We can anticipate the onset of a plague—that it may soon be upon us—if there are notable deviations in the air and seasonal patterns from their natural states, akin to the phenomena previously discussed. Indicators include frequent and persistent meteors or sulfurous thunderstorms that contaminate the air, fruits, seeds, or legumes being infested with worms, and birds abandoning their nests, eggs, or young without any apparent reason. A troubling sign is also when women experience widespread miscarriages, which can be attributed to constantly inhaling tainted air that is harmful to both the embryo and the source of life, leading to suffocation and consequent expulsion.
These atmospheric anomalies, however, are not the sole culprits in air pollution. Additional corruption may arise from the sun drawing up foul exhalations and poisonous vapors from the earth, water, or decaying bodies. This unnatural blend can easily taint the air, which is naturally susceptible to change due to its thinness and moisture. Such corruption has historically given rise to various epidemic diseases that widely afflict populations, adapting to the specific forms of pollution present. An illustrative case is the infamous catarrh of 1510, which spread across the globe and wreaked havoc in the cities and towns of France, marked by severe headaches (leading the French to call it “Cuculla”), chest tightness, and difficulty breathing, along with a persistent fever and, at times, delirium.
The disease, although affecting many more individuals than it claimed, proved particularly deadly for those subjected to bloodletting or purging. Its virulence and an unusual brand of malignancy underscored its pestilential nature.
Such was the case with the English Sweating Sickness, also known as the Sweating Fever, which, with great alarm, swept through the lower parts of Germany and the Low Countries from 1525 to 1530, primarily during the autumn months.
Once this virulent disease entered a city, it would abruptly incapacitate two or three hundred individuals in a single day, before moving on to another location. Those afflicted experienced severe languor, often collapsing into unconsciousness, and while in bed, they would sweat profusely, accompanied by a fever characterized by a rapid, irregular pulse. This sweating persisted until the illness abated, typically within one or two days. However, even after recovery, many continued to feel weak for an extended period; most endured episodes of heart palpitations that lasted two to three years, and for some, these symptoms persisted throughout their lives.
Initially, the disease proved deadly, claiming many lives before its severity was fully understood. However, as practitioners gained insight into effective treatments, they discovered that those who maintained their sweating and fortified themselves with cordials experienced recovery. Concurrently, during certain periods, a variety of other infectious conditions emerged, including putrid fevers, dysentery, bloody flux, catarrh, cough, delirium, quinsy, pleurisy, lung inflammation, eye inflammation, apoplexy, lethargy, smallpox, measles, scabies, carbuncles, and malignant pustules.
Thus, the nature of the plague is not uniform; it manifests in diverse forms. This variability is why numerous terms have been coined to describe it, corresponding to the myriad symptoms and effects it produces, as well as the different types of putrefaction and the hidden qualities of the air that contribute to its spread.
It is claimed that when a plague approaches, mushrooms begin to grow in greater abundance from the earth, and various types of poisonous insects such as spiders, caterpillars, butterflies, grasshoppers, beetles, hornets, wasps, flies, scorpions, snails, locusts, toads, and worms—creatures often born from decay—emerge in large numbers. Additionally, wild animals, weary of the noxious vapors infiltrating their lairs and caves, vacate these shelters. Creatures like moles, toads, vipers, snakes, lizards, asps, and even crocodiles are observed fleeing and relocating in large groups. These animals, along with others, possess an inherent ability granted by God and the instinct of nature to anticipate weather changes such as rain, showers, fair weather, as well as seasonal shifts like spring, summer, autumn, and winter. They communicate these forecasts through singing, chirping, crying, flying, playing, and wing-beating, among other signs. Similarly, they have a heightened sense of an impending plague. Furthermore, the bodies of those less cautious, who are suffocated by the toxic air rising from the earth, can be found lifeless, not only in their dens but also scattered across open fields.
These hazardous vapors, tainted not merely by simple decay but by a hidden malignancy, are drawn from the earth’s depths into the air by the sun and stars, condensing into clouds. When these clouds descend upon crops, trees, and grass, they infect and corrupt everything the earth yields, killing the creatures that consume these plants—especially brutish animals quicker than humans, as they graze with heads lowered towards the ground, the very source of this poison. Therefore, experienced farmers, guided by long-standing knowledge, refrain from driving their cattle or sheep to pasture until the sun’s rays have dispersed the harmful dew lingering on the branches, leaves, herbs, crops, and fruits.
Conversely, a pestilence arising from harmful celestial influences, due to certain unfavorable alignments of the stars, proves more detrimental to humans and birds, as they dwell closer to the heavens.
Having identified the signs that foreshadow a pestilence, we must now examine the methods by which we can avoid its imminent threat and protect ourselves. The ancients believed that the most reliable form of prevention was to quickly relocate to areas far removed from the source of infection and to delay returning as much as possible. For those who, due to responsibilities or engagements, cannot change their residence, two main precautions are necessary: First, fortify the body and its vital parts against the daily incursions of poison, or the infectious and venomous air. Second, diminish the potency of this threat so it cannot embed its virulence in the body. This can be achieved by neutralizing the excessive qualities of the air with opposing forces—cooling remedies if it is excessively hot, and warming ones if too cold. However, this alone is insufficient. We must also cleanse and purify the air’s noxious malignancy through scents and fragrances that counteract the poison.
The body will be better fortified and resilient to infected air if it is devoid of excess humors, achievable through purging and bleeding. Additionally, adopting an appropriate diet is crucial, avoiding excessive variety in foods, as well as hot and moist substances, or anything prone to spoil in the stomach; steer clear of foods that can cause blockages, such as those prepared by confectioners. Avoid overindulgence and intoxication, both of which undermine the body’s strength, which is maintained through moderate consumption of nourishing foods.
Engage in moderate exercise in clean air, free from any venomous taint, before meals for optimal health.
Ensure that the belly undergoes proper evacuation, whether through natural means or medical intervention.
Strengthen the heart, the vital seat of life, along with the other organs of the digestive system, by administering cordials and antidotes. These remedies should be applied and consumed in various forms, which will be detailed further on, including poultices, ointments, plasters, waters, pills, powders, tablets, opiates, fumigations, and similar preparations.
Select a pure and unpolluted atmosphere, situated far from foul-smelling areas, as such an environment is essential for preserving life, rejuvenating, and restoring vital spirits. In contrast, a damp or misty atmosphere tainted with noxious fumes can dull the spirits, diminish the appetite, cause fatigue and a pallid complexion, strain the heart, and foster numerous diseases.
The northern wind is considered beneficial due to its cold and dry nature. In contrast, the southern wind, being warm and humid, can induce lethargy and dullness, weaken the body, and open the pores, making them susceptible to harmful influences. The western wind is also deemed unhealthy, as it shares characteristics with the southern wind. Consequently, it is advisable to keep windows closed on the side of the house facing these winds, while opening those on the northern and eastern sides, unless circumstances, such as an outbreak of plague, dictate otherwise.
To maintain a healthy environment, light clear fires in all the living quarters of the house and infuse the air with aromatic substances such as frankincense, myrrh, benzoin, ladanum, styrax, roses, myrtle leaves, lavender, rosemary, sage, savory, wild thyme, marjoram, broom, pineapples, fir pieces, juniper berries, cloves, and other perfumes. Ensure your clothes are aired out in the same fragrant atmosphere.
Some believe that keeping a goat in the home provides significant protection against infectious air. The potent odor emitted by the goat can fill the space, repelling harmful air. This principle also applies to pleasant aromas. Moreover, it is suggested that those who are hungry are more susceptible to plague than those who have eaten in moderation. For not only is the body fortified by food, but the vapors from digestion fill the body’s passages, potentially blocking the easier ingress of tainted air to the heart.
The general populace offers yet another rationale for keeping a goat, suggesting that one unpleasant odor can drive away another, much like one wedge driving out another. This notion recalls a tale attributed to Alexander Benedictus, who recounts an instance of a Scythian physician who successfully ended a plague spawned by air contamination. To achieve this, the physician ordered the slaughter of all dogs, cats, and similar animals within the city, casting their carcasses into the streets. This influx of a new, putrid miasma effectively displaced the old plague’s foul presence, ultimately leading to the cessation of the epidemic. It is important to recognize that poisons not only possess an inherent aversion to their antidotes but may also negate the effects of other toxins.
During a plague’s intensification, it is advisable to avoid going outdoors before sunrise. We must exercise patience until the sun has risen, allowing its radiant beams to purify the air and disperse the damp, nighttime contaminants that typically linger, especially in low-lying areas and valleys.
Public gatherings and large assemblies should be strictly avoided.
If a plague begins in the summer and seems to be exacerbated by the season’s heat, it is advisable to undertake any necessary travel at night rather than during the day. The sun’s heat intensifies the infection, lending it the strength and subtlety needed to easily penetrate the body. Conversely, at night, people are more robust, and the air is denser, which can mitigate the risk. A different approach is required if the disease derives its vigor and speed from cold conditions.
Regardless, it is important to avoid exposure to the moon’s rays, particularly during the full moon. At this time, our bodies tend to be more languid and weak, accumulating more wasteful humors, much like trees, which should be felled in the waning phase of the moon for optimal results.
After a gentle walk around your room, it is essential to employ methods that strengthen the principal organs by invigorating your heat and vitality. Ensuring that the pathways leading to these organs are reinforced will create a barrier, blocking external infections. For those who experience no adverse effects from garlic, such as headaches or inflammation, garlic serves as an excellent preventive and antidote against pestilential fogs and nocturnal dampness. This is particularly true for rural folk and those accustomed to its effects. Consuming garlic in the morning with a good glass of wine allows its beneficial properties to rapidly spread throughout the body, fortifying it promptly against potential infections.
When it comes to water during a plague, if the disease is believed to arise from the contamination of the air, it is essential to completely avoid rainwater, as it is likely tainted by airborne contagions. In this case, spring water and deep well water are considered the safest options.
However, if the illness is thought to originate from vapors emitted by the earth, then rainwater may be a suitable choice. Regardless of the source, it is always safest to purify any type of water by boiling it. Opt for water that is clear and pure in appearance, devoid of any taste or odor, and that responds quickly to changes in temperature. This approach maximizes safety and ensures the water’s integrity amid the threat of infection.
For those who struggle to eat without considerable effort and who are not fond of breakfast, it is essential to strengthen the heart with an antidote against the virulence of infection, particularly after evacuating wastes before leaving home. Among the recommended remedies, Aqua Theriacalis, or Treacle-water, is highly regarded. A mixture of two ounces of Treacle-water with an equal amount of Sack is advised; consuming this combination and rubbing it on the nostrils, mouth, and ears can provide significant benefits. Treacle-water not only fortifies the heart and expels toxins but also serves as both a preventive measure and a treatment for the disease itself, as it facilitates the release of poisons through perspiration. It is best prepared in June, when the vital heat of the sun enhances the efficacy of all medicinal ingredients.
The preparation of this remedy is as follows: Combine one ounce each of the roots of Gentian, Cyperus, Tormentil, Diptam (or Fraxinella), and Elecampane. Additionally, take half a handful each of the leaves of Mullein, Carduus Benedictus, Devil’s Bit, Burnet, Scabious, and Sheep’s Sorrel; include a small quantity of Rue tops and one ounce of Myrtle berries. Also, gather one ounce each of red rose petals, and the flowers of Borage, Bugloss, and St. John’s Wort.
All the ingredients should be cleaned, dried, and then macerated for twenty-four hours in one pound of white wine or Malmsey, along with some rose water or sorrel water. After this process, transfer the mixture into a glass vessel and add four ounces each of Treacle and Mithridate. Distill the concoction using a water bath and collect the distilled liquid in a glass vial. To this, incorporate two drams of saffron and half an ounce each of bole Armenick, Terra Sigillata, yellow sandalwood, shavings of ivory, and hartshorn. Seal the vial tightly and place it in sunlight for eight to ten days.
It is recommended to take the prescribed dosage each morning as needed. This remedy is safe for infants and pregnant women. To enhance its flavor, strain the mixture through an Hippocras bag, adding sugar and cinnamon for a more palatable experience.
Some people believe they are adequately protected by holding or chewing a root of Elecampane, Zedoary, or Angelica in their mouth.
Others adopt the practice of drinking one dram of bruised Gentian root, which has been soaked overnight in two ounces of white wine, every morning.
Different individuals choose to consume wormwood wine instead.
Additionally, some people prefer to mix one dram of Terra Sigillata or Hartshorn with a bit of saffron into a softly boiled egg, followed by two ounces of wine.
There are also those who infuse ingredients such as bole Armoniac, the roots of Gentian and Tormentil, Diptam, juniper berries, cloves, mace, cinnamon, and saffron into aqua vitae and strong white wine. This mixture is then distilled using a Bain-marie method.
This cordial water, as detailed below, possesses remarkable virtues. Begin by taking three drams each of the roots of long and round Aristolochia, Tormentil, and Diptam. Add two drams of Zedoary, and one dram each of Lignum Aloes and yellow Saunders.
Next, include half an ounce each of the leaves of Scordium, St. John’s Wort, sorrel, rue, and sage. Add three drams each of bay and juniper berries, along with one dram of citron seeds. For flavor and preservation, incorporate two drams each of cloves, mace, and nutmeg.
In addition, gather one ounce each of mastic, olibanum, bole Armoniac, Terra Sigillata, along with shavings of hartshorn and ivory. Include a scruple of saffron, and one ounce each of the conserves of roses, borage flowers, water lilies, and aged treacle. Add half a dram of camphor, half a pint of aqua vitae, and two and a half pints of white wine.
Combine all these ingredients to create a distillation using a Bain-marie. The application of this distilled water is comparable to that of treacle water.
The following electuary is highly effective. Begin by taking three ounces of the finest treacle, along with one and a half drams each of juniper berries and Carduus seeds. Add half an ounce of prepared bole Armoniac and one dram each of the powders from the Electuary de Gemmis, Diamargaritum frigidum, hartshorn, and red coral. Combine these ingredients with enough syrup made from the rinds and juice of pome-citrons to form a liquid electuary resembling an opiate. Each morning, consume an amount equivalent to a hazelnut, followed by two drams of water made from scabious, cherries, Carduus Benedictus, or similar cordial substances, or take with strong wine.
Another beneficial preparation is an opiate that can also be transformed into tablets. Gather two drams each of the roots of angelica, gentian, zedoary, and elecampane; half a dram each of citron and sorrel seeds; one scruple each of dried citron rinds, cinnamon, bay and juniper berries, and saffron; an ounce each of conserves of roses and borage. Use sufficient fine hard sugar to form tablets weighing half a dram each. Consume one tablet two hours before meals. Alternatively, create an opiate using equal parts of borage conserves and Mel Anthosatum, then incorporate the remaining ingredients, dried and powdered.
Moreover, you can prepare another opiate using half an ounce each of the roots of valerian, tormentil, and Diptam, as well as the leaves of rue. Add half a dram each of saffron, mace, and nutmeg; half an ounce of prepared bole Armoniac; and enough conserve of roses and lemon syrup to achieve the desired consistency.
For a different variation, use one and a half drams each of the roots of both Aristolochias, gentian, tormentil, and Diptam; three drams of ginger; two drams each of the leaves of rue, sage, mint, and pennyroyal; four scruples each of bay and juniper berries and citron seeds; two drams each of mace, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon; one dram each of lignum aloes and yellow saunders; two scruples each of male frankincense, mastic, and shavings of hartshorn and ivory; half a dram of saffron; and one dram each of bole Armoniac, Terra Sigillata, red coral, and pearl. Add one ounce each of conserves of roses, borage flowers, water lilies, and aged treacle, along with one and a quarter pounds of loaf sugar. Near the end of the preparation, incorporate two drams of Confectio Alkermes and one scruple of camphor dissolved in rose water. Craft the opiate following traditional methods, with a dose ranging from half a dram to half a scruple.
