The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

Libellum hunc de Peste, dignum judicamus, qui Imprimatur.

Gualt. Charleton, Præses Collegii Regalis Medicor. Londinens.

Tho. Burwel.
J. Gordon.Censores.
Wil. Dawes.
Tho. Gill.

Dat. Sepemb. 5. 1690.

In Comitiis Censoriis ex Edibus Collegii nostri.

Thomas Willis M.D.

A
Plain and Easie Method
FOR
Preserving [by God's Blessing]
those that are WELL from the
Infection of the
PLAGUE,
Or any
Contagious Distemper,
In
CITY, CAMP, FLEET, &c.
AND
For Curing such as are Infected
with it.

Written in the Year 1666.

By Tho. Willis, M. D. late Sidney Professor in Oxford, and a Member of the Royal Society and Colledge of Physicians in London.

Never before Printed.

LONDON, Printed for W. Crook, at the Green-Dragon, without Temple-Bar. 1691.

TO THE
READER.

Good Reader,

Having been hitherto very averse from Publishing any of Dr. Willis's Posthumous Works, because it may be presum'd that they want his last Hand to compleat them; and for that Reason, giving no ear till now to any Entreaties of that kind, though never so powerful, or never so importunate: I think my self oblig'd to give the World some Account why I alter'd my mind as to this particular, and did at length suffer my self to be prevail'd with to Print the following Treatise, it being now Fifteen Years after his Death; and it is briefly this: A worthy Friend and an old Acquaintance of mine, desiring if I knew of, or could procure any choice and approv'd Receipts against the Plague, that I would furnish him with some for a Friend of his, for the preservation of whose Health he had a singular concern, and who was going in the late Embassie to Constantinople, where that Distemper then was, and did frequently rage: I promis'd to use my utmost endeavours to supply him; and calling to mind this short Tract, which I transcrib'd from the Doctor's Papers in the Year 1666, being then his Amanuensis; I knew it would far exceed whatsoever I could elsewhere obtain, or pretend to collect upon this Subject: Whereupon I allow'd him to take a Copy of it for his Friend's use, upon condition he would not make it publick. But not long since a suspicious Sickness having seiz'd their Majesties Army in Ireland, the same Person was very much of opinion, that the Printing of it might do great service, should that Disease prove Pestilential; and urg'd such Arguments, as made me to be also of the same perswasion; especially, he having shew'd the Copy to several of the most eminent Physicians amongst us, whose opinion it was, as he assur'd me, that the Publishing of it might be of very great use, it being a charitable instruction in cases of great danger, for such as cannot procure the attendance of Physicians: I must needs own, that I could not withstand the judgment of such Persons.

The regard I have always had, and shall still have for the Reputation and Memory of my dear Master, and best Friend, will not, I presume, be thought to lessen, by my giving way upon these terms to this Publication; since it is so earnestly desir'd, and so well esteem'd of: And the Good that is aim'd at by it can be no ill Apology for

Thy Friend and Servant,

J. Hemming.

St. Martins-Lane,
Sept. 1. 1690.

A Plain and Easie
METHOD, &c.

In time of Pestilence, because a Physician cannot easily, or often, be consulted with; Therefore it behoveth all Persons, as well Poor as Rich, to be furnish'd with Remedies against that Contagious Disease; and certain Rules, or a Method how to use them: Which Method being very plain, and almost the same to all People, consists chiefly in these two Parts, viz. How to preserve the Whole from taking Infection; And how to cure the Sick that are infected.

Touching the First; Though the surest way is to fly from it, yet in regard this cannot be done by all, some Means should be us'd to secure [so far as it is possible] those that are forced to stay by it. Such Means of Prevention, either concern the Publick Magistrate, which are already sufficiently known, and commonly practis'd in all places that are infected, and it would be superfluous to repeat them here; Or else such as belong to private Persons, what ways every Man that lives in, or near an infected place, may arm himself against the danger of Contagion; Which should be endeavour'd, as well by purifying the Air we breathe, as also by fortifying our selves against taking the Infection at our Nostrils, Mouth, or Pores of the Body, which are the chiefest, if not the only parts the Poison creeps in at.

