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CHAP. XIX. Into what place the Patient ought to betake himself so soon as he finds himself infected.
* 1.1WE have said, that the perpetual and first original of the Pestilence cometh of the Air; therefore so soon as one is blasted with the pestiferous Air, after he hath taken some preservative against the malignity thereof, he must withdraw himself into some whole∣some Air, that is, clean and pure from any venomous infection or contagion; for there is great hope of health by the alteration of the Air; for we do most frequently and abundantly draw in the Air of all things, so that we cannot want it for a minute of time: therefore of the Air that is drawn in, dependeth the correction, amendment, or increase of the poyson or malignity that is received, as the Air is pure, sincere, or corrupted.
There be some that do think it good to shut the patient in a close chamber, shutting the windows to prohibit the entrance of the Air as much as they are able: But I think it more convenient that those windows should be open from whence that wind bloweth that is directly contrary unto that which brought in the venomous Air:* 1.2 For although there be no other cause, yet if the Air be not moved, or agitated, but shut up in a close place, it will soon be corrupted. Therefore in a close and quiet place that is not subject to the entrance of the Air, I would wish the Patient to make winde, or to procure Air with a thick and great cloth, dipped or macerated in water and vinegar mixed together, and tied to a long staff, that by tossing it up and down the close chamber, the winde or air thereof may cool and recreate the Patient. The Patient must every day be carryed into a fresh chamber, and the beds and the linnen cloaths must be changed: there must alwayes be a clear and bright fire in the Patients chamber, and especially in the night, whereby the air may be made more pure, clean, and void of nightly vapors, and of the filthy and pestilent breath proceeding from the Patient, or his excrements. In the mean time, lest (if it be in hot weather) the Patient should be weakned or made more faint, by reason that the heat of the fire doth disperse and wast his spirits, the floor or ground of his chamber must be sprinkled or watered with vineger and water, or strowed with the branches of Vines made moist in cold water, with the leaves and flowers of Water-lillies, or Poplar, or such like. In the fervent heat of Summer he must abstain from Fumigations that do smell too strongly, because that by assaulting the head, they increase the pain.
If the Patient could go to that cost, it were good to hang all the chamber where he lyeth, and also the bed, with thick or course linnen cloaths moistned in vineger and water of Roses. Those linnen cloaths ought not to be very white, but somewhat brown, because much and great white∣ness doth disperse the sight, and by wasting the spirits, doth increase the pain of the head: for which cause also the chamber ought not to be very lightsome.
Contrariwise, on the night season there ought to be fires and perfumes made, which by their moderate light, may moderately call forth the spirits.
* 1.3Sweet-fires may be made of little pieces of the wood of Juniper, Broom, Ash, Tamarisk, of the rind of Oranges, Lemmons, Cloves, Benzoin, Gum-Arabick, Orris-roots, Myrrh, grosly beaten together, and laid on the burning coals put into a chafing-dish. Truly the breath or smoak of the wood or berries of Juniper, is thought to drive serpents a great way from the place where it is burnt.* 1.4 The virtue of the Ash-tree against venom is so great, as Pliny testifieth, that a Serpent will not come under the shadow thereof, no, not in the morning, nor evening, when the shadow of any thing is most great and long, but he will run from it. I my self have proved, that if a circle or compass be made with the boughs of an Ash-tree, and a fire made in the midst thereof, and a Serpent put within the compass of the boughs, that the Serpent will rather run into the fire then through the Ash-boughs.
There is also another means to correct the Air. You may sprinkle Vinegar of the decoction of Rue, Sage, Rosemary, Bay-berries, Juniper-berries, Ciprus-nuts, and such like, on stones or bricks red hot, and put in a pot or pan, that all the whole chamber where the Patient lyeth, may be per∣fumed with the vapor thereof.
* 1.5Also Fumigations may be made of some matter that is more gross and clammy, that by the force of the fire the fume may continue the longer, as of Laudanum, Myrrh, Mastich, Rosin, Turpentine, St••rax, Olibanum, Benzoin, Bay-berries, Juniper-berries, Cloves, Sage, Rosemary, and Marje∣rom, stamped together, and such like.
* 1.6Those that are rich and wealthy, may have Candles and Fumes made of Wax, or Tallow mixed with some sweet things.
A sponge macerated in Vineger of Roses, and Water of the same, and a little of the decoction of Cloves, and of Camphire added thereto, ought alwayes to be ready at the Patients hand, that by often smelling unto it, the animal spirits may be recreated and strengthned.
* 1.7The water following is very effectual for this matter. Take of Orris four ounces, of Zedoary, Spikenard, of each six drams; of Storax, Benzoin, Cinnamon, Nutmegs, Cloves, of each one ounce and half; of old Treacle, half an ounce: bruise them into gross powder, and macerate them for the space of twelve hours, in four pound of white and strong wine; then distil them in a Lembick of glass on hot ashes, and in that liquor wet a sponge, and then let it be tied in a linnen cloth, or closed in a box, and so often put into the nostrils. Or take of the vinegar and water of Roses, of each four ounces; of Camphire, six grains; of Treacle, half a dram: let them be dissolved together, and put into a vial of glass, which the Patient may often put into his nose.