Treacle and Mithridate, when properly compounded, surpass all cordial medicines in effectiveness. For every half ounce of each, add one and a half ounces of conserves made from roses, borage, or violets, along with three drams of prepared bole Armoniac. Mix these ingredients thoroughly to create a harmonious conserve. The recommended dosage is the size of a hazelnut, taken each morning.
When selecting treacle, it is essential to choose one that is at least four years old but no older than twelve. While slightly newer treacle is deemed more suitable for individuals with a choleric temperament, aged treacle is preferable for phlegmatic individuals and the elderly. Initially, the potency of the opium in the mixture remains at its fullest for one year. However, as it ages, the strength gradually diminishes, so that over time, the entire composition becomes increasingly warming.
Additionally, the confection of Alkermes is highly effective, serving both as a preventative measure against this disease and as a means of treatment.
Chewing a piece of rhubarb the size of a hazelnut, along with a clove, is believed to ward off the approach of pestilential air. An alternative mixture is as follows:
Combine one dram each of preserved citron and orange peels, with three drams each of rose conserve and borage root conserve. Add half an ounce of citron seeds, one dram each of anise and fennel seeds, and four scruples of angelica root. Sweeten with sugar of roses as needed. Transform this mixture into a confection, enrobe it in gold leaf, and consume a small amount from a spoon before venturing outdoors each morning.
Alternatively, soak pine nut kernels and pistachios for six hours in a mixture of scabious and rose water, using two ounces of each. Combine with half a pound of almonds blanched in the same waters, along with one and a half drams each of preserved citron and orange peels, and four scruples of angelica root. Form this blend into a marzipan-like confection or similar treat, and frequently hold a small piece in your mouth.
For tablets that are highly effective in such cases, take half a dram each of the roots of dittany, tormentil, valerian, elecampane, and sea holly. Add one scruple each of bole Armoniac and Terra Sigillata, as well as one scruple each of camphor, cinnamon, sorrel seeds, and zedoary. Include two scruples of the Diamargaritum Frigidum electuary species, along with one dram each of rose conserve, borage root conserve, preserved citron peel, mithridate, and treacle. Dissolve fine sugar in scabious and thistle water until sufficient, and mold the mixture into tablets weighing either a dram or half a dram. Consume these tablets in the morning before meals.
The pills of rufus are regarded as highly effective preservatives, with Rufus himself claiming that he has never encountered anyone who fell ill while using them. The composition of these pills is as follows:
Begin by taking half a dram of the finest aloes, two drams of gum ammoniacum, two and a half drams of myrrh, two drams of mastic, and seven grains of saffron. Combine these ingredients and incorporate them with lemon juice or lemon syrup to form a cohesive mass. Store this mixture in a leather pouch.
The recommended dosage is half a dram each morning, taken two to three hours before meals. After consumption, it is advisable to drink sorrel water, which, due to its tartness and light composition, helps mitigate the effects of malignancy or putrefaction. Experience shows that consuming or chewing sorrel renders the sting of scorpions harmless.
Each ingredient in the formulation serves a specific purpose: aloes cleanse and purify, myrrh combats putrefaction, mastic provides strength, and saffron invigorates and enlivens the spirit, particularly the vital and animal faculties that govern the body.
The following pills are also highly esteemed for their effectiveness. To prepare them, use one ounce of aloes, half an ounce of myrrh, one scruple of saffron, two drams of agaric in trochiscs, one dram of powdered rhubarb, two scruples of cinnamon, one and a half drams of mastic, and twelve grains of citron seeds. Grind all these ingredients to a suitable powder and form a mass using the syrup of maidenhair. Use this preparation as previously directed.
Should the mass begin to harden, soften the pills intended for immediate consumption with lemon syrup.
For a different formulation: take two ounces of washed aloes, one dram of saffron, half an ounce of myrrh, one ounce of ammoniacum dissolved in white wine, one dram each of honey of roses, zedoary, and red sanders, two drams of prepared bole Armeniac, half an ounce of red coral, and half a scruple of camphor. Craft these ingredients into pills following proper methods. However, individuals prone to hemorrhoids should avoid or rarely use pills containing significant amounts of aloes, as they may exacerbate the condition.
It is said that King Mithridates stated in his writings that anyone who consumes a quantity equivalent to that of a hazelnut of the following preservative and then drinks a small amount of wine will be protected from poison for that day. To prepare this remedy, take two very dry walnuts, two figs, twenty leaves of rue, and three grains of salt. Grind these ingredients together until well combined, and use as previously indicated.
This remedy is also believed to be beneficial for those who have been bitten or stung by a venomous creature, primarily due to the inclusion of rue in the mixture. However, it is important to advise pregnant women against using this medicine, as rue is known to be hot and dry to the third degree. Consequently, it is thought to purge the womb and stimulate menstruation, which could divert nourishment away from the fetus.
From the variety of available remedies, each individual may choose one that suits their preference and take an amount that is sufficient for their needs.
Medicines with potent and beneficial properties against the plague should not be neglected and ought to be used both externally and carried in one’s hand. Such medicines include all aromatic, astringent, or spirituous substances, as they possess the ability to repel the poisonous and pestilential air from entering the body while strengthening the heart and brain. Among these are Rue, Balm, Rosemary, Scordium, Sage, Wormwood, Cloves, Nutmegs, and Saffron, as well as the roots of Angelica and Lovage. These should be soaked overnight in sharp vinegar and aquavit, then tied into a knot about the size of an egg. Alternatively, they can be carried in a sponge soaked in the same infusion. A sponge has an unparalleled ability to retain the spirituous virtue and potency of aromatic substances, making it particularly useful for keeping pleasant scents near the nose or for applying epithemes and fomentations to the heart.
Sweet remedies should be adjusted in warmth or coolness according to the season and the specific nature of the pestilence. For instance, during the summer, a blend of cinnamon and cloves, ground together with a hint of saffron in equal parts, should be infused and macerated in vinegar of roses and rose water. This mixture can be used to soak a sponge, which, when wrapped in a clean linen cloth, can be carried in hand for frequent inhalation.
To prepare another aromatic remedy, take half a handful of wormwood, ten cloves, and the roots of gentian and angelica—two drams each. Combine these with two ounces each of vinegar and rose water, and one dram each of treacle and mithridate. Thoroughly beat and mix all the ingredients, then dip a sponge into the mixture for use as previously described. Alternatively, these ingredients can be placed in boxes made from fragrant woods like juniper, cedar, or cypress to serve the same purpose.
Pomanders are among the easiest aromatic items to carry. To create one, you will need the following ingredients: two drams each of yellow sandalwood, mace, citron peel, rose leaves, and myrtle leaves; half a dram each of benzoin, labdanum, and storax; two scruples each of cinnamon and saffron; one scruple each of camphor and ambergris; and three grains of musk. Combine these with rose water and dissolved tragacanth to form the pomander. Alternatively, you can use one ounce each of red rose leaves, water lily flowers, and violets, along with half an ounce each of the three sandalwoods, coriander seeds, and citron peel. Add one dram of camphor. Grind all the ingredients into a powder, and using rose water and tragacanth, shape them into a pomander.
For winter, the pomander should be formulated slightly differently. Use one and a half drams each of storax and benzoin, half a scruple of musk, two drams each of cloves, lavender, and cyperus, and two and a half drams each of the root of orris (also known as Florence iris) and calamus aromaticus. Add three drams of ambergris. Mix these with gum tragacanth dissolved in rose water and aquavitae to form the winter pomander.
As an alternative, you can also carry fragrant powders composed of ingredients such as ambergris, storax, orris root, nutmeg, cinnamon, mace, cloves, saffron, benzoin, musk, camphor, rose petals, violets, sweet flag (juncus odoratus), marjoram, and similar substances. Mix these powders to create a pleasing aromatic blend.
To create a fragrant powder for a sachet, start by combining the following ingredients: two drams of orris root, half an ounce each of cyperus, calamus aromaticus, and red roses, half a dram of cloves, one dram of storax, and eight grains of musk. Mix these components together to form a powder suitable for placing in a bag.
Alternatively, you may choose this blend: two ounces of orris root, one ounce each of red rose leaves, white sandalwood, and storax, one dram of cyperus, one ounce of calamus aromaticus, half an ounce of marjoram, three drams of cloves, half a dram of lavender, two drams of coriander seeds, half a scruple of quality musk, and one dram each of labdanum and benzoin. Add two drams each of nutmeg and cinnamon. Grind all the ingredients into a fine powder and sew it into a sachet.
Additionally, for heart health, it is beneficial to place a sachet over the chest area. Fill it with yellow sandalwood, mace, cloves, cinnamon, saffron, and treacle. These ingredients should be thoroughly mixed and then sprinkled with strong vinegar and rose water during the summer months or with strong wine and muscadine in the winter.
These fragrant, spirit-laden aromatic substances possess remarkable virtues that strengthen the body’s vital parts and stimulate the expulsive faculties to eliminate toxins.
In contrast, foul and unpleasant odors can induce nausea and weaken one’s energies, clearly demonstrating the absurdity of the belief that advises individuals in pestilential environments to inhale the putrid vapors of drains and latrines, especially in the early morning.
However, merely carrying these aromatic preservatives is not sufficient. It is also highly beneficial to cleanse the entire body using vinegar derived from the decoction of juniper and bay berries, along with roots of gentian, marigolds, St. John’s Wort, and similar herbs, with treacle or mithridate dissolved in it. Vinegar is an adversary to all poisons, whether hot or cold, as it resists and prevents decay due to its cold and dry nature. It preserves inanimate substances like meat, vegetables, fruits, and many other items from putrefaction for extended periods. There is no need to fear pore obstruction when bathing the body in vinegar; its subtle composition and the spices boiled in it possess the ability to open and cleanse.
For those who perceive bathing the entire body with vinegar as detrimental, I recommend washing only specific areas: the armpits, the region of the heart, the temples, the groin, and the genital area, as these zones have a remarkable connection to the body’s vital and noble parts.
If bathing is still unappealing, consider using the following soothing ointment. Combine four ounces of rose oil, two ounces of spike oil, and one and a half ounces each of powdered cinnamon and cloves. Additionally, incorporate half an ounce of benzoin, six grains of musk, and half a dram of treacle. Add one and a half drams of Venice turpentine and enough wax to achieve a smooth consistency, thereby creating a gentle unguent.
For further enhancement, you may also introduce a few drops of oil of mastic, sage, or cloves into the ears, accompanied by a hint of civet or musk.
Venery should be avoided, as it weakens the body’s vital energies, depletes the spirit, constricts the respiratory passages, and ultimately diminishes overall physical strength. Additionally, a sedentary lifestyle must be avoided, along with excessive eating, as these habits lead to obstructions, the corruption of bodily fluids, and a predisposition to decay and disease, including pestilence.
Women should take great care to ensure that their menstrual cycles occur regularly, as any interruption can lead to the accumulation of impurities, which may contaminate other bodily fluids. Individuals with fistulas or chronic ulcers should avoid healing them during periods of pestilence, as it is more advisable to create new outlets in less critical areas of the body. These channels serve as necessary pathways to drain the body’s impurities efficiently.
Hemorrhoids, bleeding, and other customary bodily evacuations should not be halted unless they become excessively profuse. During such times, it is vital to avoid contact with potential sources of pestilence, such as hemp, flax, quilts, and coverings used by those who have suffered from the plague, as well as leather goods, hangings, and clothing. One should also maintain a significant distance from churchyards, particularly those where the remains of plague victims are not buried deeply, like in the Church of the Innocents in Paris, where it has been known for dogs to disturb the graves.
Furthermore, it is advisable to steer clear of execution sites, tanneries, fish and meat markets, dyers, candle makers, cloth finishers, farriers, skinners, and locations where metals are cast or worked. Filthy areas, especially those contaminated by swine, privies, stagnant and muddy waters, and anything else that emits a foul odor, should be kept far from your residence. Waste should never be disposed of in areas used for the excrement of plague victims.
Avoid associating with individuals who frequently tend to the plague-stricken, including physicians, pharmacists, surgeons, nurses, grave diggers, and pallbearers. Even if they themselves are not infected, they may carry the contagion on their garments, having emerged from pestilent environments. This can be likened to individuals who have briefly visited a perfumery, as the scent clings to their clothes, leading others to assume they carry perfumes.
Additionally, one should avoid prolonged periods of wakefulness and ensure sound sleep while managing emotional states, particularly avoiding anger, hunger, and thirst. Traveling under the sun should also be minimized, as it can often trigger a recurring fever, which, in many cases, has developed into a more serious plague. The dilation of skin pores during such conditions can facilitate the entry of contaminated air, thus predisposing the body to putrefaction.
Magistrates must exercise particular diligence to ensure that no filth accumulates in either private or public spaces. It is essential that every household maintains cleanliness, and that the streets are kept free of debris. Waste, including excrement and the carcasses of dead animals such as dogs and cats, must be promptly removed from the city. This is particularly important because these animals often lick or devour the waste of those afflicted with illness; thus, they pose a risk of spreading the plague by entering healthy homes.
To mitigate this risk, magistrates should take decisive action by either removing these animals from the city or killing them, ensuring they are buried deep underground. Additionally, all sources of water—wells, springs, and rivers—must be thoroughly cleansed to eliminate any impurities.
The sale of musty grains, tainted meats, and spoiled fish must be strictly prohibited, as these could contribute to the spread of disease. Furthermore, public baths and hot houses should be banned, as they can weaken individuals, making their bodies more susceptible to the noxious air associated with the plague.
Finally, the care of those infected with the plague should be entrusted to knowledgeable, skilled, and trustworthy physicians, apothecaries, and surgeons. Through these measures, magistrates can significantly contribute to the health and safety of the community during such perilous times.
Individuals identified as having the plague should be segregated from those who are healthy and sent to designated facilities. This approach is more compassionate and effective than confining each person to their own home. Authorities should ensure that the belongings of those afflicted with the plague are not sold to prevent contamination.
To avoid exposing others to risk, houses affected by the disease must be clearly marked with visible signs. Similarly, surgeons and other caregivers attending to the sick should wear conspicuous identifiers, warning passersby of the potential hazard. Additionally, it is crucial to expedite the burial of the deceased, as their bodies decompose more rapidly and severely than those who die of other causes. Neither birds nor scavengers will touch these bodies, even if left unburied, for they would be quickly led to their demise by doing so.
The city’s gatekeepers must be vigilant, ensuring that no infected individuals or those from contaminated areas enter the city, as a single case can swiftly lead to a widespread outbreak. This is akin to how a single spark can ignite a large fire, or one diseased sheep can contaminate an entire flock.
Furthermore, authorities should recognize that nothing purifies the air more effectively than fire. Therefore, they must mandate the continuous burning of fires made with fragrant and potent materials such as juniper, turpentine, and broom. This measure will help cleanse the air of foulness and infection.
In contrast, Levinus reports that during plague outbreaks, the soldiers stationed at the garrison in Torney would fire their cannons loaded only with gunpowder, directing the muzzles toward the city. This practice was conducted twice a day, both morning and evening, with the intention of dispersing the noxious mists that permeated the air. The force of the exploding powder would create a vigorous movement in the atmosphere, aiming to purify and improve the contaminated air.