That the Air we breathe in may be wholesome, all Things, that may advance or add to the corruption of it, should diligently be removed; our Houses, and Streets kept clean; all Filth, and whatever may cause noisom smells, be taken away; and amongst other things, the smell of Sope Suds, and Lye, in the washing of Clothes, be avoided; this, Experience has taught to be very dangerous; as 'tis observed by Diemerbroek and Vander Heyden.

Besides the suppressing of Vapours that may increase the infection of the Air, it is to be purg'd of that Malignity it brings with it from other infected places; and this is done by great Fires, which should be continually kept, except the Weather be too hot, and by Fumes of Sulphur, Nitre, Frankincense, Pitch, Rosin, Tarr, and the like, which every day should be burnt in the Room we most frequent, also before our Doors, and on the tops of our Houses. Of simple Medicines to be us'd for this purpose, Brimstone is commended for the best that is; 'Tis likely that Vitriol, which partakes much of the like acid Spirit, may be very proper; but in regard 'tis not easily combustible, make this mixture, and strew of it on Coals in a hot Chafing-dish.

Take green Vitriol calcin'd, Saltpeter, and Sulphur, of each a pound, beat them well together, and keep it for use.

In close Rooms, and in hot Weather, Vinegar with Rue, or Wormwood, chopt small, and evaporated in a perfuming Pot; or else Pestilential Vinegar [as we shall describe] thrown on a hot Brick. Or take Myrrh, Galbanum, Ammoniac, of each half an Ounce; boyl these in a Quart, or three Pints of White-Wine Vinegar, 'till they are all dissolv'd; put half a spoonful of this at a time on a hot Brick.

Some commend Slakeing of Lime, supposing the fume that ariseth from it, may purifie the Air: 'Tis possible, if this be done with Vinegar, either simple, or impregnated with Alexipharmacal Medicines, it may be more effectual.

Next to the Cure of the Air, to render that as wholesom as we can; we must arm our selves against taking in that Malignity, which [notwithstanding all means of purifying it] shall still remain mixt with it. Now because the Spirits are commonly the first that receive Infection; We must fortifie them, that they may not easily admit the approaches of their Enemy, which when they are in full vigour and expansion, they will repel, and as it were keep off at a distance; Therefore Wine and Confidence are a good Preservative against the Plague: But when the Spirits, through fear, or want of supply, do recede, and are forc'd to give back, the Enemy enters, and first seizeth them, and thence gets into the Blood and Humors; Therefore much Fasting and Emptiness are bad: But every one should Eat and Drink at convenient Hours, in such manner and measure, as may always keep the Spirits lively and chearful, and endeavour to compose his Mind and Affection against fear and sadness.

But besides keeping the Spirits in a good height, and more especially when that cannot be done, as in Persons that are naturally fearful, and of a tender Constitution, the Spirits should constantly, as it were, be kept arm'd with such Remedies as resist the Poyson; that is, the use of proper Antidotes against the Plague.

I shall set down some Preservatives to be taken of every Morning, and again at Night, by those that live in infected places.

Take of Conserve of Wood-Sorrel four Ounces; Confectio Liberans, and Mithridate, of each half an Ounce; Salt of Wormwood two Drams; Confection of Hyacinth one Dram; Tormentil Roots, and fine Bole, of each half a Dram; Pestilential Vinegar half an Ounce; mix all with Syrup of Citron; Take as much as a Nutmeg, Night and Morning.

For the Poorer Sort, that Medicine of the Ancients, may be proper, viz.

Take of Rue two handfuls, Figs and Walnut-Kernels, of each twenty four, common Salt half an Ounce; Which beat all together in a Mortar, till it be well mix'd; Take of it as much as a Nutmeg every Morning and Night.

