CHAP. I. Of Apparel and Diet.

THO' at all Times we ought to abſtain from all Manner of Exceſs, yet chiefly ought we ſo to do in the Time of Peſtilence; eſpecially from Exceſs of outward and inward Heat, as that of the Sun, Fire, Cloaths, and hot Air, all very pernicious; this I call outward Heat; inward Heat is ſuch as proceeds from too much eating of Salt, and ſalted Meats, Spices, and all Food of a ſtrong and intenſe Heat, and all ſtrong Malt Liquors, and ſtrong Wines and Spirits.

Violent Exerciſes are alſo to be avoided, ſuch as provoke Sweatings, and particularly, Co⯑ition, and all the Paſſions of the Mind. One muſt likewiſe abſtain from all Repletion of Meat and Drink, that is, to riſe from Table without loading your Stomach. The other Exceſs too is equally dangerous, I mean too great a Hunger and Thirſt; a great deal of [6]Sleep, eſpecially at Day-Time, is alſo to be carefully avoided, as well as letting the Body be too much bound up or coſtive: Thus much in General.

As to Apparel, what is made of Linnen, is certainly beſt; thick Woollens are apt to gather Infections; but Silk and Furs, and Stuffs made of Hair, are principally to be ſhunned, becauſe they very eaſily admit the contagious Air, and retain it a long while. But above all, let every body be particularly careful in being clean in their Dreſs, as well as Lodging. Hangings are by no Means to be allowed, bare Walls, or plain, unpainted Wainſcot, are the beſt Furniture; theſe cannot be kept too freſh and clean.

The frequent Waſhings among the Jews, though they had ſomething myſtical in them, and were a Part of their Religion, were yet very conducive to Health; and in Reality, there can be no Religion in being a Sloven; Pauper⯑tatem & non Sorditiem Habitus diligit Deus, God loves the Poverty, not the Slovenlineſs of a Habit, ſaid St. Bernard, of ſome dirty Reli⯑gious of his Time. The good old Man thought there was no Religion at all in being dirty or louſy.

The firſt Thing that is to be done in the Morning by thoſe that wear their Hair, is to comb it with an Ivory Comb Forty Times at leaſt, from the Forehead towards the Pole; after that, let them waſh all the Organs of the [7]Senſes, that is, the Eyes, Ears, Mouth, Tongue, and Teeth; in ſhort, the whole Face, with pure Water, and they who wear Wigs, are to waſh their Head in like Manner. The Eyes are not only to be waſhed, but dipt, or plunged into cold Water, and all the Foulneſs removed from the Eye-lids with this cold Water; it is very neceſſary ſometimes to mix Roſe-water, or Fennel-water and good ſtrong White⯑wine Vinegar; and after the Neck is waſhed, which muſt never be omitted, let it be rubbed with a Towel, ſomewhat coarſer than ordi⯑nary. All this comforts the Body, makes the Mind more lively and chearful, and preſerves the Sight.

The Gums and Mouth ought to be particu⯑larly taken Care to be waſhed and cleanſed, and eſpecially the Teeth; to do which, no⯑thing is more proper than the following Den⯑tifrices, or Teeth-Powders, viz.

CHAP. II. Of Diet.

IT is very eaſy to deſcribe what Kind of Diet ſhould be uſed in ſuch Times of Sickneſs, but it is not ſo eaſy for all People to obſerve it. I ſhall only ſay in general, that ſuch Food as the Appetite moſt delights in, is the beſt: and of Conſequence, that which it does not care for, ought to be avoided. I do not ſpeak here of a depraved Appetite, which has been ruined and debauched by Luxury, for there can be no Rules preſcri⯑bed for ſuch, at leaſt what it will obſerve.

The ſimpler, and the more plain the Diet is, the better. And here I could wiſh Man had kept up to Nature, and followed what the great Creator of all Things had [16]preſcribed to the Infant World, and had ſtill fed on that innocent Food, the Fruits and Herbs of the Earth, and Milk, and the Gol⯑den Productions of the Induſtrious Bee: Then would his Blood have flowed free from thoſe noxious Juices engendred from ſuch a Heterogeneous Commixture of the Spirits of ſo many Thouſand Animals which an unbounded cruel Luxury continually ſacrifices and de⯑lights.

Before the Flood, Men did not eat the Fleſh of Animals, and yet they lived much longer.

The Jewiſh Law, indeed, in ſome meaſure indulged its Followers in this Reſpect; but it muſt be remembred, the Bill of Divorce was in like manner tolerated, for the Hardneſs of their Hearts. The Fleſh Pots of Egypt, (the French Ragous of that Time) ran in their Minds; but a Toleration is a quite different Thing from an Approbation; and how many Reſtrictions this Toleration was attended with, every one knows that looks into the Bible; the moſt delicious Food was abſolutely for⯑bidden, as Swines Fleſh, and all Shell Fiſh; and the manner of dreſſing was ſuch, as re⯑quired the utmoſt Scrutiny in Relation to the Health of the Animal; and the Blood, as the Life or Soul, was particularly prohibited.

