The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latin and compared with the French. by Tho: Johnson. Whereunto are added three tractates our of Adrianus Spigelius of the veines, arteries, & nerves, with large figures. Also a table of the bookes and chapters.

CHAP. VI. By using what cautions in Air and diet, one may prevent the Plague.

HAving declared the signs fore-shewing a Pestilence:* 1.1 now we must shew by what means we may shun the imminent danger thereof, and defend our selves from it. No preven∣tion seemed more certain to the Antients, then most speedily to remove into places far distant from the infected place, and to be most slow in their return thither again. But those, who by reason of their business or employments, cannot change their habitation, must principally have a care of two things: The first is, that they strengthen their bodies,* 1.2 and the principal parts there∣of, against the daily imminent invasions of the poyson, or the pestiserous and venenate Air. The other, that they abate the force of it, that it may not imprint its virulencie in the body; which may be done by correcting the excess of the quality inclining towards it, by the opposition of its contrary: For if it be hotter then is meet, it must be tempered with cooling things; if too cold, with heating things: yet this will not suffice: For we ought besides, to amend and purge the corruptions of the venenate malignity diffused through it, by smells and perfumes resisting the poyson thereof. The body will be strengthned and more powerfully resist the insected Air, if it want excrementitious humors, which may be procured by purging and bleeding;* 1.3 and for the rest a convenient diet appointed, as shunning much variety of meats, and hot and moist things, and all such which are easily corrupted in the stomach, and cause obstructions, such as those things which be made by Comfit-makers; we must shun satiety and drunkenness, for both of them weaken the powers, which are preserved by the moderate use of meats of good juice.

Let moderate excercises in a clear Air, and free from any venomous tainture, precede your meals.

Let the belly have due evacuation either by Nature or Art.

Let the heart, the seat of life, and the rest of the bowels be strengthened with Cordials and Antidotes applied and taken (as we shall hereafter shew) in the form of epithemes,* 1.4 ointments emplasters, waters, pils, powders, tablets, opiates, fumigations, and such like.

Make choice of a pure air, and free from all pollution, and far remote from stinking places, for such is most fit to preserve life, to recreate and repair the spirits; whereas on the contrary, a clou∣die, or mistie Air, and such as is infected with gross and stinking vapors, dulls the spirits deject the appetite, makes the body faint and ill coloured, oppresseth the heart, and is the breeder of many di∣seases,

The Northern winde is healthful, because it is cold and drie. But on the contrary,* 1.5 the Southern winde because it is hot and moist, weakens the body by sloth or dulness, opens the pores, and makes them pervious to the pestiferous malignity. The Western winde is also unwholsome, be∣cause it comes near to the nature of a Southern: wherefore the windows must be shut up on that side of the house on which they blow, but open on the North and East-fide, unless it happen that the Plague come from thence.

Kindle a clear fire in all the lodging Chambers of the house,* 1.6 and perfume the whole house with Aromatick things, as Frankincense, Myrrh, Benzoin, Laudanum, Styrax, Roses, Mittle-leaves, Lavender, Rosemary, Sage, Savory, wilde Time, Marjarom, Broom, Pine-apples, pieces of Firt, Ju∣niper-berries, Cloves, Perfumes: and let your cloaths be aired in the same.

There be some, who think it a great preservative against the pestilent Air, to keep a Goat in their houses, because the capacity of the houses, filled with a strong sent which the Goat sends forth, prohibites the entrance of the venomous Air: which same reason hath place also in sweet smells; and besides it argues, that such as are hungry are apter to take the Plague then those who have eaten moderately: for the body is not only strengthened with meat,* 1.7 but all the passages thereof are full by the vapors diffused from thence, by which otherwise, the infected Air would finde a more easie entrance to the heart.

Yet the common sort of people yield another reason for the Goat, which is, that one ill sent

drives away another, as one wedge drives forth another, which calleth to my minde that which is re∣corded by Alexander Benedictus,* 1.8 that there was a Scythian Physician, which caused a Plague, a∣rising from the infection of the Air, to cease, by cau••••ng all the Dogs, Cats, and such like beasts which were in the City to be killed, and cast their carcasses up and down the streets, that so by the coming of this new putrid vapour as a stranger, the former pestiferous infection, as an old guest was put out of its lodging,* 1.9 and so the Plague, ceased. For Poysons have not only an antipathy with their Antidotes, but also with some other poysons.

Whilst the Plague is hot, it is good not to stir out of door before the rising of the Sun: where∣fore we must have patience, until he hath cleansed the Air with the comfortable light of his Beams, and dispersed all the soggy and nocturnal pollutions, which commonly hang in the Air in dirty, and especially in low places and Vallies.

All publick and great meetings and assemblies must be shunned.

* 1.10If the Plague begin in Summer, and seem principally to rage, being helped forward by the Sum∣mers-heat, it is best to perform a journey begun, or undertaken for necessary affairs, rather upon the night-time, then on the day; because the infection takes force, strength and subtility of sub∣stance, by which it may more easily permeat and enter in by the heat of the Sun; but by Night mens bodies are more strong, and all things are more gross and dense. But you must observe a clean contrary course,* 1.11 if the malignity seem to borrow strength and celerity from coldness: But you must alwayes eschew the beams of the Moon, but especially at the Full: for then our bodies are more languid and weak, and suller of excrementitious humors. Even as trees which for that cause must be cut down in their season of the Moon, that is, in the decrease thereof.

After a little gentle walking in your Chamber, you must presently use some means that the principal parts may be strengthned by suscitating the heat and spirits, and that the passages to them may be filled, that so the way may be shut up from the infection coming from without. Such as by the use of garlick have not their heads troubled,* 1.12 nor their inward parts inflamed, as Country-People and such as are used to it: to such there can be no more certain preservative and Antidote against the pestiferous fogs or mists, and the nocturnal obscurity, then to take it in the morning with a draught of good wine; for it being abundantly diffused presently over all the bo∣dy, fills up the passages thereof, and strengthneth it in a moment.

For water; if the Plague proceed from the tainture of the Air, we must wholly shun and avoid Rain-water,* 1.13 because it cannot but be infected by the contagion of the Air. Wherefore the water of Springs and of the deepest Wells are thought best. But if the malignity proceed from the vapors contained in the Earth, you must make choice of Rain-water. Yet it is more safe to digest every sort of water by boyling it, and to prefer that water before other; which is pure and clear to the sight, and without either taste or smell, and which besides suddenly takes the extremest muta∣tion of heat and cold.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Change of pla∣ces the surest putrefaction of the Plague.
• * 1.2

  Two things of chief account for prevention.
• * 1.3

  Diet for pre∣vention of the Plague.
• * 1.4

  Discommodi∣ties of a clou∣dy or foggy Air.
• * 1.5

  Why the South winde is pesti∣lent.
• * 1.6

  The efficacy of fire against the Plague.
• * 1.7

  Moderate re∣pletition good for prevention.
• * 1.8

  A strange Art to drive away the Plague.
• * 1.9

  The antipathy of poysons with poysons.
• * 1.10

  Whether in the Plague-time one must tra∣vel by night or by day.
• * 1.11

  Why the Moon is to be shun∣ned.
• * 1.12

  Garlick good against the Plague.
• * 1.13

  What water to be made choice of in the plague-time.