This Medicine may be several ways advanc'd, by adding some Alexipharmacal Remedies to it, as by putting Salt of Wormwood, instead of common Salt, and by adding an Ounce of Venice Treacle, to the whole Composition.

For those that cannot take an Electuary, these Tablets may be proper to eat, about one Dram at a time, two or three times a day.

Take of the Roots of Virginian-Snakeweed, Zedoary, Contrayerva, Species Liberans, of each two Drams; Camphire two Drams; mix all finely pouder'd, then dissolve eight Ounces of fine Sugar in Pestilential Vinegar; Boyl it Candy high, and adding the Pouder to it, make all into Lozenges.

For some that are of a hotter Constitution, and a high Sanguine Temper, it may be proper to take every Morning a spoonful of Pestilential Vinegar in a little Carduus water, or plain Wallnut water; or else drink a draught of Posset-Drink, made with a Spoonful of that Vinegar.

Let the Pestilential Vinegar be made thus.

Take of the Roots of Angelica, Butter-Burr, Tormentil, Elecampane, of each half an Ounce, Virginian-Snakeweed, choice Zedoary, Contrayerva, of each three Drams; Leaves of Scordium, Rue, Goats-Rue, of each one handful; Marigold Flowers, Clove-gilloflowers, of each half a handful; Seeds of Citron and Carduus, of each two Drams; Cut and bruise these, and put them in a Glass-Bottle, with three Pints of the best Vinegar, to digest for ten days.

When the Stomach, by frequent taking of one sort of Antidote, begins to loath it: In such Cases the use of it may be changed into some other: And if the Stomach withal should be ill, and defective, in Appetite and Digestion; let the Party take every Morning, ten or twelve Drops of Elixir Proprietatis, in plain Wormwood Water, or else in Wormwood Wine.

Those that have Coughs, and ill Lungs, may take five or six Drops of Balsam of Sulphur, made thus.

Take Flower of Sulphur, two Ounces, melt it in an Earthen Dish glaz'd on the fire, then put to it two Ounces of Salt of Wormwood; stir it for a Quarter of an Hour, taking care that it does not catch fire; Then put into it of Aloes, Myrrh, Olibanum, finely pouder'd, of each one Dram, of Saffron half a Dram; Keep this stirring half a Quarter of an Hour; Take it off, and put half an Ounce of it pouder'd, to digest in five or six Ounces of good Spirit of Wine; It will take in a short time a very excellent Tincture: Which keep for use.

Or else this Balsam may be made with Spiritus Theriacalis Camphoratus, and so will be more effectual against the Plague, Or which is more applicable to use,

Put an Ounce of that Pouder newly made, into a pretty large Glass, and put to it a Quart of good Sack; Set it in a gentle heat, for three or four Hours, it will take a Tincture: And of this one may take half a Spoonful at a time: And I suppose two Spoonfuls in a convenient Vehicle, may be a good Sudorifick to be given one that is infected.

Though Purging in time of Pestilence is not good, as Diemerbroek by frequent Examples has observ'd, yet in Cachochymick Bodies, it may be convenient once in a fortnight, to take a Dose of Pillulæ Ruffi; Take half a Dram at Night, and next Morning take the wonted Antidote, as at other times.

Also for those that live in an infected Air, that there is suspicion that they may daily take in some pestiferous Vapours, which fermenting with the Blood and Humours, may insensibly at last break out in the Plague; it may not be amiss, once or twice a week, to take pretty large Sweats in their Beds: And this to be done, especially if the Party has had any occasion whereby he may suspect himself to have been more open to infection, or that he has taken any: After such Sweat he should keep his Chamber the forepart of the day, till the Pores are reduc'd to be as they were before.

