Note 294 — Chapter IV · THE FOURTH VISITATION OF THE DISEASE.—1528, 1529.

I here give the whole pamphlet, which only occupies five pages. It is entitled, “The Remedy, Advice, Succour and Consolation against the dreadful, and as yet by us Germans unheard-of, speedy, and mortal Disease, called the English Sweating Sickness, from which may Almighty God mercifully protect us.”

“When the disease and sweating sets in, ask what o’clock it is, and note it. “If any one be afflicted with this pestilence (may God protect us from it!) it attacks him either with heat or with cold, and he will sweat violently; and this will take place all over his body. Some take the disease with sudden eructations, and do not sweat; and to those who do not sweat, a flower of mace with warm beer is given, and then they sweat.

“But if the pestilence and disease, from which may God preserve us! attack any one after he has lain down in bed, he must be left there; but if he has a feather bed, though a thin one, over him, cut it open and take the feathers out, that it may consist only of the ticking or covering. If it be too thin, add a cool coverlet, and let the patient lie under that, covered up to the neck, and take care that the air do not touch or strike upon his breast, or under his arms, and the soles of his feet, and let him not toss about.

“Item. Two men should attend the patient, to prevent him from uncovering himself, and from going to sleep.

“Item. The same two men must watch the patient, and guard him against sleeping: if they neglect this, and do not so prevent him, and the patient sleep, he will lose his senses, and go raving mad.

“In order, however, that he may be prevented from sleeping, take a little rosewater, and by means of a sponge or clean napkin, bathe his temples with it between the eyes and the ears, and by means of a sponge or napkin, apply pungent wine or beer vinegar to his nose, and talk constantly to him so that he fall not asleep.

“If he would drink, give him a thin beverage, which should be a little warm; and he ought not to be given more than two spoonfuls at a time.

“Item. On the patient’s head should be placed a linen night-cap, and a woollen one over it.

“Item. A warm towel should be taken, and with it the sweat wiped from the face.

“Item. Whoever is attacked in the day-time must be put to bed: if it be a man, in his stockings and breeches; if a woman, in her clothes; and let them be covered over with not more than two thin coverings; and, above all things, no feather bed; and then treat them as above written.

“Item. The disease attacks most people from great dread and from irregular living, from which a man should guard himself with great pains.

“Once for all, the patient must not have his own way; what he would have you do for him, that must not be done.

“Item. With respect to those whom it attacks in the night, and who lie naked, if they will not lie still, let them be sewn up in the sheets, and let the sheets be sewn to the bed, so that no air can come from beneath; and then cover them as before.

“Summa. Whoever can thus endure for twenty-four hours, by the blessing of God, will be cured of the sickness, and get well.

“If a man has held out for twenty-four hours, let him be taken up, and wrapped in a warm sheet lest he become cold, and throw something over his feet, and bring him to the fire; and above all things, let him not go into the air for four days, and let him avoid much and cold drink.

“If he would sleep, provided twenty-four hours have been passed, let him sleep freely; and may God preserve him!

“The Lord is Almighty over us! Amen.”

The place of publication is wanting. It was, probably, either Leipzig or Wittenberg.