Loimologia: Or, an Historical Account of the Plague in London in 1665: With Precautionary Directions Against the Like ContagionHodges, Nathaniel
History
Loimologia: Or, an Historical Account of the Plague in London in 1665: With Precautionary Directions Against the Like Contagion
Hodges, Nathaniel
Plague -- England -- London -- Early works to 1800
BUT to be yet more particular about these Fumigations, both to mend the
Air, and refresh the Houses that have been infected, they must be composed
of such Things as raise and comfort the Spirits that were languishing,
with their grateful Flavours; for refreshing Smells are a kind of natural
_Pabulum_ to the animal Spirits; or they should be of such Substances as
by their gummy Viscidity entangle and cover the venomous _Spicula_, so
that they cannot act; or, lastly, of such Things as breath out such
nitrous Steams, which will either preserve our Bodies from receiving
Impurities, or change the Nature of the infectious Particles.
I do not indeed deny, but some ungrateful Smells may be sometimes more
convenient than sweet ones, as they fix those Spirits which would
otherwise exhale; and a copious Efflux of saline Particles will often keep
them from Infection and Injury. But to reduce these into Classes.
The _Simples_ of the first Class are _Musk_, _Civet_, _Amomum_,
_Lavender_, _Rosemary_, _Roses_, _Angelica_, _Marjoram_, _Cloves_,
_Rhodium Wood_, _Aloes Wood_, &c. Of the second, _Frankincense_,
_Benjamin_, _Storax_, _Bdellium_, _Labdanum_, _Pitch_, _Sagapenum_,
_Myrrh_, &c. Of the third Class, _Sulphur_ and _Nitre_, more of which
hereafter.
BUT further, that all the Means of propagating the Plague may be removed,
it is very wisely ordered by the Magistracy, to kill all Dogs, Cats, and
other domestick Brutes, lest these Creatures in their Passage from one
Place to another should carry along with them the pestilential Infection.
YET although both the Makers and Executors of the Laws were very diligent
in their Duty during the late Sickness, the Contagion notwithstanding
spread; when therefore all the Care and Skill of the Magistrate could
avail nothing in stopping the common Destroyer, the utmost Application was
made to preserve the Individuals under its Visitation: For which Purpose,
first of all were removed all Means of rendering our Bodies more subject
to take the Infection, and the best Care taken to fortifie the
Constitution against its Attacks, and to support it under its Tyranny.
I know not indeed a greater Neglect than in not keeping the Body clean,
and keeping at a Distance every Thing superfluous or offensive; and during
the pestilential Constitution nothing was worse than Evacuations of all
Kinds: But if a _Plethora_ required _Phlebotomy_, the Blood should be
taken away by a small Orifice, in but little Quantity, and at several
Times: A Person loaded with bad Humours, should be discharged of them, if
possible, immediately; if they glut the Stomach, and first Passages, they
ought to be thrown off by Vomiting, Drinking in the Operation good
Quantities of Posset-Drink, in which hath been boiled the Leaves of
_Carduus_ and _Scordium_; and also the Bowels should be cleansed, to which
Purpose the following is useful:
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