To provoke such a Sweat: Take of Venice Treacle, one Dram; dissolve it in three Ounces of Carduus Water, add a Spoonful of Syrup of Pestilential Vinegar; Or take a Draught of Posset-Drink, made with Pestilential Vinegar; In which boyl a few Petasitis Roots: To promote and continue the Sweat, take Posset-Drink with Meadow-Sweet, or else with Carduus, or Marigold-Flowers boyl'd in it.

Besides the daily and constant life of such Alexipharmacal Remedies, there are other Means, which occasionally and sometimes continually should be taken. For in regard we always draw in the Air at our Nostrils and Mouth, these parts should be well guarded with some Antidotes, that may keep out the poysonous Vapours from entring in, and especially as often as upon occasion we are more nearly expos'd to danger of Infection. To this end, some things to smell to, others to be held in the Mouth, chew'd, and swallow'd down, are frequently to be insisted on.

That which seems at once to fulfil most of these intentions, is taking of Tobacco in a Pipe; the Smoke of this secures those parts which lye openest, and at once intercepts the Contagion from the Brain, Lungs, and Stomach: Nay more than this, it stirs the Blood and Spirits all the Body over, and makes them shake off any poysonous Matter that adher'd to them: Insomuch that Diemerbroek accounts it not only a Preservative, but tells us, that himself, when he was several times infected, by taking five or six Pipes of Tobacco together was presently cur'd. And amongst us in England 'tis reported, That in the last great Plague, no Tobacco-Shop was infected: If 'tis not of so great virtue still amongst us, the reason is, because most Men have been accustomed to take it so excessively; wherefore it is grown so familiar to them, that it produceth no alteration when it should be us'd as an Antidote.

Besides the frequent use of Tobacco, which doubtless in time of Plague may be profitable for them that can take it; others, and also Tobacconists, at sometimes should be furnished with something to smell to when they pass through infected Places. Wormwood and Rue, Galbanum, Castor and Vinegar are good: The vulgar practice of putting Mithridate, or Treacle, or Tar in their Nostrils, may be very useful; or to have a Pomander to carry in ones hand, or put into the top of a Staff.

Take of the Roots of Contrayerva and Virginian-Snakeweed pouder'd, of each Two Drams; of the best Myrrh pouder'd, half an Ounce; of Camphire half a Dram. Let it be made a Pouder.

Part of this may be enclos'd in a fine Silk Bag, and oftentimes dip it in Pestilential Vinegar, and so smell to it. To the other part of this, add Oyl of Nutmegs by Expression, and Oyl of Cap-ivy, of each a Dram, or as much as will make it into a Mass; also add of Balsam of Peru one Scruple. Dip Cotton Wool in Elixir Proprietatis, inclose it in fine Silk, and put it in the head of a Staff, or Civet Box, to smell to.

For Medicines to hold in the Mouth, and chew on, Roots of Zedoary, Contrayerva, and Snakeweed are very good; also Roots of Enulacampane, Angelica, and Masterwort; these either alone, or macerated in Vinegar, and dried again. Myrrh is very excellent: Some commend Tobacco, and chew it almost continually.

These are the chiefest Remedies which help to keep Infection out of the Body. There is yet another sort which serves to let it out, and carry it away, before it grows to a head, viz. Issues, which have been found by often experience to be good Preservatives in time of Plague: For as much as Nature having a constant vent for excrementitious matter thrown off the Blood, by the same way expels poysonous Atoms soon after they are receiv'd into the Body.

Concerning Rules of Diet I need not say much, because such Precepts are commonly known: 'Tis to be observ'd in general, that only wholsome Food should be taken: Very salt Meats, as hang'd Beef, Bacon, Pork, salt Fish, also shell-Fish, most kind of Herbage and raw Fruit should be avoided. The Meals should be moderate, and eaten in due season. Some Antidotal Things may be taken with the Meat, or mix'd in the Sauce; Clove Gilloflowers pickled, also Citron Peel and Juice, Rasberries, Currants, Pomegranate Juices, Pestilential Vinegar, and Mustard, made with the Seeds of Thlaspi, may be of some good effect.

