A Succinct Account of the Plague at Marseilles / Its Symptoms and the Methods and Medicines Used for Curing It

he following Relation having been sent to us by Messieurs Chicoyneau, Verney and Soullier, deputed by the Court for the Relief of our City afflicted with the Plague: We Charles Claude de Andrault de Langeron, Knight and Commander of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Chief Commander of the King’s Galleys, Field Marshal, and Marshal of his Majesty’s Armies, Commandant in the City of Marseilles, and the Territories thereof.
Alphonsus de Fortia Marquis de Pilles, Governing Magistrate, and John-Baptiste Estelle, John Baptiste Audimar, John-Peter Moustier, and Balthazar Dieudé, Sheriffs, Protectors and Defenders of the Privileges, Franchises and Liberties of this City, Counsellors of the King, and Lieutenants General of the Police, have thought fit to cause it to be printed; for having been Eye-witnesses of the Zeal with which these Gentlemen have exposed themselves for the Service and Relief of our Sick, as well in the City as in the Hospitals, we are thoroughly persuaded that their Observations on the Nature of this fatal Malady, and on the Remedies proper to its Cure, cannot but be very useful to the Inhabitants of divers Places of this Province that are unfortunately infected.
At Marseilles this 26 Nov. 1720.

o give some Satisfaction to the just Expectations of very many Persons, as well of this Realm as of foreign Countries, who fearing the dismal Effects of the Contagion, have done us the Honour to request of us some Account of the Nature of the Distemper that has depopulated Marseilles , and of the Success of such Remedies as we have employed against it; we have thought fit to draw up the following Relation, containing in short what is most essential in this Affair, and which may be sufficient to intelligent Persons of the Faculty, to direct their Conduct, and help them in framing a Judgment in the like Case, till we have better Means and a more convenient Leisure to present to the Publick more exact Particulars of all that we have observed on this Subject.