morning wash the Mouth with water wherein Sage hath beene boyled or infu∣sed, and rub thy teeth with the leaves.

Take a spoon full of quicke wine vineger,* 1.1 wherein worme∣wood chopped hath been infused. Take Figges good and clean thirty, Wallnut kernells pilled twenty, (if to be had) greene Rue picked a good handfull, Salt one spoonfull, stampe them, and incorporate them together, take the quantity of a Prune, a child as much as a Hasell nut. More pleasing; conserve of Wood-sorrell, Borage, Sage, of each one ounce, Harts-horne a dragme, Bole-Armeniake two drams, yellow Sanders halfe a dram, Saffron the weight of 3^d, syrupe of Wood-sorrell, as much as will make it into a most electuary; take as much as a good Nutmeg, twice or thrice a day. London treacle the weight of 8d. first in the morning with conserve of Roses, fasting one ho∣wer after it; treacle-water two spoonfulls, with one dramme of Mithridate,* 1.2 Confectio liberaus, or Electuary de Ovo. Dyet, meats of easy digestion, sauce sowre. sharpe, sorrell, Lemon, Vi∣neger, Verjuyce, &c. Forbeare Milky meats, Custard, &c. Fish slimy as Eeles, &c. raw fruits, and strong Wines; excesse in meat or drinke is dangerous. Fasting, or much emptinesse is bad.

If there be fulnesse of bloud,* 1.3 letting bloud is fit, but not much, rather repeated.

If the body be bound,* 1.4 a Suppository with hony and salt. If ful∣nesse of putrid humours, Aloes the weight of 6^d, in the pappe of a roasted apple; or pilles of Ruffus a dram once a Weeke. For persons of quality, other proper purges, as the present condition shall require, potion, &c. and an Issue or fontanell, in Arme or Legge,* 1.5 if there be cause; and vomits proper if need be. Vo∣mits easy to be had; sallet-oyle three spoonfulls, juyce of ra∣dish-root one spoonfull, or oxymell of squilles two spoonfulls, oyle and posset drinke. Exercise moderate.

Signes of infection appearing,* 1.6 viz. fainting, swooning, vomi∣ting, or pronenesse thereto, heavinesse, wearinesse without cause, losse of appetite, much thirst, divers of these concurring, let bloud or purge, or both, as cause requireth, the first or second day, no botch or fore appearing. Then defend the heart with Cordialls formerly prescribed. Let the party sweat with Carduus, or Ma∣rigold posset-drinke, London treacle two drams, or with wood sorrell water five spoonfulls, treacle water one spoonfull, and London treacle a dram and a halfe.

If a tumor, botch or sore appeare,* 1.7 let the inside of the arme, thigh, or calfe of the legge be blistered with Cantharides pow∣der two drammes, with vineger and leaven. Take a great Ony∣on, hollow it, put into it Venice-treacle one dramme, a figge and a little Rue cut small, roast it soft, close stopped, in a wet paper under the Embers, apply it hot to the Tumour, let one lye three houres. Or a pultesse of Mallowes two handfulls, two lilly roots cut and bruised, twelve figges sliced, boyle all well in water, stampe them, put to it three spoonfulls of oyle of Lillies, apply it, and shift it thrice a day. When it is broken, take the yolke of an Egge, hony of Roses one ounce, Turpentine halfe an ounce, London treacle, or Venice, and Methridate, and Saint Johns wort oyle, each one dramme, a little meale flower, mix all together, lay it to the sore, upon leather, changing it twice a day. Or a hot loafe out of the Oven. Or three Lilly roots roasted, beaten and applyed; burne the plaisters, &c. taken off the body.

Those that escape, are to be purged before they goe abroad; those that dye, are to be buried in remote places, and deep in the ground.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cordialls.
• * 1.2

  Dyet.
• * 1.3

  Bleeding.
• * 1.4

  Purging.
• * 1.5

  Issue.
• * 1.6

  Infection.
• * 1.7

  Botch.