These kind of Remedies, and manner of living, ought chiefly to be insisted on as Preservatives against the Plague. Those that are timorous and of tender Constitutions require a support from the use of more means; whereas Persons that are strong, and of a bold temper, have need of the less Remedies. But 'tis not safe for any to be so confident as to dare to converse with infected People, or live in the midst of Contagion without any Antidote at all.

In the use of means, caution is to be had, that strong and hot Cordials be not too often taken, nor yet indifferently by all People; for that will inflame the Blood, and make it apt to kindle a Fever, which at such times soon turns to the Plague.

The like caution is to be had against immoderate drinking of Wine; though a moderate proportion chears and fortifies the Spirits, yet too much greatly disorders them, and thereby People are more expos'd to take Infection.

Letting of Blood in time of Plague has been observ'd to be very pernicious; so also oft or strong Purging; for the Veins being emptied either way, will readily suck in whatever poysonous Atoms lurk in the outward Pores of the Body, which being admitted, become the more prevalent, because the Spirits being depauperated, are less able to subdue or repel them.

Thus much of the way of Preservation: Next we are to treat of the Cure of those that are infected.

The Cure of the Plague admits of no Delay; neither indeed is there need of any deliberation what ought to be done; but as soon as any one finds himself infected, let him forthwith take to his Bed, and having pray'd to Almighty God for his Blessing, begin to use the Means.

If the Party is much oppress'd at his Stomach, and strains to vomit, or else with vomiting throws up bitter and stinking Matter; let him presently take a large draught of Carduus, or Camomile Posset-Drink, and in it either half a Dram of Salt of Vitriol, or two Ounces of Liquor of Squills, and with his finger or a Feather, fetch up what is contain'd in his Stomach; but take no Antimonial Medicine, that will work beyond the Stomach. As soon as he has vomited, [or if there is no occasion for this Evacuation] let him presently be put into a Sweat, and continue for twelve hours, more or less, according as his strength will hold out, and not sleep in it, or not till the latter end of it.

If when he begins to Sweat, or endeavours it, his Vomiting still persists, then apply to the pit of the Stomach a Toast of White-Bread, spread over with Treacle or Mithridate, and dipt in Claret-Wine or Pestilential Vinegar, made Scalding hot in a Peuter Dish; Wrap this in fine Linnen, and apply it very hot.

After a plentiful Sweat for twelve, fourteen, or eighteen hours, give him some Refective, as Broth, Caudle, Mace-drink, or the like; and a little while after suffer him to sleep if he can. Then give him temperate Cordials by way of Confection or Julep, or both; which repeat every third or fourth hour: Also at the time that the Party settles to sleep, lay Vesicatory Plaisters behind the Ears, and under the Arm-pits, and also in the Groin.

After he has slept, or endeavour'd it, and his Spirits are pretty well refresh'd, at a moderate distance from the first sweating, viz. Eighteen, or Four and Twenty hours, sooner or later, according as Symptoms are more or less urgent, and his strength is able, repeat the Sweating again; and so proceed through the whole Cure; one while Sweating, and another while refreshing his Spirits by temperate Cordials and Sleep; betwixt whiles administring fit Nourishment, until such time as the Symptoms are abated wholly, and either the Disease terminated, or else the Malignity is driven all out in Boyls or Carbuncles; which how they must be order'd, shall be set down.

Though the same kind of Sudorificks may be given indifferently to most People, yet because there is variety of such Medicines, in respect both of the Matter and Form of them, therefore some choice may be had in the administration of them, that so we may comply with the Patient's taking them best in this or that kind of Form; and also that those that are hotter be given to Persons of a cold Temper, and those Medicines which are more temperate to such whose Constitutions are hot: I shall set down several Forms of Sweating Medicines, which are given either in Potion, Bolus, or Pouder.