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. IIII. Of the signes of the Plague.

MOreover concerning the signs, * 1.1 that I may say nothing of approaching signs, desiring brevity, but only by what means it may be known we will speak. Indeed the plague when many have been infected, may easily be known; but be∣fore many have been overspread thereby, there is scarce any path∣ognomick signe by which it can certainly be known, that one or a few being affected are sick of the plague; afterwards when more are visited, it is not so difficult to be known, especially when all sporadick diseases for the most part are silent: For first, the plague seizeth on many, and the most it kills. Secondly, 'Tis contagious, and easily given to others, and 'tis more con∣tagious then any other disease. Thirdly, by its violence it de∣stroys the strength, and principally the vital spirits. Whence fourthly, when little, frequent, and unequal pulses are made, palpitation of the heart happens, lipothymie, syncope, and great anguish and perplexity altogether. Fifthly, If the disease be pro∣tracted, and the venome corrupt the humours, evils and sym∣ptomes happen of all kinds, and the whole order of the body is disturbed; Fevers happen, divers wheals or pustules, buboes, carbuncles; yet if there are no pushes, bubo, or carbuncle ap∣pear, we must not therefore conclude that the sick hath not the plague; for it often happens that before they come out, and can be drived out by reason of the debility of nature, the sick die with the violence of the disease. There happens likewise other sym∣ptomes of all sorts; for when the strength of the body is debili∣tated by the vehemency of the poyson, the humours and spirits are corrupted, the excrements are changed, and the urine either becomes crude, or fully corrupted, the sweats are stinking and un∣timely, filthy, foetid, ill coloured excrements proceed from the belly, the qualities of the body are variously changed, and there is nothing at all in burning and malignant Fevers, which may not appear likewise in the pestilence: * 1.2 But there is no disease at all to which the Aphorism of Hippocrat. 19. sect. 2. doth more a∣gree: for oftentimes when the plague flatters most, it brings un∣expected death; and on the contrary, those that have seemed desperate, often recover when past hope.

But there is the more hopes when tumors come forth suddenly in a place that is not dangerous, and after their coming forth the

symptomes abate, also if the wheals are of a good colour, and with remission of symptomes; if medicines, meat and drink are not vomited up again, if sweats come out with lightsom∣ness to the sick, and other signs are discerned, which use to be pre∣sent in salutary Fevers.

But the greatest danger is, when tumors come not enough out, and carbuncles draw near to the heart, or vanish again; if gid∣diness in the head, watchings, a coma, or convulsion fits are pre∣sent, if the sick shall say every thing stinketh, if trembling of the heart, fainting of the spirits be present, if all things are thrown up by vomiting, if the extremities of the body wax cold, if the sweat be cold, if the excrements are of divers colours, black, and stinking, and if the other ill symptomes of malignant Fevers be present.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Diagno∣stick signs
• * 1.2

  Progno∣sticks