Furthermore, it is essential to caution magistrates to remain vigilant regarding a sinister and immoral group of caretakers and nurses. Enticed by the lure of profit—particularly during times of plague when they can earn significant sums—these individuals engage in reprehensible behavior. They smear the walls, doors, thresholds, door knockers, and locks with excrement and unguents sourced from plague victims, facilitating the spread of contagion. Consequently, after infecting others, they abandon their posts, allowing the disease to take hold, and leaving the affected families in disarray. In some cases, these unscrupulous actors have resorted to strangling those who lie on the brink of death, fearing that their survivors might reveal their transgressions.
I recall that such events occurred in Lyons in the year 1565.
It is the responsibility of magistrates, especially in times of great necessity for the afflicted community, to appoint knowledgeable, skilled, and trustworthy physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries—individuals who prioritize the law of God over mere financial gain—to care for and treat those stricken by illness. It is essential to avoid hiring surgeons and apothecaries who respond to public proclamations made with the sound of a trumpet, as these individuals often seek freedom from their obligations without undergoing proper examination or offering any form of remuneration. Instead, they should be incentivized through gifts and fair compensation, not only in times of urgent need but also once the plague has subsided. Those who are drawn to the profession solely through public proclamations in pursuit of freedom are frequently unskilled and inexperienced. Aware of their own inadequacies and apprehensive about the scrutiny of their professional masters, they are willing to take on dangerous risks in their quest for liberation.
It is far worse and more dangerous to fall into the hands of such individuals than into the hands of thieves and murderers, for the latter can potentially be evaded through providence or strength. In contrast, we actively seek out the former, exposing ourselves to their care, and thereby risk being butchered due to their lack of skill. Indeed, due to the failures of our times and the negligence of magistrates, we have reached a point where honest and learned physicians and surgeons, if they take up such duties, are often compelled to do so by the magistrate under threat of banishment or fines. As a result, they perform their duties reluctantly, showing less vigilance, enthusiasm, and dedication in caring for the sick. Their reluctance stems from memories of past instances where, after the plague had subsided, magistrates were miserly and neglectful in rewarding those brave enough to face danger. Consequently, these professionals may find themselves sitting idly at home for the rest of their lives, shunned and feared by the public simply because they once treated plague victims. Therefore, I urge magistrates to be prudent, trustworthy, and generous in selecting honest, knowledgeable, and skilled individuals to undertake this challenging and perilous task.
First and foremost, they must firmly believe that their calling to this duty is not by human decision but by divine ordinance, with God orchestrating the actions and intentions of men according to His will. With this assurance, they should approach the treatment of the plague with confidence, knowing that our fate, life, and death reside in the hands of the Lord. Nevertheless, they must not disregard the remedies provided by God for prevention, as ignoring these gifts would be tantamount to neglecting the Divine Giver Himself, who bestows upon us numerous good and excellent benefits.
Initially, they should cleanse the body by employing purging and bloodletting to remove humors prone to putrefaction, which may harbor the seeds of the plague. They should create two small incisions, using cauterization, to act as channels for evacuating the excrementitious humors accumulating within us daily. Place one incision on the right arm slightly below the deltoid muscle, and the other three fingers’ width below the knee on the inner side of the left leg. Experience has shown this method to be a highly effective form of prevention.
Lastly, they should cleanse their entire bodies using the following lotion.
Prescription:
To prepare this remedy, gather the following ingredients:
1. Rose Water and Rose Vinegar or Elderflower Extract, along with White Wine or Malvasia: 6 pounds each.
2. Roots of Elecampane, Angelica, Gentian, and Bistort: 3 ounces each.
3. Juniper Berries and Ivy: 2 ounces each.
4. Sage, Rosemary, Wormwood, and Rue: 1 drachm each.
5. Citrus Peel: ½ ounce.
6. Theriaca and Mithridat: 1 ounce each.
Ensure to follow this format for clarity and organization while maintaining essential details.
The ingredients should be coarsely crushed and combined. Allow the mixture to simmer over low heat, ensuring it does not boil vigorously. Once prepared, store it for the intended use previously described.
This refined recipe maintains the essential components and directions while enhancing clarity and readability.
In preparing remedies for application to the heart region, consider the following:
The previously mentioned epithemes, unguents, and sachets should be applied consistently to the area around the heart. According to an observation by John Baptist Theodosius, arsenic can be beneficially applied near the heart. The purpose of this is to gradually acclimate the heart to poisons, thereby reducing potential harm from future exposure, as these poisons tend to first attack this critical region.
In addressing the need for protective clothing when attending to the sick, we recommend the following guidelines:
1. Garment Selection: Attire should be crafted from materials such as chamelet, Dutch serge, satin, taffeta, or similar fine fabrics. Should these options be unavailable, choose alternative elegant materials that are not cloth or frieze, as these may absorb harmful airs and subsequently carry them into the atmosphere, potentially infecting the healthy.
2. Changing Clothes: Individuals must frequently change their garments, including shirts and other linens, ensuring they are perfumed with aromatic substances to counteract any noxious odors.
3. Approach to the Sick: When approaching an ill person, exercise utmost caution. Speak carefully and maintain a position with your face angled away from the patient, to avoid inhaling the exhalations, vapors, or any foul emissions.
4. Personal Account: I recall a time when I was summoned to attend to a patient suffering from the plague. I disregarded precautions and approached too closely, hastily removing garments to better examine a bubo located in the patient’s groin, as well as two carbuncles on his abdomen. This action inadvertently unleashed a thick, putrid vapor from the abscess, akin to a foul puddle, which I inhaled.
As a result, I fainted and collapsed. Upon regaining consciousness, the world spun around me, and I was on the verge of losing consciousness again until I managed to grasp the bedpost for support. Fortunately, I experienced no pain or distress within my heart, nor signs of palpitation or weakness, suggesting that the animal spirits were merely affected by the toxic vapor without damage to the heart’s substance.
This was further indicated by a violent sneezing fit, during which I expelled multiple times and subsequently bled from the nose. I believe this discharge alleviated me from any lingering effects of malignancy.
5. Advice for Others: Let this experience serve as a cautionary tale. Others should heed my warning and exercise greater prudence to avoid suffering a fate worse than mine.
We must not delay in pronouncing someone to have the Plague until there is pain and a tumor under their armpits or in their groin, or until spots—vulgarly called “Tokens”—appear all over the body, or carbuncles arise. Many die from the venomous malignity before these signs manifest. Thus, the most reliable indicators of this disease are derived from the heart, the seat of life, which is primarily and first attacked by the force of the poison.
Therefore, those infected with the Pestilence often suffer from fainting spells; their pulse is weaker and slower than that of others, though it may be more frequent, especially during the night. They feel prickings all over their body, as if pierced by needles; their nostrils itch, particularly due to the malignant vapors rising from the lower body to the upper parts. The chest burns, and the heart aches underneath the left breast, with difficulty in breathing, a cough, and pain in the heart accompanied by a swelling of the hypochondria, or sides of the abdomen, distended by the excessive vapors produced by the feverish heat. The patient may appear as if suffering from tympany.
They are troubled by nausea and often experience painful vomiting, which can produce green and black matter, varying in color according to the state of the lower digestive tract. This occurs because the stomach is drawn into a connection with the heart due to the proximity and shared vessels. Occasionally, pure blood is expelled during vomiting, not just from the stomach but often from the nostrils, rectum, and in women, from the womb. The internal organs may feel scorched, while the external parts are cold and stiff, as the entire heat of the patient is forcefully drawn inward, akin to the action of a cupping glass, due to the intense burning of the inner body.
As a result, the eyelids may become blue, as if bruised, and the face assumes a ghastly appearance, resembling that of lead. The eyes are bloodshot and swollen, sometimes shedding tears. In conclusion, the overall condition of the body alters, developing a yellowish tint.
Many patients suffer from a burning fever, evidenced by ulcerated jaws, unquenchable thirst, and a dry, blackened tongue. This condition can lead to such intense delirium by inflaming the brain that patients, in their frenzied state, may run naked from their beds, attempting to hurl themselves out of windows or into nearby pits and rivers. In some cases, the joints become so weakened that individuals are unable to walk or stand. From the onset, they appear as if submerged in a prolonged faint or deep sleep. This is because the fever sends dense vapors from the raw and cold humors to the brain, akin to the heavy smoke rising from freshly kindled green wood.
Such sleep intensely grips the patient, particularly as the matter from the sore or carbuncle consolidates and begins to suppurate. Frequently, upon awakening, they notice spots and marks scattered across the skin, accompanied by a foul sweat. However, if sharp vapors rise to the head, they may disrupt sleep entirely and induce significant wakefulness. Furthermore, there is considerable variability in the urine of those infected with the plague, influenced by the diverse temperaments and conditions of their bodies. The urine is not uniform in consistency and color across all individuals; at times, it resembles that of healthy individuals—clear and laudable in appearance. This occurs because when the heart is compromised by the noxious air that infiltrates it, the spirits are affected more severely than the humors. As the spirits become troubled and corrupted, they signal the onset of further deterioration.
Urine primarily reflects the characteristics of the humors or the organs where it is produced, gathered, and eventually excreted. This explanation resonates more with me than the theory suggesting that nature, intimidated by the malignancy of the poison, avoids confrontation and refrains from resisting or metabolizing the disease-inducing matter.
Moreover, many individuals experience such a profound loss of appetite that they are able to abstain from food for up to three consecutive days.
In summary, the array of symptoms associated with this disease is nearly limitless, stemming from the varying nature of the poison and the conditions of the affected bodies and regions. However, these symptoms do not manifest uniformly in every person; rather, some individuals experience certain symptoms, while others exhibit different ones.
In cases of the plague, several symptoms ominously signal a high likelihood of mortality. Among these, a persistent and intense fever is notably deadly. Accompanying this are signs such as a tongue that is dry, rough, and blackened. Respiratory difficulties manifest as labored breathing, with a markedly larger intake of air than output. Additionally, incoherent speech, delirium coupled with madness, an insatiable thirst, and the inability to sleep are critical indicators. Further symptoms include convulsions, hiccups, palpitations, and frequent, severe fainting spells. Patients may experience restlessness in bed, an aversion to food, and persistent vomiting of green, black, or bloody matter. The appearance of the face, often pale or dark with a horrific and severe expression, and covered in cold sweat, also suggests a grim prognosis.
At the outset of the illness, some patients exhibit ulcerous lesions and painful weakness, accompanied by prickling sensations beneath the skin and significant discomfort. Their eyes appear fierce and glazed, their voices grow hoarse, and their tongues become rough and difficult to articulate. Moreover, their cognitive faculties begin to decline, leading them to speak of trivial matters. Such individuals are undeniably critically ill, akin to those whose urine is pale, dark, and turbid, resembling that of draft animals or lye. The urine may display a variety of hues, including blue, green, and black, and may possess a viscous, oily texture, with an appearance reminiscent of a spider’s web, often featuring a round substance floating atop it.
If the tissue of the carbuncle appears desiccated and blackened, as if seared with a hot iron, and the surrounding flesh shows discoloration—black and blue—alongside a backward flow of infected matter, accompanied by diarrhea with an extremely foul-smelling, liquid, thin, sticky, black, green, or bluish discharge; if worms are expelled due to the severe corruption of humors, yet the patient’s condition shows no improvement; if their eyes frequently grow dim, and their nostrils appear contracted; if they suffer from severe cramps, with the mouth drawn to one side, and the facial muscles contracting either symmetrically or asymmetrically; if their nails turn black, if they are plagued by persistent hiccups or experience full-body convulsions and paralysis, then one can assuredly predict that death is imminent. At this stage, only supportive treatments should be administered, as it is too late for purgatives or bloodletting.
You should understand that the onset of the plague can be attributed to the corruption of the air, particularly when it becomes highly contagious and spreads to multiple locations almost instantaneously. This form of the pestilence is characterized by a rapid and widespread fatality rate, affecting many people at once. Individuals engaged in their daily activities, walking in public places or along the streets, suddenly collapse and die without showing any visible symptoms of illness or experiencing any prior pain. The virulence of the tainted air acts swiftly, infecting our vital spirits, undermining the heart’s resilience, and swiftly leading to death.
The afflicted do not suffer from extreme agitation because the rapid malignancy of the poison dissipates their spirits, rendering them unable to endure physical exertion. In addition, those struck by the ailment often experience frequent fainting spells. It is uncommon for patients to develop buboes or blisters. For the same reason, their urine closely resembles that of healthy individuals.
In the past, we have identified the causes behind the corruption of bodily humors, such as excess, blockage, imbalance, and poor nutrition. It is now essential to describe the symptoms associated with each corrupt humor so that they can be restored to their natural soundness and perfection through remedies or through medical intervention. A body with a yellowish tint is indicative of an excess and imbalance of choler. A blackened tone suggests a dominance of melancholy, while paleness indicates an overabundance of phlegm. A reddish hue, accompanied by swollen and engorged veins, signals an excess of blood.
Moreover, the color of emerging blisters, tumors, and spots reflects the dominant humor, as do the excretions expelled through vomiting or stool. The general disposition—whether heavy or light-hearted—along with the nature of any present fever, the season, age, location, and diet, also provide clues. Remedies with cutting, penetrating, thinning, and cleansing properties can alleviate obstruction. Fevers often accompany the plague due to obstruction, manifesting as either continuous or intermittent, similar to tertian or quartan fevers.
When the plague is rooted in the infection or corruption of choleric humor, its symptoms—such as skin warmth, blisters, and bitter excretions—display the characteristics of dominant choler. These include rapid fatality, intense symptoms, bitterness in the mouth, and persistent painful bowel movements due to choler irritating the intestines. When the corruption stems from thicker humors, such as blood, it presents with copious sweating and purging, often expelling various humors, and occasionally bloody matter. Corrupted phlegm is associated with profound sleep and unexplained fatigue in all limbs. Upon waking, individuals may experience tremors in all joints, as the passage of spirits into the limbs is obstructed by thick humors.
A corruption rooted in melancholy humor is marked by head heaviness, pain, brooding thoughts, and a weak pulse. The most reliable indicator of the plague residing in humor corruption is the analysis of urine. Altered urines, resembling those of pack animals or appearing black or green, are definitive indicators. Some suffer from intense thirst, while others experience none, as choler or phlegm may decay in the stomach or at the stomach’s entrance, disrupting the natural faculties such as appetite. In cases where the fever results from the combined infection of both air and humors, the symptoms and signs will likely be significantly muddled.
It is possible to predict the progression and outcomes of diseases once their nature and associated symptoms are thoroughly understood, along with the body’s condition, functions, and the state of the affected parts. However, it must be noted, generally speaking, that precise predictions regarding health or mortality in the case of pestilential diseases remain elusive. These ailments exhibit highly erratic behaviors—at times rapid and acute, other times slow, or even fatal within moments, as one inhales the tainted air during the course of daily activities. This can manifest as pustules erupting on the skin accompanied by sharp pains, akin to being pricked by needles or bee stings. Such observations were made during the plague at Lyons when King Charles of France resided there.
Often, symptoms that appear intensely severe can suddenly subside, leaving patients to believe they are improving or nearly recovered. This occurred with Mary, a maid to the Queen Mother, during a particularly pestilential season when King Charles was staying at the Castle of Rossilion. After contracting the illness, she developed a significant swelling, or bubo, in her groin, which unexpectedly receded. On the third day of her illness, she claimed to feel entirely free of pain or sickness, except for some difficulty urinating, likely due to inflammation of the bladder from the matter’s reflux. Remarkably lucid and mobile, she walked around her chamber on the very same day she passed away. The peculiarity of her case instilled such fear in the King that he hastily departed the area.
