Nine books of physick and chirurgery written by that great and learned physitian, Dr Sennertus. The first five being his Institutions of the whole body of physick: the other four of fevers and agues: with their differences, signs, and cures.

CHAP. II. Of the causes of the Pestilence.

COncerning the causes of the Pestilence, * 1.1 or this great corru∣ption, they are twofold; some of them generating the Pesti∣lence, others propagating the same, which are comprehend∣ed under the name of contagion. In the former rank are Ayr, Stars, course of Diet, Poysons, imagination and terror.

For first, * 1.2 Ayr somtimes contains in it the seeds of the pesti∣lence, which when by drawing in the ayr by our breath, men draw in that therewith, and so the pestilence is stirred up in them, and that when it happens, most grievous pestilential constituti∣ons are occasioned, and is far more pernitious then to those to whom the contagion of the plague is only transferred. Ayr be∣comes pestilential, when there is in it excess of heat and moisture, which dispose bodies to putrifaction; such a constitution of ayr Hippocrates describeth 3. epid. comm. 3. yet the Plague may be bred also without such a constitution of ayr, and that very cor∣ruption it self is not terminated in the primary qualities; but 'tis necessary that certain occult qualities, and that somwhat divine, mentioned by Hippocrates should concur, but it takes its venenosity and pestilential quality first from heaven, whilst that the ayr by a peculiar influence from the stars, whether it be so disposed in the first qualities, that it should putrifie and be cor∣rupted, or in an occult manner also it be so disposed and affected,

that in it poysonous seeds are generated, which in their whole substance are adverse to man.

To which thing Astrologers teach, that Saturn doth prin∣cipally act his part. Moreover the Ayr may receive its pestilential seeds from the caverns of the earth, whilst from thence venomous steams exhale, being generated in the ayr long pend up before; to which purpose Earthquakes much conduce, which move venomous steams in that manner, and open ways for their evaporation; so out of a chest which hath been long shut, being opened, the plague cometh forth, as Julius Capito∣linus hath noted in Vero: The same may happen in standing pools and lakes, and corrupted waters in Wells. Lastly, Histo∣ri•••• inform us, that the ayr hath been infected by the carcasses of such as have been slain, and by the corruption of multitudes of dead locusts.

Secondly, although the stars by corrupting of the ayr may be the cause of the pestilence whilst they so corrupt it, as that that pestilence which is contained in it, the seeds or sparks being com∣municated to man, they excite the plague in him: yet by it self also, by affecting of mans very body, they may cause the plague, whilst either they dispose the ayr so, that whether by manifest or occult qualities, 'tis rendred not fit for the preserva∣tion of mankind, but corrupteth the humours therein, so that they become of a pestilential nature; or also proximately and immediately by occult influencies, they corrupt mans body, and principally the humours and spirits contained therein; concern∣ing which thing Astrologers are to be advised with. * 1.3

Thirdly, Pestilential venome may be generated from common Diet. That which often happens in a long dearth of provision, in Camps and Sieges, where men are compelled to make use of corrupt and unwholsome meat, by reason whereof ill humours are generated; which being detained in the body, are more corru∣pted, and at length become pestilential; as Histories sufficient∣ly testifie.

Fourthly Unguents and venomous powders being spread a∣broad may cause the plague, * 1.4 being that which by mischievous per∣sons hath been done and committed, as histories again inform us: yet if any one would refer this kind of cause to contagion or infection, * 1.5 we will not contend with him.

Fifthly, The cause is imagination, terror, and fear; and ex∣perience hath taught us, that some whilst they have beheld those that were infected with the plague, or dead of it, or seeing some go out of a house that was then infected, by reason of too much

terror and fear, have fallen sick of the plague: I have observed the same to proceed from anger.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A cause
• * 1.2

  Ayr.
• * 1.3

  Common Diet.
• * 1.4

  Poysonous things.
• * 1.5

  Imagina∣tion.