But the Chriſtian, who has a better Reli⯑gion, who profeſſes to follow a ſuffering Lord, and Self-denying Saviour, tyrannizes over the [17]whole Creation, flies at all, and without the leaſt Remorſe or Scruple, devours Things ſtrangled, and ſwallows Blood, though ex⯑preſly forbidden in the ſame Place with For⯑nication, in that which he owns to be written by Inſpiration, and a Law decreed by the Holy Ghoſt.

The poor Cow, to inſtance no more, after having fed Families with her own Dugs, muſt by cruel, ungrateful Man, be knock'd on the Head, for all her good Offices, and at laſt de⯑voured; and the tender Lamb, juſt dropt from its Mother, (true Emblem of ſweeteſt Inno⯑cence) be ſnatched, kneeling at the Teat, and ſacrificed to ſatisfy the Appetite, perhaps of a lewd Harlot.

It is true, Man is the Lord of the Crea⯑tion; ſo is a Maſter of his Family: But what Lord devours his own Subjects? Or, what Father feaſts upon his own Children and Servants?

I could anſwer all the vain, idle, frivolous Objections, that have been raiſed againſt this unlawful Practice of deſtroying the Creation; but my Buſineſs is not to write of Controver⯑ſy, but Health; and however novel this may ſeem to ſome, I am ſure, its oppoſite is only an ancient inveterate Error.

And I am ſatisfied, that Men, if they would or could abſtain from eating the Fleſh of Ani⯑mals, wou'd find themſelves much better in Health; for it is that dreadful mixture of [18]the Souls, if I may ſay ſo, of ſo many thouſand Animals, deſtroy'd to pamper one, that raiſes that terrible War in the Blood, which has made it a Prey to ſuch Diſtempers, as have baffled the Skill of the moſt learned Phyſicians.

Let us caſt our Eyes towards India, and we ſhall ſee the Brachmans, or Bramins, who never eat the Fleſh of Animals; and yet they live frequently to an Hundred Years of Age.

In Italy, there is a Religious Order called the Camaldoleſe, or Monks of St. Romuald, who look healthy, and live long, and by their Profeſſion they neither eat Fleſh nor Fiſh.

The Monks of La Trappe in France, do the ſame. This Regimen of Life ren⯑ders the Paſſions calm and quiet; while your Fleſh-Devourers are ſoon irritated, im⯑mediately take Fire, and even, in ſome Senſe, participate of the Nature of the Brutes they feed on.

And then how many Delicacies may be made without the Death of Animals? how many Ways of dreſſing Herbs and Fruits, with Milk and Cream, Sugar and Honey, and Aromatick Spices? all the innocent Lux⯑ury of Paſtry and Confectionary, may here be introduced.

But becauſe this Evil came in by De⯑grees, ſo by Degrees it muſt be extirpa⯑ted; and ſince it is impoſſible quite to for⯑ſake it at once, we having derived from our Parents, a Blood made up of theſe Spirits, I ſhall only adviſe my Readers to make Uſe of Fleſh Diet as ſparingly as poſ⯑ſible, eſpecially in Time of Peſtilence; let them chuſe that Sort, that they know they can beſt di⯑geſt, and dreſs it thoroughly, and that too after the plaineſt and moſt ſimple manner, avoid⯑ing all rich Soupes, Ragous, Fricaſies, A la Royalles, a la Daubes, or a la Diables, and all thoſe Heterogeneous, Gallican, or rather Aegyptian Slipſlops, which are poyſonous, and create ſuch malignant Juices in the Blood, which eaſily unite with the peſtilential Ef⯑fluvia, and become a proper Fewel for the Plague.

Broyling is undoubtedly the beſt Way of Dreſſing, over a clear Fire, the Meat being thoroughly firſt cleanſed from all Blood, and moderately ſeaſoned with Salt; for Salt ſa⯑vours all Things, and the Fire purifies all Things.

The next is Roaſting, for the ſame Rea⯑ſons.

Boyling comes next, which muſt be done with a large Quantity of Water, that the Meat may have Room enough; and as ſoon [20]as the Pot boils, take off the Cover, that the Steam may go up.

Frying and Stewing are the worſt of all, un⯑leſs the Stew-pan be uncovered; and Frying is not very wholſome, becauſe of the Fat the Meat muſt neceſſarily ſwim in, which hinders the Fire from paſſing through the Meat. And Stewing, unleſs there be a great deal of Li⯑quor, is only a genteel Name for Frying.