**The Impact of Age and Constitution on Disease Vulnerability**
Although this disease spares no individual—regardless of age, temperament, complexion, diet, or condition—it tends to affect young men who are choleric and sanguine more frequently than older men, who are typically characterized as cold and dry. This distinction arises from the fact that, due to their advanced age, older men have diminished moisture levels, which serve as a deterrent to putrefaction. Consequently, the pathways and pores of the skin, through which the venomous air might penetrate, are narrower and more constricted in older individuals.
Moreover, older men often remain at home, while young men are more frequently out in public, tending to their professional obligations or seeking leisure. This exposure to the open air increases their risk of contracting the pestilential infection, as they are more likely to encounter the sources of contamination.
**The Nature and Susceptibility to Different Types of Pestilence**
Pestilence arising from the corruption of bodily humors is less contagious than that caused by the degradation of the air. However, individuals with phlegmatic and melancholic temperaments are more frequently afflicted by the former type of pestilence. This is because their humors tend to be thicker and more viscous, rendering their bodies colder and less capable of perspiration. These conditions facilitate a quicker and more pronounced putrefaction of the humors.
Individuals with poor constitutions are particularly susceptible to this type of pestilence. The harmful qualities inherent in their bodily humors greatly predispose them to putrefaction. This can be observed during outbreaks of the plague, when other diseases stemming from detrimental humors are notably absent among the general population; they invariably transform into plague. Consequently, the emergence and spread of these diseases serve as a sign that the pestilence is either nearing its conclusion or about to dissipate altogether.
In this context, it is important to identify those individuals as having a poor constitution if they lack pores in their skin. These pores act like channels, allowing the body’s harmful fluids—those contrary to nature—to be expelled and cleansed. My observations and studies indicate that individuals with certain conditions are at a reduced risk of contracting the pestilence. These conditions include cancerous ulcers, foul-smelling sores on their noses, and symptoms associated with syphilis, such as tumors and decaying ulcers. Those afflicted by scrofula, leprosy, scabies, or any kind of fistulous or oozing ulcers throughout their bodies also fall into this category.
I believe that individuals suffering from quartan fevers may possess certain advantages due to the unique nature of their condition. The periodic sweating induced by the fever, which occurs every fourth day, helps them expel a significant amount of the harmful fluids generated within their bodies.
It is more plausible to believe that external toxins cannot be dispelled by those already existing within the body. In contrast, pregnant women, as I have observed, are particularly susceptible to the disease. This is due to the accumulation of harmful fluids, as they are unable to undergo their usual processes of evacuation. Sadly, once infected, they seldom recover. The appearance of black or blue swellings, along with spots and pustules of similar hues spread across the skin, indicates that the disease is entirely incurable and fatal.
The appearance or disappearance of a swelling or sore prior to the onset of fever is a favorable sign; it indicates that the malignancy is weak and that the body’s natural defenses have successfully suppressed it, expelling a significant portion from the internal organs. Conversely, if the swelling or sore emerges after the fever, it is a dire and ominous sign. In such cases, it is evident that the condition is caused by venomous material that has not been eliminated, but rather dispersed throughout the body—not through a triumph of nature, but rather due to the overwhelming quantity of toxic matter that has overwhelmed the body’s defenses.
When the Moon wanes, those afflicted with the plague are at heightened risk of death. This is because, during this phase, the bodily humors that accumulated before the Moon was full begin to swell even more due to excess and delay. As these humors swell, the body’s governing faculties become weakened owing to the diminished strength of the natural heat. Previously, this heat was sustained and intensified by the illumination and warmth of the full Moon. As noted by Aristotle, the waning phases of the Moon are characterized by colder and weaker conditions. This is why, notably, women most frequently experience their menstrual cycles during this time.
In a dense and overcast atmosphere, pestilential infections tend to be less severe and contagious compared to a thin and clear environment. This thinness of the air may result from the heat of the sun or the influence of the cold northern winds. Consequently, in Paris—where the air is naturally dark and murky, exacerbated by the overwhelming presence of filth—the pestilent infection is less intense and contagious than in the provinces, where the clarity of the air appears to facilitate the spread of the plague.
This disease is fatal and destructive wherever it occurs, primarily because it rapidly assaults the heart—the core, or fortress, of life. Typically, it does not attack until its signs and symptoms become apparent on the body. Nonetheless, few individuals consider consulting a physician to safeguard against such a perilous threat until these warning signs are clearly visible and tangible. By that time, the heart is already under siege. Once the heart is attacked, what hope remains for life or recovery? Thus, because medical intervention often arrives too late, this affliction serves as a swift harbinger of death, resulting in a high mortality rate. Furthermore, at the first suspicion of such a dire and ruthless disease, the mind and imagination—whose influence in stirring up various bodily humors is significant and almost incredible—become so overwhelmed by the fear of imminent death and despair for health that, along with the disturbed humors, all natural strength and vitality collapse and diminish.
You can observe this phenomenon through the behavior of caregivers for the sick. Those who are confident and unafraid, even while performing the most menial tasks for the ill, tend to remain uninfected themselves and rarely succumb to the disease, even if they are exposed.
The plague often finds its roots in the human body, manifesting both as a result of internal factors—a proliferation of putrefied humors or a predisposition to decay—and external influences, primarily from contaminated air. The genesis of a pestilent fever invariably arises from exposure to this tainted atmosphere.
When pestilent air is inhaled into the lungs, it traverses through respiration and permeates into the minute capillaries of the skin via transpiration. This contaminated air interacts with the blood or humors that are already putrefying or susceptible to decay, leading to an infection that transforms them into a malignancy characteristic of the offending agent.
These corrupted humors emit a putrid vapor, akin to unquenched lime when it is first moistened. This vapor travels to the vital organs, particularly affecting the heart, where it infects the spirituous blood circulating in its ventricles and the vital spirits themselves, resulting in a distinctive feverish heat.
This heat, augmented by a malignant quality, spreads throughout the body via the arteries, tainting even the solid structures of the bones with its pestiferous venom. Moreover, it induces various symptoms that reflect the nature of the malignancy and the condition of the body and its humors.
In this context, the struggle between the invading malignancy and the body’s natural defenses becomes evident. Should nature overpower the malignancy, employing its expulsive faculties, it will endeavor to drive the infection away from vital parts through mechanisms such as sweating, vomiting, bleeding, bowel movements, urination, and outward manifestations like buboes, carbuncles, pustules, and other skin eruptions.
Conversely, if the malignancy prevails and the body is weak and unable to resist, the patient may first experience symptoms such as frequent palpitations or panting of the heart, followed by recurrent fainting episodes. Ultimately, should nature succumb, the patient is likely to face death. An early and critical indicator of plague or a pestilent fever is a sudden and profound loss of strength without significant exertion or evident evacuations, leaving the individual exceedingly faint. Further signs of affliction have been discussed in our preceding discourse.
We have previously established that the primary and enduring source of pestilence originates from the air. Consequently, as soon as an individual is exposed to contaminated air, it is imperative that they first take some preventive measures against the harmful effects of this exposure. Afterward, they must promptly retreat to a location with clean and wholesome air—free from any noxious infection or contagion. The likelihood of recovery significantly increases with a change in environment, as we continuously and abundantly inhale air. It is essential to recognize that, at every moment, we rely on the air we breathe. Thus, the quality of the inhaled air directly influences the correction, mitigation, or exacerbation of the poison or malady we may have contracted, depending on whether the air is pure, untainted, or polluted.
Some believe it is beneficial to confine a patient in a sealed room, shutting the windows to prevent any air from entering. However, I find it more prudent to open the windows where a breeze can blow in directly opposite to the one bringing in the noxious air. Even if there is no other justification, stagnant air confined to an enclosed space is likely to become corrupted. Therefore, in a sealed and still environment not naturally exposed to fresh air, I recommend that the patient generate airflow. This can be done by waving a thick cloth soaked in a mixture of water and vinegar, attached to a long staff, throughout the room. This motion will create a cooling breeze that can rejuvenate the patient.
Additionally, it is essential for the patient to be moved to a fresh room daily, with the bedding and linens replaced regularly. A bright and clear fire should be maintained in the patient’s room, especially at night, to purify the air and eliminate any harmful vapors or unpleasant odors from the patient or any waste. Meanwhile, in hot weather, care must be taken to ensure the patient does not become weakened or more fatigued by the heat of the fire, which may deplete their energy. To counter this, the floor should be sprinkled with a solution of vinegar and water, or scattered with branches of vines moistened in cold water, together with the leaves and flowers of water lilies or poplar. During the intense heat of summer, the patient should also avoid strong-smelling fumigations, as these can exacerbate headaches.
If the patient is able to afford it, it would be beneficial to drape the entire room where they rest, including the bed, with thick or coarse linen cloths that have been dampened in a mixture of vinegar and rose water. These cloths should not be excessively white; rather, they should have a slightly brown hue. Excessive brightness can strain the eyes, depleting the spirits and exacerbating headaches. For this reason, the room should also be kept dimly lit to create a more soothing environment.
Conversely, during the nighttime, it is beneficial to create fires and use perfumes that emit a gentle light, delicately invigorating the spirits. Pleasant-scented fires can be crafted using small pieces of juniper, broom, ash, and tamarisk wood, or the peels of oranges and lemons, along with cloves, benzoin, gum arabic, orris roots, and myrrh. These ingredients should be roughly crushed together and placed on burning coals in a brazier. It is said that the smoke or aroma of juniper wood or berries can repel serpents from the area where it is burned. Pliny provides a testament to the remarkable properties of the ash tree against venom, stating that serpents will not approach its shadow, even at dawn or dusk when shadows are longest. I have personally observed that when a circle is formed with ash tree branches, and a fire is lit in its center with a serpent placed within the enclosure, the serpent will choose to flee into the fire rather than passing through the ash branches.
Another method for purifying the air involves sprinkling vinegar infused with a decoction of rue, sage, rosemary, bay berries, juniper berries, cyperus nuts, and similar herbs onto heated stones or bricks, which are then placed in a pot or pan. This technique allows the entire chamber where the patient lies to be perfumed by the resulting vapors.
Additionally, one may create fumigations using denser, stickier substances that can produce a sustained, fragrant smoke when heated. Suitable materials include ladanum, myrrh, mastic, resin, turpentine, storax, olibanum, benzoin, bay berries, juniper berries, cloves, sage, rosemary, and marjoram, which should be pounded together to enhance their efficacy.
For those who are affluent, it is also possible to have candles and fumigations prepared from wax or tallow, blended with sweet fragrances.
A sponge soaked in rose vinegar and rose water, with the addition of a small amount of clove and camphor decoction, should always be within the patient’s reach. By frequently inhaling its fragrance, the animal spirits may be revitalized and invigorated.
The following recipe is highly effective for this purpose. Begin by taking four ounces of orris root, six drams each of zedoary and spikenard, and one and a half ounces each of storax, benzoin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Additionally, use half an ounce of aged treacle. Grind these ingredients into a coarse powder and macerate them in four pounds of white, robust wine for twelve hours. Once this is complete, distill the mixture in a glass alembic over hot ashes. Soak a sponge in the resulting distilled liquid, then secure it in a linen cloth or place it in a closed container, to be used frequently near the nostrils.
Alternatively, you can combine four ounces each of rose vinegar and rose water, six grains of camphor, and half a dram of treacle. Allow these ingredients to dissolve together, then transfer the mixture into a glass vial that the patient can easily bring close to their nose for frequent inhalation.
This nodula is particularly suitable for the matter at hand. Begin by gathering two handfuls of rose leaves, half an ounce of orris root, two drams each of calamus aromaticus, cinnamon, and cloves, one and a half drams each of storax and benzoin, and half a dram of cyperus. Grind these ingredients into a coarse powder, and then form them into a nodula between two pieces of cambric or fine lawn, roughly the size of a handball.
Next, moisten the nodula in eight ounces of rose water and two ounces of rose vinegar, allowing the patient to inhale its scent frequently. It’s important to adjust these ingredients according to the season. In summer, refrain from using strong substances such as musk or civet, as they can be too warming. Moreover, women prone to uterine fits, as well as individuals suffering from fevers or headaches, should avoid strong-smelling and overly potent ingredients. Instead, opt for a milder formulation consisting of a small amount of camphor combined with bruised cloves, macerated in rose water and rose vinegar, which will be sufficient for their needs.
In cases of pestilential disease, the recommended dietary approach should emphasize cooling and drying properties. The diet should not be overly restrictive; rather, it should be somewhat substantial. This is important because such diseases often lead to the depletion of vital energies and a decline in bodily functions, which can result in fainting spells. Consequently, it becomes imperative to replenish these losses promptly through a diet consisting of easily digestible and nourishing foods.
Throughout my observations, I have never encountered a patient afflicted with the pestilence who adhered to a restrictive diet and subsequently regained their health; instead, they perished. Conversely, those who maintained a hearty appetite and consumed a wholesome diet tended to fare much better, with significantly lower mortality rates.
In the context of diet during a pestilential disease, it is crucial to avoid sweet, heavy, moist, and clammy foods, as well as those with overly subtle compositions. Sweet foods are prone to fermentation, while moist foods may putrefy. Heavy and clammy substances can cause obstructions, leading to further putrefaction. Additionally, overly refined foods can excessively thin the bodily humors, igniting inflammation and producing hot, sharp vapors that may result in fever.
Thus, it is essential to steer clear of garlic, onions, mustard, salted and spiced meats, as well as all forms of legumes, since these can produce excessive gas, which contributes to obstructions. However, the infusion of these legumes in decoction should not be completely dismissed, as it can promote urination.
The proposed dietary regimen should include bread made from wheat or barley, well-prepared, adequately leavened, and seasoned with a touch of salt—neither too fresh nor overly stale. Individuals should consume meats that are easily digestible and that yield a high amount of beneficial juices while producing minimal waste. Suitable options include the flesh of wether lambs, kids, leverets, pullets, partridges, pigeons, thrushes, larks, quails, blackbirds, turtledoves, moor hens, pheasants, and similar poultry, while avoiding waterfowl.
To enhance these meats, they should be treated with verjuice from unripe grapes, vinegar, or the juices of lemons, oranges, citrons, tart pomegranates, barberries, gooseberries, or red currants, as well as garden and wild sorrel. These sour ingredients are particularly beneficial during such illnesses, as they stimulate the appetite, counteract the venomous qualities and putrefaction of bodily humors, mitigate the heat of fever, and help prevent food spoilage in the stomach. However, for individuals with weaker constitutions, heightened sensitivities, or those suffering from coughs or lung conditions, these sour substances should be used only when mixed with sugar and cinnamon to minimize potential irritation.
When feeding a patient with cooked meats, it is advisable that the broth be prepared using a combination of vegetables and herbs such as lettuce, purslane, chicory, borage, sorrel, hops, borage, cress, and burnet. Incorporating marigolds, chervil, cooling seeds, French barley, and oatmeal, along with a hint of saffron, is also beneficial, as saffron helps generate vital energies and counteracts poison.
To prevent obstructions, additional root vegetables may be included; however, it is crucial to limit the amount of broth due to its moisture content. Moreover, the fruit of capers, when consumed at the beginning of a meal, can stimulate the appetite and help prevent obstructions. It is important not to over-season capers with oil and salt, but they can be effectively used in broths as well.
