The Charitable Pestmaster
The Cure of the Plague
9781465639721
281 pages
Library of Alexandria
Overview
There are divers cauſes of this diſeaſe. The firſt is ſin, which ought to be repented of. The ſecond an infected and corrupted air, which ſhould be avoided. The third an evill diet, which ſhould be amended. The fourth are evill humours heaped together in the body, being apt to putrifie, and beget a Fever, which muſt be taken away by convenient medicines. Therefore whoſoever would preſerve their bodies from infection, let them firſt make their peace with God, in whoſe hand is the power of life and death. Then let them uſe the meanes, and ſhun all thoſe things that are able to beget this diſeaſe, as all infected and corrupted aire, all fogges and miſts that do ariſe from the earth or water, and all ſtinking ſmels that do ariſe from dunghills, ſinks, graves, carrion, ſnuffs of candles, or rotten fruits, or any thing elſe that doth putrifie and ſtink. Abſtain from all meats and drinks that beget rottenneſſe and filthineſſe in the body (& ſo conſequently a Fever or the Plague) as exceſſive eating of fruits, eſpecially thoſe that are unripe. Alſo forbear all ſorts of fiſh that have neither ſcales nor ſhels, as Eels, Lampreys, and the like. Laſtly, take heed of over-charging the ſtomacke with meats, or drinks, or hot Wines; but eſpecially your unripe medium Wines. If any ſhall find themſelves oppreſſed with groſs & corrupt humors, ſo that they are in danger of this diſeaſe they ſhall be cleanſed, by taking one ounce and half, or two ounces, of the infuſion Crocus metallorum, (which is to be bought at every Apothecaries) & put to it Oximel half an ounce, this ſhall give them five or ſix vomits, and almoſt as many ſtooles. And after every vomit, let them drinke ſome warme poſſet drinke; ſo let them keepe themſelves warme that day: one houre after it hath done working let them eat a meſſe of warm broth made with a neck of Mutton, or with ſuch freſh meat as the ſick are beſt able to buy; of which meat let them eat ſparingly for the preſent. Thoſe that are ſo tender or weakly that they cannot brook this vomit, they may be very well purged from corrupt humours, by taking one or two drams of pilulæ Peſtilentiales: But the poorer ſort that cannot goe to this charge, may take inſtead thereof Aloes one dram in the pap of an Apple, ſtewed Prunes, or elſe in a little Ale or Beere. This pill, and this Aloes, are excellent remedies for women and children, and they are ſo ſafe that women with child may take them. After the bodie is purged, it ſhall be neceſſary to draw ſix or eight ounces of bloud from the liver or middle vein of the arme, if the partie be able to ſuſtain the loſſe of it.