As to Sauces, or Seaſoning, I recommend, eſpecially with freſh Fiſh, (tho' indeed I do not approve of any Fiſh in the Time of Contagion: I ſay, for Sauces or Seaſonings, I recommend) Tormentil, Dittany, Fennel, Dill, Gentian, Zedoary, Sanders, never forgetting Roſes; and alſo Vinegar, and Vinegar of Roſes; eſ⯑pecially, Citron, Seville Orange, and Lemon Juices; as alſo Juice of Sorrel, Verjuice, Juice of Pomegranates and Barberries, for all Acids or Sours reſiſt the peſtilential Poyſon, for they are refreſhing, drying, comfort and pre⯑ſerve; however, if they offend the Breaſt, qualify them with Sugar; if the Stomach, with a ſmall Quantity of Pepper; for Pepper reſiſts the Putrefaction of the Humours, ſtrengthens Digeſtion; and, provided it be not ground too ſmall, but powdered a little, that is, juſt broken, it helps the Liver.

Beſides theſe Kinds of Seaſonings, you ſhould alſo uſe Onions, Garlick, Saffron, Ra⯑diſhes, Succory, Capers, pickled Cucum⯑bers, Samphire, Mangoes, and all ſorts of [21]four Pickles, eſpecially where there is Gar⯑lick in the Pickle.

As for Drink, chuſe the beſt of its Kind, not too ſtrong Wine, and Malt Liquor clear and well brewed, now and then a Cordial of Epidemick Water, vulgarly called Plague-Water, and for Variety-ſake, Treacle-Water; but all Things in Moderation.

CHAP. III. Of Antidotes, or Preſervatives.

THE next Thing in Order to be conſi⯑dered, are Antidotes, or Preſervatives againſt Peſtilential Infections. In the firſt Place, I ſhall give a Deſcription of two Amulets, which being hung about the Neck, have an extraordinary Virtue; after that, I ſhall give Receipts, how to make ſuch Medicines, as in⯑wardly taken, have had alſo very good Ef⯑fects.

Take of White Chryſtalline Arſenick, two Oun⯑ces; of Red, one Ounce.

Make of theſe two a little Cake about an Inch broad, mixed up with the White of an Egg, or a Mucilage of Gum Tragacanth, that is, with Gum Tragacanth diſſolved in Roſe-water, till it be of the Thickneſs of a Jelly.

Let this Cake be ſewed up in a Piece of clean Linnen Cloth, encloſed with Silk, and hung about the Neck, towards the Heart.

You need not put your Shirt between; for though Arſenick taken inwardly be mortal, not on Account of any occult Quality, but its corroſive Nature; and ſo, properly ſpeaking, is no Poyſon; yet being outwardly applied, it reſiſts every thing that is ſo.

CHAP. IV. Medicines to be made uſe of when any one is ſo unhappy as to be viſi⯑ted with the Diſtemper.

WHEN any one finds himſelf infec⯑ted, if Age or Strength permit, let him be let Blood as ſoon as poſſible; then let the following Medicine be immediately ap⯑plied, and the ſooner the better, becauſe this Diſtemper admits no Delays. After that let the following Draught be immediately admini⯑ſtred, and repeated according to the Strength of the Patient.

Take of white Onions, ſix in Number, which open at the Top, and take out the Heart, or Inſide, fill them with Venice Treacle, mix⯑ed with a little Powder of Dittany Root and Tormentill; put them into wet Paper, and roaſt [29]them in the Embers till they are ſoft, then p [...] Part of them to the Part affected; for this being applied like a Pultiſe to the Boyl, is a ſovereign Medicine for drawing out the Poyſon.

Take the remaining Part of theſe Onions ſo prepared, and let them be bruiſed, and mixed with Syrup of Lemons about an Ounce, and a little Vinegar, which ſqueeze through a ſtraining Cloth, and give of this Liquor luke⯑warm, three Ounces, and let the Patient be laid in a warm Bed, abſtaining from Meat and Drink ſix Hours, and by all Means take Care of ſleeping, which is ever dangerous in this Diſtemper.

This Medicine is very efficacious, expelling by Sweat the poyſonous Infection. But if you add to this a ſmall Quantity of the above⯑mentioned Electuary of Eggs, it will be ad⯑mirable.

But if the Patient be full of ill Humours, and not let Blood, or that it is not convenient to diminiſh the Blood, add a little opening Me⯑dicine to this Potion; that is, for the weaker Sort, half an Ounce of Trifera Perſica, with one Dram of the Electuary of Hamech; for thoſe of ſtronger Conſtitutions, inſtead of Tri⯑fera, add to the Confection of Hamech, an equal quantity of the of Conſerve Roſes, and the like of Electuary of India, and two Drams of Diafe⯑ricon; but in both Caſes, give the Potion hot or warm, with Scabious Water, Roſe-water, or Vinegar.

There are a great many other Medicines, which I purpoſely omit, theſe being the ſooneſt prepared, the cheapeſt, and moſt efficacious. But the laſt and moſt excellent Remedy for this Evil, is Adam's Earth, that is, the firſt matter of our Creation; for this is the One and Only Medicine, and greater than which cannot be; nor will it be a little, when purged by the Artifice of Fire, and reduced to its Simpli⯑city by a congruous Lotion. But of this enough.

He that has Ʋnderſtanding to underſtand, let him underſtand.