Fish should be completely avoided due to their tendency to spoil quickly in the stomach. However, if the patient has a strong preference for fish, it is advisable to select those that inhabit rocky, pure, and sandy waters. Suitable options include trout, pike, perch, gudgeon, and crab, prepared by boiling them in milk.
As for sea fish, the patient may consume gilt-head bream, gurnard, various types of cod, non-salted whiting, and turbot.
Poached eggs served with sorrel juice are excellent for consumption. Additionally, barley water flavored with the seeds of tart pomegranates can be beneficial, and for those with a severe fever, the inclusion of white poppy seeds is advisable. This barley water is easy to digest and provides significant cleansing effects, moistening and softening the belly. However, it may induce nausea and cause headaches in some individuals, so those individuals should avoid it. Instead, they can opt for a porridge made from breadcrumbs soaked in capon broth.
For the second course, it is recommended to serve sun-dried raisins soaked in rose water with sugar, accompanied by sour Damask prunes, tart cherries, pippins, and Katherine pears.
At the conclusion of the meal, roasted quinces from the embers, quince marmalade, and preserves made from borage or roses may be enjoyed, or alternatively, the following powder may be taken.
Take two drams of prepared coriander seeds; half a dram each of pearls, rose petals, shavings of horn (from a hat’s horn), and ivory; two scruples of amber; one scruple of cinnamon; and half a scruple each of unicorn horn and stag heart bone. Combine these ingredients with four ounces of rose sugar to create a powder. This mixture should be used after meals.
If the patient is somewhat weak, they should be nourished with a gelatin made from the flesh of a capon and veal, simmered together in sorrel water, along with carduus benedictus, a small amount of rose vinegar, cinnamon, sugar, and other ingredients as needed based on the situation.
During the night, to prepare for any eventuality or unforeseen setbacks, it is essential to have a broth ready, made from easily digestible meats, enhanced with a splash of citrus or pomegranate juice.
The following restorative recipe may be beneficial for all. Begin by taking two ounces each of the conserves of borage, violet, water lily, and succory. Additionally, incorporate three drams each of the powdered electuary Diamargaritum Frigidum and camphor troches. Include two drams each of citron seeds, carduus seeds, sorrel seeds, and the roots of diptamnus and tormentil.
Next, prepare six pints of broth from a young capon, simmered with lettuce, purslane, borage, and bugloss. Combine these ingredients in a glass alembic along with the flesh of two pullets, two partridges, and fifteen leaves of pure gold. Distill this mixture over a gentle fire. After distillation, take half a pint of the resulting liquor, strain it through a woolen bag, and add two ounces of white sugar and half a dram of cinnamon. This preparation should be provided to the patient whenever they feel thirsty.
Alternatively, you can use the flesh of one old capon, the leg of veal, two minced partridges, and two drams of whole cinnamon (without any additional liquid) in a glass alembic, ensuring it is well sealed and covered. Allow this mixture to boil gently in a water bath until it reaches a perfect concoction. This method allows the meats to cook in their own juices without exposure to direct heat. Once prepared, press the juice from the mixture. Administer one ounce of the extracted juice to the patient, combined with some cordial waters, Trisantalum, and Diamargaritum Frigidum.
Preserves made from sweet fruits should be avoided, as sugary substances can lead to the production of choler. Instead, the use of tart confections made from prunes, cherries, and similar fruits is advisable.
In the context of illness, particularly in cases as debilitating as the plague, it is essential to nourish the patient, albeit in moderation and with frequency. Consideration must be given to the individual’s habits, age, regional factors, and the time of year. Prolonged emptiness poses significant risks; if the body is left without sustenance, there is a danger that the toxic matter expelled to the surface may be drawn back into the internal organs by a hungry stomach. This can lead to an accumulation of choleric, hot, thin, and sharp excess humors in the stomach, which may cause discomfort, including stomach pain and intestinal cramping.
**Guidelines for Beverages for Patients with High Fever**
When a patient experiences a severe and burning fever, it is essential to avoid wine, unless they are prone to fainting. In such cases, the following oxymel can be consumed as an alternative:
Begin with three quarts of clean water. Boil four ounces of honey in the water until one-third of it has evaporated, skimming off any foam that forms during the process. After boiling, strain the mixture into a clean vessel and add four ounces of vinegar, along with a sufficient amount of cinnamon to achieve the desired flavor.
Alternatively, a sweetened drink can be prepared as follows: take two quarts of clean water and six ounces of hard sugar, along with two ounces of cinnamon. Strain this mixture through a woolen bag or cloth without boiling. When the patient is ready to drink, add a splash of fresh lemon juice. It is worth noting that syrup made from lemon juice is particularly effective among all remedies used to combat the pestilence.
**Preparation and Use of a Beneficial Julep**
The following julep is highly restorative and offers considerable health benefits. Begin by taking half a pint of well-clarified sorrel juice and four ounces of clarified lettuce juice. Combine these with one pound of the finest hard sugar, and boil the mixture until it reaches the desired consistency. After boiling, strain and clarify the concoction, adding a small amount of vinegar just before removing it from the heat.
This julep can be consumed between meals, either mixed with boiled water or blended with equal parts of the juices from sorrel, lettuce, scabious, and bugloss. Alternatively, you can utilize the previously described julep by measuring out four ounces of the strained and clarified mixture, then combining it with one pound of the aforementioned cordial waters. Gently boil them together for a short time.
Once removed from the heat, add one dram of yellow sanders and half a dram of ground cinnamon to the mixture. Strain it through a cloth, and once the mixture has cooled, it can be administered to the patient along with a splash of lemon juice for added flavor and efficacy.
Individuals who are accustomed to drinking cider, perry, beer, or ale should continue to consume these beverages, provided they are clear, transparent, and light in consistency, and made from slightly tart fruits. It is important to avoid cloudy or sediment-laden drinks, as these can lead not only to the formation of coarse humors but also to the development of crudities, excessive gas, and obstructions in the upper gastrointestinal tract, which can ultimately result in fever.
When administered in the following manner, oxycrate can help alleviate fever by reducing internal heat, combating the putrefaction of bodily humors, and mitigating the intensity of venomous effects. Additionally, it promotes the expulsion of excess fluids through the veins, as long as the patient does not experience symptoms such as coughing up blood, persistent coughing, or general weakness of the stomach. Those with such conditions should abstain from all tart substances.
To prepare a soothing concoction, take one quart of clean water, three ounces of white or red vinegar, four ounces of fine sugar, and two ounces of rose syrup. Bring these ingredients to a gentle boil, and then offer the mixture to the patient to drink.
Alternatively, you can create a different julep by combining half an ounce of lemon juice and half an ounce of citron juice, along with two ounces of sour pomegranate juice, and one ounce each of sorrel water and rose water. Add a sufficient amount of boiled clean water to complete the mixture, and consume it between meals.
Another option is to mix one ounce each of lemon syrup and red currant syrup, four ounces of lily water, and half a pint of boiled clean water to create a julep.
Lastly, consider combining half an ounce each of lily syrup and vinegar, dissolving these in five ounces of sorrel water, and adding one pint of clean water to prepare yet another julep.
However, if the patient is young and possesses a strong constitution, particularly exhibiting a choleric temperament, it may be advisable for him to consume a generous draught of cold spring water. This approach is effective in alleviating and quenching the heat associated with a fever. In contrast, individuals who drink small amounts of cold water frequently—similar to how a blacksmith sprinkles water on a fire—tend to exacerbate internal heat, prolonging the discomfort.
According to the insights of Celsus, during the peak of the illness, and particularly after the patient has experienced thirst for three or four days, it is essential to administer cold water in substantial quantities. The objective is to allow the patient to drink until he is well beyond satiety. This approach helps ensure that his stomach is filled to the point of discomfort, leading to the expected result of inducing vomiting, which can further aid in cooling the system.
Some individuals choose not to consume enough to induce vomiting; instead, they drink only until they reach satiety, utilizing the liquid as a cooling remedy. In either case, it is important for the patient to be warmly covered with multiple layers of clothing and positioned comfortably to facilitate sleep. Typically, after enduring prolonged thirst, restlessness, fullness, and significant heat, a deep sleep will ensue. This restorative sleep often leads to substantial sweating, which serves as an immediate relief.
In certain instances, thirst can be alleviated with small portions of melons, gourds, cucumbers, or the leaves of lettuce, sorrel, and purslane, all dampened or soaked in cold water. Alternatively, a small piece of citron, lemon, or orange can be macerated in rose water and lightly sprinkled with sugar. This preparation can be held in the mouth and replaced as needed to quench thirst more effectively.
If the patient is elderly, possesses diminished strength, has a phlegmatic constitution, and has a propensity for wine, he may begin to consume wine diluted with water once the fever starts to subside and the predominant heat begins to lessen. This approach can help restore his strength and replenish the spirits that have been depleted. It is essential that the patient does not suffer from intense thirst; therefore, he should address it by drinking fluids or, if that’s not possible, by rinsing his mouth with oxycrate or similar preparations. He can also wash his hands and face with the same solution, as this helps rejuvenate his strength.
If the patient is experiencing diarrhea or dysentery, he may benefit from drinking steel water or boiled milk, which is effective as many stones heated red hot have been quenched in it. For the dryness and roughness in the mouth, a soothing and moisturizing treatment can be prepared using the mucilaginous water derived from an infusion of quince leaves, psyllium (also known as flea-wort), and a touch of camphor, combined with plantain and rose water. After cleansing the mouth and removing any debris, he can further soothe it by holding a small amount of sweet almond oil mixed with violet syrup.
If the roughness in the mouth develops into ulcers, they should be treated with an infusion of sublimate or aqua fortis to promote healing.
Because we have previously discussed the importance of water consumption, I would like to elaborate on the selection and quality of water. This choice is significant, as a substantial part of our diet relies on it. We use water not only as a beverage, either on its own or mixed with wine, but also in the preparation of bread, boiling meat, and making broths.
Many believe that rainwater collected during the summer, stored in a well-constructed cistern, is the healthiest option. Following that, they consider spring water sourced from mountainous regions, which flows over rocks and stones, to be very good. Well water, or water that rises from the foothills, is typically placed third. River water, particularly that drawn from the middle of a stream, is also deemed beneficial.
Conversely, lake or pond water is often regarded as the least desirable, especially if it is stagnant, as such conditions can encourage the proliferation of harmful organisms like snakes and toads. Additionally, water derived from melting snow and ice is considered poor due to its overly cooling properties and earthy flavor.
Among spring and well waters, the best quality is characterized by being tasteless, odorless, and colorless. Ideal waters are clear, slightly warm in winter, and refreshingly cold in summer. They heat up and cool down rapidly, which makes them light and efficient for cooking various ingredients, such as pulses and turnips.
Finally, those who regularly consume good quality water often exhibit clear and melodious voices, sound chests, and a vibrant, fresh complexion.
Now, we must address the appropriate treatment for this disease, which should be administered as promptly as possible. This urgency arises from the fact that the speed of this poison surpasses the effectiveness of the medicine. Therefore, it is prudent to err on the side of caution by assuming that every illness during a pestilential season may be contaminated by plague, and to treat it as such. As long as the air remains tainted with the seeds of the plague, bodily humors are quickly susceptible to infection due to the surrounding atmosphere. Consequently, during such times, no ailment is free from the presence of pestilence; that is, every condition is either inherently plague-like by its very nature or has been transformed into a pestilent state.
Many practitioners initiate treatment with bloodletting, some with purging, and others with antidotes. We, however, begin the cure by considering the affected organ, starting with an antidote. This choice is based on the specific properties of the antidote, which help to protect the heart from poison as much as it is affected by it. Additionally, there are other antidotes that not only safeguard the heart and the patient from the threats posed by poison and pestilence, but also neutralize the poison’s effects throughout the body. These antidotes achieve this by promoting the expulsion of toxins through various means such as sweating, vomiting, and other forms of bodily evacuation.
The antidote must be administered in sufficient quantities to effectively counteract the poison. However, it is important to avoid exceeding the necessary dosage, as this could disrupt the body’s natural balance—the very preservation we seek to uphold. Therefore, if a large amount cannot be taken at once, it should be administered in smaller doses over time. This ensures that a portion of the antidote can be consumed daily until all symptoms and effects of the poison subside, leaving no cause for concern.
Some antidotes are composed of venomous ingredients that are carefully blended with other medicinal substances that counteract the toxicity. For example, Treacle contains the flesh of vipers, and this combination is designed to guide the antidote to the areas where the venom has had its most significant impact. Thanks to a principle of sympathetic connection, one poison can quickly draw another toward itself.
There exist certain inherently poisonous substances that serve as antidotes to one another; a notable example is the way a scorpion can cure the sting of another scorpion. Among all antidotes, Treacle and Mithridate stand out for their exceptional qualities. They strengthen the vital organs and rejuvenate the exhausted spirits, effectively neutralizing poison. These antidotes can be administered both internally and externally, particularly applied to areas of the heart, as well as to lesions such as boils and carbuncles. Their hidden properties allow them to attract and neutralize poisons similarly to how amber attracts chaff, digesting the toxins and rendering them harmless—a process elaborated by Galen in his work “De Theriaca ad Pisonem,” supported by sound reasoning and extensive experimentation.
You may argue that these substances are warming and that the plague is often accompanied by a fever. In response, I acknowledge that while the fever poses a risk, the greater danger lies within the pestilence itself. Thus, when administering Treacle, I do not intend to neglect the fever altogether; rather, I recommend mixing it with cordial, cooling remedies, such as camphor lozenges, lemon syrup, water lilies, or sorrel water.
For the same reasons, it is advisable to select Treacle that is of moderate age—ideally one to two years. For stronger patients, a dosage of half a dram may suffice, while those in weaker conditions should receive a full dram.
After taking Treacle, Mithridate, or any other antidote, the patient should begin to walk calmly and moderately. It is essential to avoid the common mistake of those who, upon realizing they are infected, run around in a panic until they can barely support themselves. Such frantic activity weakens the body, making it less capable of combating the contagion.
Following this moderate walking, the patient should be placed in a warm bed, well-covered with blankets. To further aid recovery, warm bricks or tiles can be applied to the soles of the feet. Alternatively, one may use pig bladders filled with hot water, placing them on the groin and under the arms to stimulate sweating. Inducing sweat is a crucial remedy in this illness, as it not only helps evacuate the excess humors associated with fever but also works to eliminate the malignancy during a plague. However, it is important to note that not all instances of sweating lead to recovery.
For instance, George Agricola recounts witnessing a woman in Misnia, Germany, who sweated profusely for three days, with blood flowing from her head and chest, yet she ultimately succumbed to her illness. This serves as a reminder that while sweating can be beneficial, it does not guarantee health.
The following potion is designed to induce sweating. Begin by taking the following ingredients: one and a half ounces of thinly shaved China root, two ounces of Guaiacum, one ounce of Tamarisk bark, two drams of Angelica root, one ounce of shaved horn of the hat, and three drams of Juniper berries.
Combine these ingredients in a glass vial capable of holding six quarts. Add four quarts of pure, clear river water and allow the mixture to macerate for a full night over hot ashes. In the morning, boil the concoction in a water bath (balneum mariæ) until the volume is reduced by half, which should take approximately six hours. Once done, strain the mixture through a cloth and then strain it again, this time incorporating six ounces of rose sugar and a small amount of Treacle. The patient should take eight ounces or less of this liquid to promote sweating effectively.
