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. V. Of preservation from the Pestilence.

BUt because 'tis safer to prevent the Plague, * 1.1 then being pre∣sent to expel it out of the body, we should therefore be care∣ful first to prevent it. The way of preservation (with Gods assistance, which we ought to seek by prayers) consists in two things.

The first is, That all those causes that may occasion the sick∣ness may be avoided.

Furthermore, that the force of those causes when they cannot be avoided, may be broken, and our bodies rendred less apt to entertain them, and more able to resist them.

First therefore if the Plague reign any where, all commerce with the infected is to be avoided, and if any one be certainly infected, he should be separated from the rest with all his hous∣hold-stuff, indeed for many weeks, and the house infected (as hereafter shall be shewed) cleansed; and in case it be doubtful whether any one be sick of it or no, 'tis better to be too cautious then careless.

But if the pestilence be now sown in any place, 'tis safest to remove from thence, according to that common verse,

Mox longe tarde, cede recede redi.

Forthwith far from it go, Returning come back slow.

The reasons of which do not prove that he should change his place, the assistance of God being implored, he should often use

medicines against poyson, and fortific the body with those things that resist contagion, as also he should endeavour that his body should be free from all excrements, and preserved in its natural state.

And that we may begin a posteriore, * 1.2 the body is not to be rashly weakned with strong medicines; yet if any vitious humour shall be in the body, lest that the force of the Alexipharmacal me∣dicines should be debilitated, or the venomous poyson should easily take root in the body, it is to be purged by little and little with lenitives; to which purpose the most profitable are pills of Ruffi, so called from the authors name, and by custome called Pestilential pills; out of which also is made the Elixir proprie∣tatis, oyl of Vitriol being thereunto added: Syrup of Roses so∣lutive is also profitable, and Rhubarb, Agarick, and medicines compounded with them, which are every where extant. If blood abound, it may be abated by opening of a vein.

The Diet ought to be such, * 1.3 whereby vitious humours may not be cumulated; and with meats and drinks most principally things good against poyson should be mixed; and also, if as it may easily happen, any of the vitious humours be cumulated, let them be purged by the said medicines.

And forasmuch as Fontanels take away excrementitious hu∣mours by little and little, and hence take away the provision for the plague, they also in pestilential times are profitable.

Mediocrity also is to be kept in exercise and rest, sleeping and waking, and the passions of the mind, and principally as much as 'tis possible, intentive thoughts of the plague, and fear of the same is to be shaken out of our minds.

Besides these, two things more are yet necessary for our pre∣servation from the plague: First to take heed that none of the pestilential seed be attracted; Furthermore, if that happen, we being ignorant thereof, our bodies should be fortified against it.

First therefore we should endeavour that the Ayr wherein we live be pure; * 1.4 and therefore first publike places are to be cleansed from all filth, and the ayr should be purified with fire, principally of the wood of Juniper, Oak, Pine, Bays, and odoriferous plants being kindled; furthermore, every one should avoid company, and therefore solemn and frequent meetings are justly forbid by the Magistrate. The windows likewise towards places infected should be kept shut, and the ayr (as I newly said) with burnt woods, or with vinegar bezoarted, being poured upon hot bricks, or with suffumigations, or with pyrion powder kindled, should be purified.

No man should go abroad until the Sun be an hour or two high, * 1.5 neither fasting, nor unarmed with alexipharmacal things, therefore balls of Amber, Nodules, sweet Limments mixed with Treacle, oyl of Rue, Znezedoaric, Angelica, Citron, Juniper, and such like should be held to the nostrils, and under the tongue con∣venient troches should be held, cordial bags should be applied to the region of the heart.

Amulets likewise of poysonous things are commended by ma∣ny, * 1.6 as Arsnick, powder of a Toad, Quicksilver and such like being prepared, descriptions whereof are every where extant: which whatsoever they do, without question they perform in such manner, that they draw the venomous poyson to themselves, by the similitude of their own substance, and turn it from the heart; as those that are wounded with a Scorpion, with the oyl thereof being externally anointed, are forthwith healed: yet you must take keed that those bags, or mass of such things be not heated by motion, lest the strength of the poyson should be com∣municated to the heart through the pores of the skin.

But the greatest hope of health and security, * 1.7 is in medicines that resist poyson, out of which those are to be selected which by long experience have been approved; The simples are, Angelica, Valerian, Tormentil, Carduus Benedictus, Sorrel, Dittany of Crete and white, Rue, Swallow-wort, Scordium, Scabicon, Di∣vels-bit, Burnet, Olsnicium, Fluellin, Vipers-grass, Marigolds, Wormwood, Tansie, Zedoary, Masterwort, Gentian, Juniper berries, Walnuts, Hartshorn, Bolealmanick, Terra sigillata, an Emerald, a Hyacinth.

Out of which are various compounds; amongst which those that excel, and are approved by long use, are Mithridate, Trea∣cle and Confectio Liberantis, as also that antidote which is ascribed to King Mithridates, of which Pliny lib. 23. cap. 8. as also Theriaca Diatessaron, to which the moderns have added many more, as the Electuary of Saffron, or of an Egg, as 'tis called, Dioscordium, Tracastory, Antidotus Saxonica, Antidotus Guidonis de Cauliaco, Pulvis Caesaris rubeus, and Gryseus Electuarium Camphoratum Kigleri, and many more, which the Tracts of divers Authors concerning the pestilence afford such as are profitable, as well for preservation from the Plague, as for the cure thereof; so that it becomes us to be more solicitous about the choice of them, then the store of them here: And amongst so great plenty, 'tis more safe nevertheless to depend on those that have been approved by long use and experience, then such as are newly invented, what colour or pretence soever they afford them∣selves.

But because those strong and hot medicines are not pro∣per for women with child, nor children, they should have medi∣cines of Harts-horn, the bone of the heart of a Stag (or Deer) the roots of Tormentil, Pearl, Bole Almenick, Coral, Bezor, and precious stones: And since that there is no small difference amongst Alexipharmacal Medicines according to the qualities they have besides their occult ones, every one of them doth not agree with every age and season: for in a hotter Ayr, medicines that are not so hot are to be used; which must also be observed in those which in regard of their age or constitution of body are hotter, lest that humour should be kindled, and a Fever from thence arise afterwards; or if some are hotter, they should be prepared with Vinegar, or taken with Syrup acetos. Citri, Sorrel great or small, Pomgranates.

For there is no depending upon one medicine against poyson, but they are to be varied, lest that nature should be accustomed to it, and thereby can receive little benefit by it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Preserva∣tives.
• * 1.2

  Purging.
• * 1.3

  Diet.
• * 1.4

  The Ayr how to be purified.
• * 1.5

  How every man ought to fortifie himself a∣gainst the Plague.
• * 1.6

  Amulets
• * 1.7

  Alexi∣pharnicks.