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
AS soon as this Crowd could be discharged, I judged it not proper to go
abroad fasting, and therefore got my Breakfast: After which, till
Dinner-time, I visited the Sick at their Houses; whereupon, entring their
Houses, I immediately had burnt some proper Thing upon Coals, and also
kept in my Mouth some Lozenges all the while I was examining them. But
they are in a Mistake who report that Physicians used, on such Occasions,
very hot Things, as _Myrrh_, _Zedoary_, _Angelica_, _Ginger_, &c. for
many, deceived thereby, raised Inflammations upon their Tonsils, and
greatly endangered their Lungs.
I further took Care not to go into the Rooms of the Sick when I sweated,
or were short-breathed with Walking; and kept my Mind as composed as
possible, being sufficiently warned by such, who had grievously suffered
by Uneasiness in that Respect. After some Hours Visiting in this Manner, I
returned Home. Before Dinner, I always drank a Glass of _Sack_, to warm
the Stomach, refresh the Spirits, and dissipate any beginning Lodgment of
the Infection. I chose Meats for my Table that yeilded an easie and
generous Nourishment, roasted before boiled, and Pickles not only suitable
to the Meats, but the Nature of the Distemper; (and indeed in this
melancholy Time, the City greatly abounded with Variety of all good Things
of that Nature) I seldom likewise rose from Dinner without drinking more
Wine. After this, I had always many Persons came for Advice; and as soon
as I could dispatch them, I again visited till Eight or Nine at Night, and
then concluded the Evening at Home, by drinking to Cheerfulness of my old
favourite Liquor, which encouraged Sleep, and an easie Breathing through
the Pores all Night. But if in the Day-time I found the least Approaches
of the Infection upon me, as by Giddiness, Loathing at Stomach, and
Faintness, I immediately had Recourse to a Glass of this Wine, which
easily drove these beginning Disorders away by Transpiration.
YET in the whole Course of the Infection, I found my self Ill but twice;
but was soon again cleared of its Approaches by these Means, and the Help
of such Antidotes as I kept always by me.
BUT to conclude, it may not be improper to take Notice, that the Citizens
much accustomed themselves to certain Compositions for keeping off the
Infection, by continual Smelling to them; the chief amongst which was the
following.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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