Additionally, there is a beneficial powder that can be prepared as follows: Take half an ounce each of the leaves of Dictamnus, Tormentil root, and Betony, one ounce of prepared bole armeniac, three drams of Terra Sigillata, half a dram each of Aloes and Myrrh, and one dram of Saffron, along with two drams of Mastic. Grind these ingredients into a fine powder. Administer one dram of this powder dissolved in rose water or the water from wild sorrel, and encourage the patient to walk immediately after consumption. Afterward, they should be laid down in bed to induce sweating, as previously described.
The following water is highly regarded as an antidote for poison. Begin by gathering the following ingredients: three drams each of Gentian and Cyperus root; one handful each of Carduus Benedictus and Burnet; two pugil (a pinch between fingers) each of Sorrel seeds and Devil’s-bit; half an ounce each of Ivy and Juniper berries; and two pugils each of Bugloss flowers, Violets, and red Roses.
Coarsely powder these ingredients and then soak them overnight in a mixture of white wine and rose water. After steeping, add one ounce of bole Armeniac and half an ounce of Treacle. Distill the mixture in a water bath (balneum mariæ) and store the resulting liquid in a sealed glass vial for future use. The patient should take six ounces of this elixir sweetened with sugar, a little cinnamon, and saffron. After consumption, encourage the patient to walk and sweat as described earlier. The Treacle and the cordial water mentioned previously are beneficial for this purpose.
Additionally, another highly recommended medicinal water can be prepared as follows: Take six handfuls of Sorrel and one handful of Rue. Dry these herbs and macerate them in vinegar for twenty-four hours, adding four ounces of Treacle. Distill this mixture in a water bath and retain the resulting liquid for use. As soon as the patient suspects infection, they should take four ounces of this distilled water, then walk to induce sweating.
The patient should stop sweating when they begin to feel faint or when the perspiration on their body starts to feel cool. At that point, wipe their body with warm cloths to dry them off. It’s important that the patient does not sweat with a full stomach, as this diverts heat away from proper digestion. Additionally, they should avoid sleeping while sweating, as this could allow harmful elements to penetrate the vital parts of the body. If the patient feels excessively drowsy, keep them awake through vigorous rubbing, binding the extremities, and making noise to stimulate alertness. Friends should support the patient with encouraging words about their recovery.
If these measures fail to prevent sleep, dissolve Castoreum in tart vinegar and aqua vitae, and administer it through the nostrils. The patient must remain awake continuously on the first day and into the second and third days—up to the fourth day—until the poison is completely expelled. During this time, they should not sleep more than three or four hours each night.
Meanwhile, the attending physician should assess the patient’s condition carefully, as prolonged watchfulness may weaken their strength. After the sweating period, the patient should refrain from eating for three hours. As necessary, provide light sustenance such as preserved citron rind, rose conserve, toasted bread soaked in wine, or preserved myrobalan, or similar gentle foods to help support their recovery.
There are also topical remedies to be classified as antidotes, which should be applied externally as swiftly as possible. These include cordial and hepatic epithems, which are intended to protect the vital organs and enhance their functions, while also expelling noxious air from the intestines. These remedies can be composed of cordial ingredients that are not only warming but also cooling, allowing them to temper excessive heat and exert a more powerful repellent effect.
They should be applied warm, using a scarlet or double-layered linen cloth, or a soft sponge soaked in the preparation—unless a carbuncle has invaded the area around the vital organs, as applying repellent treatments in the presence of a carbuncle is inadvisable. The following formulations can be utilized for creating effective epithems:
**Prescription:**
Take four ounces of rose water, plantain extract, and nightshade, three ounces each of vinegar, pomegranate juice, and acetic acid; three drachms each of red sandalwood and red coral powder; one and a half ounces of old theriac; two scruples of camphor; one scruple of saffron; and one and a half drachms of cloves. Mix these ingredients to create an epithema.
Or else,
**Prescription:**
Take ten ounces each of rose water and plantain extract, four ounces of rose vinegar, three drachms each of clove powder, red sandalwood, red coral powder, and cold diamargarit; two scruples of camphor; and two scruples of musk. Combine these ingredients to create an epithema.
Or,
**Prescription:**
Take four ounces each of rose water and lemon balm extract, three ounces of rose vinegar, one drachm of red sandalwood, one and a half drachms of clove powder, two scruples of saffron, one scruple of camphor, one drachm of bolus arm. terra sigillata, and one drachm of zedoary. Combine these ingredients to create an epithema.
Or else,
**Prescription:**
Take one and a half pounds of rose vinegar and rose water, along with half an ounce of camphor, and one drachm each of theriac and mithridatic remedy to create an epithema. Alternatively, combine rose water, essence of water lily, bugloss, and sorrel, measuring one and a half pounds of rose vinegar, three drachms of red sandalwood, three drachms of red rose petals, as well as half a drachm of essence of water lily, violet extract, camphor, and two drachms each of mithridate and theriac. Grind and mix all the ingredients thoroughly.
When ready to use, take a portion of the mixture in a separate vessel and use it to apply a warm fomentation to the affected area of the bowels.
As soon as the heart is strengthened and supported with cordials and antidotes, we must consider the practice of phlebotomy and purging. There exists considerable controversy among physicians regarding the role of bloodletting in this context. Proponents argue that the pestilent fever embeds itself within the blood, allowing the malignant infection to take root there. Consequently, they assert that unless the blood is evacuated, the infection will quickly spread to other bodily humors. Conversely, those opposed to bloodletting contend that the blood can sometimes be free of malignancy even when other humors are contaminated by the venomous contagion.
If one were to seek my opinion on this contentious issue, I would posit that the pestilence can often stem from a deficiency in the air quality. This deficiency can infiltrate the body’s passages, ultimately penetrating the vital organs, as evidenced by abscesses that may appear behind the ears, in the armpits, and sometimes in the groin, particularly when the brain, heart, or liver are affected. Such conditions can also lead to carbuncles and various other collections of matter and eruptions that manifest throughout the body. This is because nature exerts its expulsive faculty, endeavoring to expel anything noxious or harmful.
Thus, if a physician is to heed the natural impulses of the body, they should refrain from purging or bloodletting. Engaging in such practices may disrupt the body’s innate outward motions by introducing disturbances from the external environment. As we often observe, when individuals are purged or bled for buboes arising from illicit sexual encounters, this intervention can lead to a more obstinate condition, effectively drawing the harmful matter inward and potentially resulting in the onset of diseases such as the French pox.
Therefore, when buboes, carbuncles, and other pestilent eruptions appear, arising from a deficiency in air quality, we should refrain from purging and bloodletting. Instead, it is sufficient to fortify the heart, both internally and externally, with antidotes that possess the inherent ability to combat poison. There is little doubt that when nature is weakened by both types of evacuation, and when the vital spirits, along with the blood, are depleted, the venomous air can easily infiltrate the compromised body, exerting its detrimental effects and leading to complete destruction.
In the year of our Lord 1565, a time marked by widespread mortality across France due to pestilence and various diseases, I undertook a thorough inquiry with physicians and surgeons in every city that King Charles IX visited during his journey to Bayonne. I sought to learn the outcomes for their patients following bloodletting and purging. The responses were unanimous: they observed that those infected with the pestilence, who underwent significant bloodletting or experienced strong purging, consistently grew weaker and ultimately succumbed to the illness. In contrast, those who refrained from bloodletting and purging, opting instead for cordial antidotes taken internally and applied externally, largely escaped the worst effects and often regained their health. This particular pestilence, they concluded, stemmed from a fundamental deficiency in air quality rather than from the corruption of bodily humors.
A similar observation was made regarding the hoarseness previously discussed: namely, that patients tended to deteriorate following purging and bloodletting. However, I do not dismiss these remedies outright, particularly in cases of significant fullness in the body, especially at the onset of illness, or when there is a risk of violent symptoms threatening vital organs. Hippocrates asserts that any illness arising from excess must be addressed through evacuation. In instances of acute disease characterized by swelling, it is imperative to act promptly, as delays can be perilous.
It is crucial to recognize that such diseases are not solely attributable to pestilence but are often a combination of pre-existing ailments and the pestilential influence itself. Thus, there may be instances where vigorous purging and substantial bloodletting are justified, to prevent the pestilential venom from taking hold of already compromised bodily substances and further spreading contagion, thereby intensifying the severity of the pestilence.
As Celsus advises, the quicker the onset of such acute afflictions, the more urgent the need for intervention—often requiring immediate or even bold application of treatments. Symptoms such as swelling veins, a flushed face, strong pulsations in the temples, difficulty breathing due to abdominal heaviness, and bloody saliva indicate that bloodletting should be performed without delay.
For optimal results, it is advisable to open the left arm’s vein, facilitating the heart and spleen in expelling excess matter. However, bloodletting is not always appropriate; for instance, when the body begins to stiffen due to the onset of a fever, drawing back heat and vitality may lead to a state of coldness and rigidity in the extremities, rendering bloodletting harmful due to potential loss of strength and disruption of bodily humors.
Importantly, when plethoric conditions are present, the indications for bloodletting in cases of simple pestilent fever differ from those accompanied by a bubo, boil, or carbuncle. In either case, when accompanied by severe and intense fever, blood should be drawn from the nearest vein to the swelling, taking care to maintain the alignment of the fibers. This strategy facilitates direct blood removal from the affected region, thereby avoiding any detrimental retraction of putrified blood towards vital parts, which can be injurious to both nature and the patient.
For example, if a patient is plethoric due to repletion, referred to as Advasa (meaning “fullness in the vessels”) alongside a pestilent tumor in the head or neck, blood should preferably be drawn from the cephalica or median vein, or one of its branches on the affected side. If those veins are not visible in the arm due to excess fat or other factors, some practitioners advise opening the vein between the forefinger and thumb, with the hand immersed in warm water to encourage swelling and facilitate blood flow.
If the tumor is located under the armpit or in nearby areas, it is essential to open the liver vein or the median vein that runs along the hand. In cases where the tumor is situated in the groin, the hamstring vein, or the saphenous vein, or any other visible vein above the foot, should be accessed, always on the affected side. Phlebotomy should be performed before the third day, as this condition resembles acute diseases that can deteriorate rapidly, often becoming hopeless within twenty-four hours.
When proceeding with bloodletting, one must carefully consider the patient’s strength. Signs that the patient is nearing faintness include a moist forehead accompanied by a sudden, light sweat, discomfort or pain in the stomach, a tendency to vomit, a compelling urge to defecate, excessive yawning, darkening of the lips, and a sudden pallor of the face. Most definitively, a weak and slow pulse indicates worsening conditions. In such instances, gently compress the vein and maintain pressure until the patient stabilizes, either through natural recovery or through medical intervention. This can involve administering bread soaked in wine or similar restorative substances.
Should it be determined that insufficient blood has been let, it is crucial to bleed the patient again, drawing as much blood as the severity of the disease or the patient’s condition allows. Once this has been accomplished, administering one of the previously mentioned antidotes will be beneficial in restoring strength and mitigating the effects of the underlying malady.
When considering the appropriate course of treatment for pestilential diseases, the use of purging medicines often emerges as a necessary intervention. Such medicines must be prescribed according to the specifics of the case at hand, recognizing that the nature of these diseases is sudden, requiring swift action to eliminate harmful humors that may lie hidden within the body. The choice of purgatives varies depending on the type of humor involved and the individual patient’s constitution.
Commonly recommended purgative options include the administration of six grains of powdered scammony, or alternatively, ten grains combined with one dram of treacle. Additionally, pills may be formulated as follows: combine one dram each of treacle and mithridate with half a dram of finely powdered sulphur vivum, adding four grains of diagridium to create a cohesive mixture. Another viable formula includes three drams of aloes, one dram each of myrrh and saffron, and four scruples each of white hellebore and asarabacca; these ingredients should be blended with aged treacle to form a mass from which the patient can take four scruples as a dose, three hours prior to meals.
Ruffus’s pills may also be beneficial for those who are weak. The ancient physicians highly recommended agaric for this condition, as it effectively extracts noxious humors from the body. Its properties are thought to parallel those of treacle, with the additional benefit of strengthening the heart while purging out malignancies. For robust patients, a dosage of two drams is appropriate, while those with lower strength may be given half a dram.
It is often more effective to administer these substances as an infusion or decoction rather than in their raw form. When properly prepared into trochises, these purging medicines can be regarded as exceptionally potent and beneficial therapies.
**On the Use of Antimony and Efficacious Remedies for Pestilence**
Antimony has garnered considerable acclaim through the experiences of many practitioners. However, acknowledging that its use has been condemned by the recommendations and rulings of the School of Physicians in Paris, I shall refrain from discussing it further.
In contrast, medicines that induce sweating are regarded as superior when combating pestilence arising from toxic air. Among these, the effectiveness of the following remedy has been validated, to the significant benefit of numerous individuals during the recent outbreak of pestilence across Germany. This was communicated to me through correspondence from Matthias Rodler, Chancellor to Duke George of the Count Palatine.
The process begins with gathering a bundle of mugwort. The ashes from this plant, once burned, are combined with four pints of water to create a lye. This mixture is then heated in a well-sealed earthen vessel until the liquid is reduced, causing the earthy residue to settle at the bottom, resembling salt. From this residue, tablets weighing the equivalent of a gold crown are formed.
To administer the remedy, one or two of these tablets—depending on the patient’s strength—are dissolved in high-quality muscadine wine and given to the patient to drink. After consumption, the patient is encouraged to walk for half an hour before being laid in bed to sweat for two to three hours. Following this treatment, the patient typically experiences vomiting and purging, akin to the effects of antimony. Many patients who received this remedy early in their illness, before the disease progressed to their heart, were notably cured. I have witnessed this firsthand with patients in Paris, observing remarkably successful outcomes.
Indeed, mugwort has earned high praise from ancient physicians for its internal and external applications, particularly in treating the bites of venomous creatures. It is, therefore, reasonable to assert that it possesses significant efficacy against pestilence.
I have reliably heard from Gilbertus Heroaldus, a physician from Montpellier, that consuming eight ounces of anchovy brine in a single draught is a certain and well-established remedy against the plague. He, along with many others, has attested to its efficacy through experience. The plague is essentially a severe form of putrefaction, and there is arguably no remedy more suitable than this anchovy pickling solution, which is enhanced by the sun’s warmth and the salt that is added to it.
Some practitioners recommend infusing a dram of walewort seed in white wine, claiming that consumption of this mixture produces effects similar to antimony. Others suggest bruising a small amount of rue seed in muscadine wine, combined with a quantity the size of a bean of treacle, before drinking it. Another approach involves crushing a handful of broom leaves or tops in half a pint of white wine, which is then given to the patient to induce vomiting, diarrhea, and perspiration.
For individuals wounded or bitten by venomous creatures, it is believed that binding broom above the wound can prevent the spread of venom. Consequently, a brew made from broom may also inhibit the venom from advancing closer to the heart.
Additionally, some combine the roots of elecampane, gentian, tormentil, kermes berries, and broom, along with half a dram each of powdered ivory and hartshorn. These ingredients are bruised and steeped for twenty-four hours in a mixture of white wine and aqua vitae over warm embers, then strained and administered to the patient in doses of three to four ounces. This concoction promotes sweating and mitigates the potency of the poison. A subsequent potion follows with similar therapeutic properties.
Take half an ounce of mustard and the equivalent of a bean of treacle or mithridate. Dissolve these in white wine along with a splash of aqua vitae, and have the patient consume the mixture. Afterward, encourage the patient to walk to promote sweating.
