Chap. 3.

1 Here are preſcribed certain approved remedies for the cure of the Peſtilence, 2 The order and manner how to uſe them.

Whoſoever ſhal perceive their bodies infected with the Plague, let them take on the firſt day of the ſickneſſe the vomit, in that order and manner as it is laid down in the firſt Chapter. And after it hath done working with them, they ſhal find themſelves as well as ever they were in their lives: for it clenſeth the ſtomack and bowels from al corrupt humours, which is one of the chiefeſt cauſes of the ſicknes. But if the ſick be weak and cannot bear a vomit, it ſhall be good to give him one dram of the foreſaid pillulæ peſtilentiales, or inſtead thereof one dram of Aloes, you may give it either in pill or in potion, according as the ſick can beſt take it, and in the working

But if it be ſo, that this courſe hath been neglected the firſt day, or beyond the time of 24 houres, it will bee in vaine to uſe it the ſecond day: Yea, it will bee dangerous, ſeeing that the infection is diſperſed by the bloud throughout all the Veines of the bodie. Therefore on the ſecond day of Viſitation it ſhall bee good to draw from the Median Veine of the arme ſo much bloud as the patient can endure to bleed: and if the ſicke hath not gone to the ſtoole during the time of his ſickneſſe, you ſhall give him either before or after bleeding this Clyſter. Take of Beets, Violet leaves, Burrage, Bugloſſe, Scabios, of each one handfull, French barley one ounce; boyle all theſe in a ſufficient quantitie of water untill it be halfe conſumed, then ſtrain it, and take three quarters of a pint of the decoction, and put to it of the Electuary of Hierapicra five or ſixe drams, oile of Rue one dram, red Sugar one ounce, the yolk of an egge, and a little ſalt; ſo make you a Clyſter thereof and adminiſter it bloud warme. Alſo you may adminiſter to the ſick this Clyſter. Boyle an handfull of Rue in a pint of poſſet drinke, and put to it a piece of ſweet butter, a little honey, the yolke of an egge, and a thimble full of ſalt; make a clyſter and adminiſter it bloud warme.

But if that the ſick amend not upon this courſe taken the ſecond day, or that this means hath not been uſed, but that hee continued ſick untill the third and fourth day, ſo that the infection hath taken hold of the vitall ſpirits, Then keeping him warme in his bed, you ſhall uſe this Cordiall to ſweat with all. Take of the water of Scabios, Burrage, Bugloſſe, and Angelica, of each halfe an ounce, the Electuary of egges two ſcruples, or one dram, of Bole, and let the ſick drink it up at once or twice: two or three ſpoonfuls hereof is ſufficient for a child. Or the poorer ſort may take two peny-worth of Treacle or Mithridate, in a quarter of a pint of Dragon water. With either of theſe Medicines you may ſweat the ſick, untill ſome tumour doth appeare, or that he commeth to know himſelfe amended. For this is the laſt medicinall refuge we have in the cure of the Plague. If you can, keep the ſick from drinking and ſleeping for the ſpace of three houres untill the medicine hath done working

And if ſignes of amendment doe appeare, doe not take him out of his bed, or let him coole ſuddenly: But let him ſweat on gently of his own accord, for it is natures ſweat following the medicine, which will doe him more good than a Kingdome. In this laſt ſweat you may give him ſome Caudle or Alebrue: & when the ſweats begin to ceaſe of themſelves, & his skin grows dry and warme, then let him ſit up by a good fire; Aire his cloathes, and ſo let him give God thanks for his life.

Adde, if any tumour appeare you may ripen it with this Emplaſter. Take ſix figs, raiſins of the Sun ſtoned half an ounce, ſalt two drams, honey one ounce, beat them all together, and heat it well with ſome oile of Camomill upon the fire, ſo ſpread it upon ſome cloth, and lay it warm to the tumour, ſhifting it every twelve houres untill it look with a white head: and when it is ripe, if it be difficult to break, lay to it ſome Gooſe dung made warme with ſome ſweet butter or ſallet oile; alſo the root of a white Lilly roſted, with ſome ſorrell, to which put a piece of ſweet butter, & apply it very warm to the ſoare, But if it will not break with this means, then you muſt open it with a penknife or lancet; elſe the corruption will rot the fleſh, even to the very bone, and when you have opened it, ſqueeze out the corruption with your hands, and put into the ſoare, a tent made with unguentum baſilicon, or Ægyptiacum, & mel roſarum, and lay upon the tent a plaſter made with Diachilon: Continue your tents untill all the corruption be drawn out, then the plaſter of Diachilon will cure it perfectly.

If any that are ancient or weak ſhall be infected with the Peſtilence, it ſhall not be neceſſary to give them any purge, vomit, or ſweat, or to let them bloud; becauſe they cannot beare the loſſe of ſo many ſpirits as are ſpent by ſuch evacuations. Therefore you may lay upon the pit of the ſtomack of the ſicke a young live puppy, and if the ſick can but ſleep the ſpace of three or foure houres, they ſhall recover preſently, and the dog ſhall die of the Plague. This I have known approved; and I do believe that it will be a cure for all leane, ſpare, and weake bodies both yong and old: provided, that the dog be yonger then the ſick.