Thomas Willis

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 [27] chears and fortifies the Spirits, yet too much greatly disorders them, and thereby People are more expos'd to take Infection. ”

“ 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 [7] 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 ”

“ 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 [26] 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ When many People are sick, and there is not leisure to compound every Dose of these Medicines severally, there should be a large mixture of each kind made up together, which may immediately, and without trouble be distributed into Doses.
For Sweating Potions thus.
Take a Quart of Small Plague Water, of Compound Water of Scordium [44] and Pestilential Vinegar, of each a Quarter of a Pint, of Syrup of Gilloflowers two Ounces, Venice Treacle one Ounce, of Diascordium and Confectio Liberans, of each half an Ounce, Pestilential Extract, Salt of Wormwood, of each two Drams ”

“ Take of the Conserve of Woodsorrel four ounces, of the Rob of Goosberries or Rasberries two Ounces, Species Diarrhodon Abbatis two Drams, Confectionis Liberantis one Dram and a half, of Prepar'd Pearl half a Dram, Red Coral prepar'd one Dram, with a sufficient quantity [53] of Syrup of Juice of Citron: Let it be made an Opiate: The Dose is one or two Drams often in a day.
Sometimes the Plague is accompanied with dangerous Symptoms, to which if Remedies are not suddenly applied, all we do besides is to little purpose. ”

“ 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. ”

“ They arise with a hard Swelling, which ought to suppurate and break, and the Corruption to be drawn all out, by the running of the Sore for some time: These Tumors call'd Bubo's, should be ordered thus. ”

“ 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 [21] 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. ”

“ Some [54] of which, as by Urine always, and ofttimes by Stool, are mortal; none of them ever tend to good. Therefore in all such cases, Remedies must be administred which may stop Bleeding: And though Sweating and Refection of the Spirits be still the principal intention of Cure ”