Alternatively, you can roast a large onion, hollowed out and filled with half a dram of treacle and vinegar, buried in hot embers. Once roasted, strain the mixture and combine the extracted juice with the water of sorrel, carduus benedictus, or any other cordial, along with strong wine. Administer this to the patient to induce sweating and combat the malignancy.
Another option is to use a quantity of garlic equivalent to a large nut, along with twenty leaves each of rue and celandine. Bruise these ingredients in white wine and a dash of aqua vitae, then strain and provide the resulting mixture for the patient to drink.
Some individuals find relief by consuming the juice extracted from celandine and mallows, mixed with three ounces of vinegar and half an ounce of walnut oil. They complement this with vigorous walking to alleviate discomfort in their stomach and bowels.
Should the harmful air have already invaded and contaminated the humors, one dram of dried bay leaves, macerated in vinegar for two days and consumed, is regarded as a highly effective remedy. This treatment is believed to induce sweating, relieve bloating, and provoke vomiting, thus aiding the patient’s recovery.
In his treatise “De Morbo Gallico,” Mathiolus asserts that administering powdered mercury to the patient, combined with the juice of carduus benedictus or an electuary made from gums, can effectively expel pestilence before it takes hold in the body. This combination prompts vomiting, diarrhea, and sweating. Additionally, one dram of calcanthum or white copperas dissolved in rose water produces similar effects in treating the same illness.
Some practitioners recommend giving the patient a small amount of scorpion oil mixed with white wine to help eliminate toxins through vomiting. Concurrently, they anoint the area around the heart, the chest, and the wrists.
I believe such remedies are particularly suitable for strong, well-conditioned individuals, as milder medicines often result in insufficient evacuation, merely stirring the humors and potentially leading to fever. Once a sufficient amount of the malignancy has been expelled, it is essential to administer remedies that can strengthen the stomach and intestines while calming the agitation of the humors. One effective option for this purpose is the confection of alkermes.
If malignancy extends to the brain and nature is unable to expel it, not only does it induce inflammation in the brain itself, but it also affects the membranes that encase it. This inflammation can disrupt various cognitive functions, impacting the imagination, judgment, and sometimes even memory. The specific effects depend on the location of the inflammation, whether it occurs in the anterior, posterior, or central areas of the head. Regardless of its position, this condition invariably leads to delirium, characterized by a fiery redness in the eyes and face, along with an overall heaviness and burning sensation in the head.
If these symptoms do not improve with the use of enemas or by opening the cephalic vein in the arm, it may become necessary to incise the arteries in the temples. The amount of blood drawn should correspond to the severity of the symptoms and the strength of the patient. Indeed, the incision made to open an artery will heal as readily and with as little difficulty as that of a vein. The benefit of arterial bleeding is notable; it allows the release of tense and sharp vapors that escape along with the arterial blood.
Additionally, it may be advantageous to induce a nosebleed if the body is inclined to expel excess fluids in that manner. As Hippocrates noted, when the head experiences discomfort or pain, the expulsion of matter, fluid, or blood from the nostrils, mouth, or ears can provide immediate relief from the affliction. To encourage such bleeding, one might employ vigorous blowing, efforts to clear the nasal passages, scratching or picking the inner surfaces of the nostrils, or pricking with a horsehair while maintaining a downward tilt of the head.
The Lord of Fontains, a Knight of the Order, experienced a natural nosebleed while we were in Bayon. This bleeding persisted for two days, which fortuitously alleviated a pestilent fever he had been suffering from. Accompanied by a significant sweat, the fever subsided, and shortly thereafter, his carbuncles began to suppurate. By God’s grace, he recovered his health while under my care.
When blood flows profusely and cannot be controlled when it should, it is essential to secure the hands, arms, and legs with bands. Sponges soaked in oxymel should be placed in the armpits, and cupping glasses must be applied to the breasts, as well as the regions of the liver and spleen. Additionally, one should insert down from the willow tree or any other astringent substance into the nostrils. This should be mixed with hairs plucked from the flank, belly, or throat of a hare, along with bole armeniac, Terra Sigillata, and a mixture of plantain and knotgrass juice. Furthermore, the patient should be positioned in a cool environment to aid recovery.
However, if the pain persists despite these measures and the continued blood loss, we must resort to medicinal solutions that induce sleep, the forms of which are as follows.
Take a handful of green lettuce, along with two pinches each of water lily flowers and violets. Bruise one head of white poppy, and gather two drams each of the four cold seeds. Additionally, include one dram each of liquorice and raisins. Prepare a decoction from these ingredients, and after straining, dissolve one and a half ounces of Diacodium in the mixture. This will create a substantial potion to be administered when the patient goes to rest.
You may also prepare a barley cream using two ounces each of water lily and sorrel. To this mixture, add six to eight grains of opium, along with half an ounce each of the four cold seeds and white poppy seeds. Boil these ingredients in broth with lettuce and purslane. Furthermore, you may consider administering the pills of Cynoglossum, or hound’s tongue.
In addition, utilize clysters designed to promote sleep, which can be prepared as follows:
To prepare a therapeutic enema, take half a pint of barley water and mix in two ounces each of violet oil and lily oil. Add three ounces of either plantain or purslane juice, along with seven grains of camphor and the whites of three eggs.
For additional relief, the head should be fomented with rose vinegar after shaving the hair. A moist, double-layered cloth soaked in rose vinegar should be placed on the head and frequently replaced. Warm sheep’s lungs, removed from the carcass, can also be applied to the head while they are still warm. Cupping glasses, both with and without scarification, may be used on the neck and shoulder blades.
To divert sharp vapors and humors from the head, securely bind the arms and legs after thorough rubbing. Frontals for the head can be prepared in the following manner: combine two ounces each of rose oil and lily oil, half an ounce of poppy oil, one ounce of rose vinegar, and half a dram of camphor. Mix these ingredients thoroughly.
Additionally, nodules made from poppy flowers, henbane, lily flowers, and mandrakes crushed in rose water with a touch of vinegar and camphor can be frequently applied to the nostrils. Cataplasms may also be used on the forehead. For this purpose, combine three ounces of the mucilage from psyllium seeds (also known as flea-wort) and quince seeds extracted in rose water, four ounces of barley meal, half an ounce each of powdered rose leaves, lily flowers, and violets, along with two ounces each of poppy seeds and purslane. Finally, add three ounces each of rose water and rose vinegar. Create a warm cataplasm from these ingredients and apply it to the forehead.
Alternatively, you can prepare a cataplasm by mixing half a pint each of the juices of lettuce, lilies, henbane, and purslane, along with half an ounce each of powdered rose leaves and poppy seeds, three ounces of rose oil, two ounces of vinegar, and sufficient barley meal to achieve the desired consistency. This should have a pulpy, liquid form for application.
Once the heat in the head has subsided and inflammation in the brain is alleviated, you may proceed with digesting and resolving fomentations to disperse vaporous matter. However, it is generally advised to avoid binding the forehead and the back of the head too tightly in cases of headache, as this can exacerbate discomfort.
The heat of the kidneys can be alleviated by applying a cooling ointment. According to Galen, this unguent should be freshly prepared and should include well-beaten egg whites to ensure that it retains moisture for an extended period. It is recommended to renew this liniment every fifteen minutes, carefully wiping away any remnants of the previous application. Alternatively, one may consider other methods for relief.
Prescription: Combine 1.5 pounds of rose water with 4 ounces of plant extract, 4 well-beaten egg whites, 2 ounces of rose oil, and 3 ounces of rose vinegar. Mix these ingredients thoroughly for use. Once the affected area has been anointed, place fresh leaves of water lilies or similar cooling herbs over it. On top of this, apply a double layer of linen cloth that has been soaked in a mixture of water and vinegar, then wrung out, ensuring it is frequently replaced.
Additionally, the patient should avoid lying on a feather bed; instead, they should rest on a quilt filled with oat chaff, or on a mat layered with several folded cloths or chamlet. Meanwhile, a refrigerating and restorative medicine may be applied to the region of the heart, such as the following formulation.
Prescription: To prepare the ointment, combine 3 ounces of rose ointment with 2 ounces of water lily oil, 1 ounce of rose vinegar, and 1 ounce of rose water. Additionally, incorporate 1.153 grams of theriac, along with half a dram of saffron. Melt and blend these ingredients until smooth to create a soft ointment. Once prepared, spread the ointment onto a scarlet cloth and apply it to the area over the heart.
Or,
Prescription: Combine 1.5 drams of selected theriac with 1.5 ounces of sour lemon juice and 1.5 ounces of red coral and crushed red rose seeds. Additionally, incorporate 4 grains of camphor and 4 grains of saffron. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly to create either an ointment or a liniment.
Position a ewer or jug at the patient’s head while they lie in bed, ensuring that a basin is placed beneath it to collect the water as it drips, mimicking the sound of rain. Gently scratch the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands. It is essential for the patient to remain in a quiet environment, free from disturbances, allowing them to gradually settle into a state of rest.
The skin, during the course of pestilent fevers, becomes marked and variegated with spots in various areas, resembling the bites of fleas or gnats. These spots are not always uniform in appearance; frequently, they take on forms reminiscent of millet grains. Generally, the emergence of more spots is an indication of a favorable outcome for the patient. These lesions manifest in a range of colors, reflecting the severity of the underlying pathology and the nature of the afflicting substance. Common hues include red, yellow, brown, violet, purple, blue, and black. Due to their predominance in purple, these lesions are commonly referred to as “Purples.”
Some practitioners label them “Lenticulae,” likening their color and shape to that of lentils. Additionally, they are known as “Papiliones,” or butterflies, because they can suddenly appear across various regions of the body, much like winged butterflies. Their presence can be noted on the face, arms, legs, or even over the entire body. Often, these spots do not merely affect the surface of the skin; they also penetrate deeper into the flesh, particularly when originating from a substance that is coarse and acrid. Occasionally, they may present as large and broad patches, impacting an entire arm, leg, or facial area, simulating a condition known as erysipelas. In conclusion, the characteristics of these eruptions vary significantly based on the particular humour involved, whether in terms of quality or quantity.
If the spots are of a purple or black hue, accompanied by frequent fainting spells, and they suddenly manifest without any apparent cause, they are ominous indicators of impending death.
The emergence of these spots is attributed to the tumultuous activity or heat in the blood, a consequence of the severity of the venom that has been absorbed or introduced into the body. They often first appear at the onset of a pestilent fever, and frequently precede the development of sores, boils, or carbuncles. Conversely, they may also surface afterward, signaling a profound corruption of the body’s humors. In such cases, the sores or carbuncles may be insufficient to contain the severity of the ailment, thereby signaling an impending demise.
In some instances, these spots manifest independently, without any accompanying sores or carbuncles. If they are red and do not present with any adverse symptoms, they are typically not considered fatal. Generally, these spots appear around the third or fourth day of the illness, although they may emerge later. In certain circumstances, they may not appear until after the patient has succumbed, as the heat and agitation of the humors, resulting from putrefaction, may still be ongoing and have yet to subside.
Therefore, it is primarily the putrid heat—most intense shortly before the patient’s death—that forces the excremental humors, responsible for the emergence of the spots, to the surface of the skin. Additionally, it may be that, in the final struggle for survival, nature exerts a greater effort than usual, a phenomenon observed in all living things approaching death. This effort leads to the pestilent humors being driven to the skin. Consequently, as nature becomes increasingly weakened by this intense struggle, it ultimately succumbs, collapsing under the weight of the residual matter.
You must first be cautious not to drive inward the humors that are attempting to emerge through the use of repercussive treatments. Therefore, avoid cold exposure, all purgative methods, phlebotomy, and deep or sound sleep. These actions tend to draw the humors inward and work against the natural processes of the body. Instead, it is advisable to encourage the outward movement of nature by applying drawing medicines to the surface and administering medications that promote sweating. Otherwise, by repelling or halting the eruptions, there is a significant risk that the heart may become overwhelmed by the excess venom flowing back or that it may turn into the abdomen, potentially leading to a life-threatening bloody flux. To prevent these complications, I propose a remedy that I have personally tested and validated on numerous individuals. This remedy is especially effective when the expulsive faculty is weak and the skin is thick, causing the material responsible for the spots to become trapped beneath the surface, resulting in raised clusters and nodules.
The development of this remedy arose from a careful comparison with similar conditions. Upon recognizing that the essence of French pox (as well as that of pestilence) is rooted in a certain hidden virulence and venomous quality, I quickly arrived at the conclusion that just as the application of a mercury-based ointment can dissolve and draw out the thick, clammy humors entrenched in the bones—stimulating the expulsive faculty and enabling their evacuation through sweating and excretion—so too might a similar approach be applicable to pestilent fevers. By fortifying the body with a comparable ointment, nature could be encouraged to eliminate a portion of the venomous and pestilent humors, allowing them to emerge through the skin in the form of spots, pustules, and various eruptions.
Consequently, I have treated many individuals where the expulsion of venomous matter appeared sluggish. I began by administering a laxative enema, followed by a dose of treacle water, which serves to protect the heart’s vital functions without overly distending the stomach, akin to a condition resembling French pox. This approach yielded the desired results. Alternatively, one could use a decoction of guaiacum instead of treacle water, as it possesses heating and drying properties that promote sweating and combat putrefaction. By also incorporating vinegar into the mixture, its penetrating qualities can further enhance the remedy’s effectiveness against decay. This outline provides a comprehensive description of the unguent.
To prepare the remedy, take one pound of hog’s grease and simmer it gently with half a handful each of sage, thyme, and rosemary. Once the mixture has been infused, strain it, ensuring to incorporate five ounces of mercury that has previously been boiled in vinegar along with the aforementioned herbs. Add three drams of saltpeter, the yolks of three hard-boiled eggs, and half an ounce each of treacle and Mithridate. Additionally, include three ounces each of Venice turpentine, oil of scorpions, and oil of bay.
Thoroughly combine all these ingredients in a mortar to create an unguent. This ointment should be applied to the patient’s armpits and groin while carefully avoiding the areas of the head, chest, and spine.
Afterward, the patient should lie in bed under warm covers to induce sweating for a duration of two hours. Once this period has elapsed, cleanse and wipe the body. If possible, transfer the patient to a fresh bed. During recovery, provide nourishment with broth made from a capon, scrambled eggs, and other light, easily digestible foods rich in nutrients. Continue to apply the unguent on the second and third day unless visible spots appear beforehand.
If the patient experiences flux at the mouth, it is imperative not to intervene and stop this process. Once the spots and pustules have fully emerged, and the patient has concluded sweating, it is advisable to employ diuretic medicines. These can facilitate the expulsion of any residual matter from the spots that may not have completely surfaced, allowing it to be purged through urine.
In cases where a nobleman or gentleman refuses to be anointed with the prepared unguent, an alternative approach can be taken. They may be enclosed within the body of a freshly killed mule or horse; once the body has cooled, the patient should be laid inside another corpse until the pustules and eruptions break forth, drawn out by the natural heat of the animals. Notably, Mathiolus recounts that this method once saved Valentinus, the son of Pope Alexander VI, from the peril of a lethal poison he had ingested.
A pestilent bubo is characterized as an initially elongated and mobile tumor that, as it progresses, becomes fixed and deeply embedded within the glands or lymph nodes. This condition serves as a mechanism by which the body attempts to expel venomous and noxious substances. The brain directs these harmful materials into the lymph nodes located behind the ears and in the neck, while the heart channels them to the nodes in the armpits, and the liver directs them to those in the groin. Such transfers occur when the toxic matter is thick and viscous, rendering it impossible to be expelled through the formation of skin lesions and pustules.
In contrast, when the matter manifests as a carbuncle, it becomes sharp and intense, leading to the formation of an eschar at the site of adhesion. Initially, as the bubo develops, the patient may experience sensations akin to a cord or rope being tautened in the affected area, accompanied by sharp, pricking pain. Gradually, this discomfort culminates in the formation of a raised mass that increases in size and becomes inflamed, alongside the previously noted symptoms.
The nature of the tumor’s coloration can offer vital diagnostic insights: if it appears red and gradually enlarges, this is typically a positive and encouraging sign. Conversely, the presence of a livid or black hue, combined with a slow progression to its mature size, indicates a grim prognosis. Similarly, a sudden escalation in size, accompanied by acute symptoms such as severe pain, swelling, and burning, also suggests a dire situation.
In certain instances, buboes or sores may present in a natural skin color, resembling an edematous tumor yet possessing the potential to lead to rapid deterioration, much like those with livid or black presentations. Thus, it is prudent not to place excessive trust in the appearance of these types of tumors.
As soon as a bubo appears, apply a cupping glass with a strong flame to the affected area, unless the type of bubo presents severe burning and swelling symptoms. Before application, it is essential to anoint the skin with lily oil, as this helps to loosen the skin, enabling the cupping glass to create a stronger and more effective suction.
The glass should remain in place for approximately fifteen minutes and can be reapplied every forty-five minutes. This repeated application aids in drawing out the venom more effectively from any weakened tissues nearby. Ultimately, this method promotes more efficient resolution, whether natural suppuration or another healing process is underway. Additionally, the following ointment can also be applied to enhance treatment outcomes.
Preparation of a Relaxing Liniment
Take one and a half ounces of Uuguentum Dialthaea, half an ounce of oil of scorpions, and half a dram of Mithridate dissolved in aquavitae. This liniment effectively relaxes and loosens the skin, opens the pores, and facilitates the expulsion of substances drawn to the surface by the cupping glass.
Alternatively, you may prepare soothing fomentations or utilize other drawing and suppurative medicines, which will be detailed in subsequent sections.
A vesicatory applied strategically below the bubo can provide significant relief, while application above may not yield the same benefits. For instance, if the bubo is located in the throat, the vesicatory should be placed on the shoulder blade on the same side. If the bubo is found in the armpits, it should be applied to the inner side of the arm or shoulder bone. In cases where the bubo is in the groin, the vesicatory should be positioned in the middle of the inner thigh. This approach allows for a dual pathway for the expulsion of toxins, facilitating the drainage of the area where the venom has accumulated.
Spurge, crowfoot, arsenic, bear’s foot, bridney, the inner bark of traveler’s joy, the rind of mullein, and flammula, or upright virgin’s bower, are all effective for inducing blisters. If these remedies are not readily available, you may consider using the following alternatives, which can be prepared at any time.
To prepare a blistering agent, take half a dram each of cantharides, pepper, euphorbium, and pellitory of Spain. Add two drams of sour leaven and one dram of mustard, along with a small amount of vinegar. The vinegar moderates the potency of the cantharides. In the absence of this mixture, you can alternatively use scalding oil or water, a burning candle, or a hot coal applied to the affected area to induce blistering.
These blisters should be cut open promptly, and it is important to keep the resulting ulcers open and draining as long as possible. This can be achieved by applying leaves of red coleworts, beets, or ivy that have been soaked in warm water and anointed with oil or fresh butter. Although some practitioners may use caustics, vesicatories are generally more effective and act more quickly; relying on caustics may risk delaying treatment until it’s too late for the patient.
The ulcers created by vesicatories will efficiently draw out the pestilent venom due to their inherent properties rather than their quantity. After fomenting the abscess as previously described, apply the following medicinal preparation known for its drawing properties.
To prepare a therapeutic remedy, begin by hollowing out a large onion and filling it with treacle and leaves of rue. Roast the filled onion under hot embers until it is well-cooked. Once prepared, beat the mixture with a small amount of leaven and some pig’s grease, and apply it warm to the affected abscess or sore, changing the application every six hours.
Alternatively, you can create a cataplasm using half a pound each of marshmallow roots and lilies, along with half an ounce each of linseed, fenugreek, and mustard seeds. Add one dram of treacle, ten figs, and enough hog’s grease to form a paste according to standard methods.
Another effective mixture includes roasting three ounces each of onions and garlic in the embers. After roasting, mash them with one ounce of sour leaven. Incorporate one ounce of Unguentum Basilicon, one dram of treacle, half a dram of mithridate, one ounce of aged hog’s grease, one scruple of powdered cantharides, and two drams of pigeon dung. Blend these ingredients thoroughly to form a cohesive cataplasm.
Additionally, old rennet is highly beneficial due to its warming properties, especially when mixed with aged leaven and basilicon. These remedies should be applied until the abscess has reached full maturity and size. However, if there is significant inflammation and sharp pain shortly after onset, particularly with carbuncle-type abscesses, it is advisable to avoid remedies that are hot and attractive, as well as those that are excessively thick or sticky. Such treatments can clog the skin’s pores or excessively dilute the collected matter, which should remain present to facilitate faster suppuration. Moreover, these hot remedies might draw out more inflammation than the area can handle, risking corruption instead of maturation, and potentially exacerbating fever and pain, leading to a dangerous risk of convulsion or gangrene.
In such cases, it is prudent to utilize cooler, temperate topical treatments, such as leaves of henbane and sorrel roasted under coals or Galen’s poultice, among other similar remedies.
Many individuals, in their fear of death, have resorted to extreme measures, such as using blacksmith’s pincers to forcibly remove a bubo. Others have attempted to cut around the affected area, fully extracting the bubo. Some have even gone so far as to thrust a hot iron into it, hoping to allow the poisonous matter to escape. I do not endorse any of these actions. Such abscesses do not arise from external sources—like bites from venomous creatures—but originate from internal factors. Additionally, these methods can exacerbate pain and intensify the malignancy of the underlying humor.
I believe it is more prudent to employ remedies that relax the tissues, open the skin’s pores, and promote the digestion of the poison through transpiration. Consider the following treatments:
1. Take six ounces each of marshmallow and lily roots, half a handful each of chamomile and melilot flowers, and half an ounce of linseeds along with half a handful of rue leaves. Boil these ingredients and strain the mixture. Soak sponges in the strained liquid and use them to foment the affected area for an extended period.
2. Alternatively, take the crumb of hot bread, sprinkle it with treacle water or aqua vitae and combine it with cow’s or goat’s milk along with the yolks of three eggs. Apply this warm mixture wrapped in a cloth or flax to the affected area.
3. You can also create a preparation with four ounces of sour rye leaven, two ounces of basilicon, three egg yolks, and two and a half ounces of lily oil, mixing them together and applying them similarly.
4. Another option is to mix two ounces each of Diachylon and basilicon with one and a half ounces of lily oil. Melt and combine these ingredients, applying them as previously described.
When you are able to ascertain, through careful observation and reason, that the bubo has reached a stage of perfect suppuration, it should be incised with a scalpel or treated with a cautery. It is preferable to use a potential cautery unless there is significant inflammation, as this method draws the poison out from deeper layers to the surface and creates a larger opening for the contained matter to drain. It is unwise to wait for nature to resolve the issue on its own, as this could allow a venomous vapor to rise, potentially affecting the heart through the arteries, the brain through the nerves, and the liver through the veins, leading to an exacerbation of the infection.
Due to this risk, some practitioners choose to open the bubo before it has reached complete maturation. However, if this is done prematurely, it may provoke pain, fever, and other complications, resulting in a malignant ulcer that may develop into gangrene.
Generally, by the tenth or eleventh day, the process of suppuration appears to be complete, though this may vary based on the application of treatments, the nature of the matter, and the overall condition of the affected area. Once the matter begins to drain, it is important to continue using suppurative and emollient medicines to facilitate the maturation of any residual material. During this time, cleanse the ulcer by applying mundificatives, as will be described in our discussion on the treatment of carbuncles.
If the tumor seems to recede or hide itself again, it must be encouraged to re-emerge through the application of cupping glasses with minor incisions, along with potent medications, and both actual and potential cauteries.
When cauterization is performed, it is beneficial to apply a vesicatory just below the site, allowing for an open passage for the venom to escape while the eschar gradually separates. This principle is evident in patients suffering from syphilis: as long as they have open and draining ulcers, they experience little to no pain. However, once these ulcers heal and cicatrize, they often report significant discomfort.
If it is suspected that the bubo is more malignant—evidenced by a greenish or blackish inflamed appearance, often indicative of a melancholic humor turned into a thick and rebellious form—there is a risk of gangrene and necrosis. In such cases, the area surrounding the abscess should be treated with repercussive remedies, but care should be taken not to apply these directly on the abscess.
A suggested formulation for the repercussives includes: two ounces each of the juices from house-leek, purslane, sorrel, and nightshade; one ounce of vinegar; the whites of three eggs; and two and a half ounces each of rose oil and water lily extract. Mix these ingredients and apply them around the bubo, renewing the application frequently. Alternatively, you may boil a pomegranate in vinegar, then mash it with rose ointment or freshly made populeon and apply it in the same manner.
Should these approaches fail to mitigate the influx of humors, it may be necessary to scarify the area around the abscess, if feasible, to relieve some of the venomous burden without jeopardizing the essential blood vessels or nerves, which could lead to significant bleeding or convulsions. During scarification, it is crucial to allow a controlled release of blood and humor, ensuring the patient does not lose strength.
To further alleviate the excess malignancy, use relaxing, softening, and resolving fomentations, consisting of: one pound each of marshmallow, lily, and elecampane roots; one ounce each of linseed and fenugreek; half an ounce each of fennel and anise seeds; one handful each of rue, sage, and rosemary leaves; and three handfuls each of chamomile and melilot flowers. Boil all these ingredients together to create a decoction suitable for fomentation, applied with a sponge as directed.
After scarification, you may employ hens or turkeys that lay eggs—due to their wider and more open structures—placing them over the sharp tip of the bubo. As they peck, they can draw out the venom more effectively than cupping glasses, as they possess a natural ability to process poisons, including those from toads and similar toxic creatures. Once one hen has succumbed to the toxin it has absorbed, you must replace it with another, and continue this process, ensuring the treatment is completed promptly.
Some may opt for a more radical approach, utilizing freshly severed puppies applied warm to the site, with the hope that the heat helps dissipate the venom. If there is any concern about impending gangrene, deeper scarification may be required, being careful to avoid major blood vessels and nerves. After sufficient blood loss, cleanse the area with a mixture of Egyptian ointment, treacle, and mithridate dissolved in seawater, as this wash can help prevent putrefaction, repel venom, and stop the blood from congealing.
If gangrene still cannot be avoided, cauteries may be necessary, particularly actual cautery, as it is more effective in repelling the poison and strengthening the area. Immediately after applying the hot iron, the eschar should be carefully removed to expose healthy tissue and allow for the escape of venomous vapors and fluids, which will not exit spontaneously.
To encourage the shedding of the eschar, use a soothing ointment made from two ounces each of marshmallow and linseed mucilage, one ounce of fresh butter or lard, and the yolks of three eggs, mixed thoroughly. Alternatively, a composition of butter, swine fat, rose oil, and egg yolks can achieve a similar effect.
Once the eschar has detached, it is vital to apply digestive treatments. A suitable mixture includes three ounces each of plantain juice, water betony, and smallage juice, four ounces of rose honey, five ounces of Venice turpentine, three drams of barley flour, two drams of aloes, four ounces of rose oil, and half a dram of treacle, combined into a mundificative ointment.
Alternatively, use four ounces of Venice turpentine, one ounce each of syrup from dried roses and wormwood, one dram each of aloe powder, mastic, myrrh, and barley flour, and half an ounce of mithridate—all blended together.
For ulcers that are putrid and corrosive, a potent ointment can be created from one ounce of orpiment, six drams each of unslaked lime, burnt alum, and pomegranate peels, two drams each of frankincense and galls, combined with sufficient wax and oil. This preparation effectively cleanses, consumes necrotic tissue, and dries up harmful moisture that can lead to gangrene.
Notably, no ointment matches the potency of an enhanced Egyptian formulation, as it has superior properties to consume and reduce proud flesh without the interference of oil or wax, which can dilute the efficacy of strong treatments for open ulcers.
There have been many instances where patients, despite seeming to recover with considerable discharges of poisonous matter from their abscesses, have succumbed suddenly. Thus, while undertaking these treatments, it is equally important to administer cardiac tonics to strengthen the heart and to periodically perform purgations, ensuring that the body can effectively rid itself of the burden of toxic humors.
A pestilent carbuncle is characterized as a small tumor, or more accurately, a malignant pustule that is hot and inflamed, arising from blood that has been corrupted by the underlying pathology. This condition often becomes so uncontrollable due to its malignant nature that it transcends the typical boundaries of natural healing.
Initially, a carbuncle appears no larger than a seed of millet or a pea, firmly attached to the affected area and immovable, making it difficult to separate the skin from the underlying flesh. However, it rapidly enlarges, resembling a bubo with a rounded and pointed apex, accompanied by significant heat and a sharp, piercing pain that feels as if needles are pricking the skin. This discomfort intensifies, particularly in the late afternoon and during digestion, becoming more acute prior to the completion of the digestive process.
At the center of the carbuncle, a blister forms, swollen and filled with purulent matter. If this blister is incised, one discovers the flesh beneath it to be parched, charred, and darkened, as if it has been subjected to the heat of a burning coal. This resemblance likely contributes to the nomenclature of “carbuncle.” Surrounding this central area, the affected skin displays a spectrum of colors akin to a rainbow—red, dark, green, purple, livid, and black—often shimmering with a glossy blackness reminiscent of pitch or the true precious stone also called a carbuncle.
Some refer to the carbuncle as a “nail,” as it induces a pain akin to that of a nail driven into the flesh. There are instances where carbuncles originate from a crusty ulcer without the presence of a pustule, resembling the burn of a hot iron. These manifestations take on a dark coloration and can escalate rapidly, depending on the nature of the underlying pathology.
All pestilent carbuncles are typically accompanied by a fever, and the affected area often feels as if it is burdened by heavy weights, akin to being compressed under lead tied tightly. Patients may experience considerable distress, including syncope, faintness, restlessness, delirium, and even gangrene or necrosis affecting not just the localized area but potentially the entire body. This phenomenon may stem from the oppression of local spirits and the suffocation of natural heat, a pattern we also observe in individuals suffering from a pestilent bubo.
Indeed, bubo and carbuncle are closely related tumors, rarely occurring independently, as they share a common pathological origin. However, the substance responsible for a bubo tends to be denser and more viscous, whereas the material causing a carbuncle is sharper, more incendiary, and has a propensity to create eschars at the affected site, as previously noted.
Some individuals afflicted with the pestilence may develop only a single carbuncle, while others may experience multiple lesions in various locations throughout their bodies. Notably, it often occurs that a bubo and carbuncle manifest before the onset of any fever. This sequence of events is a more favorable prognostic indicator, suggesting that the body’s natural defenses have successfully countered the pestilent toxin before it could fully attack the heart.
Conversely, if a carbuncle and bubo appear after the fever has already developed, the prognosis becomes much more serious; it indicates that the heart is affected, agitated, and inflamed by the virulent toxin. This condition typically leads to a feverish heat or intense burning sensation, along with a corruption of bodily humors, radiating from the body’s core to its surface.
A positive sign in patient care is the maintenance of a calm mind from the onset of illness through to the seventh day. However, if a bubo or carbuncle diminishes shortly after appearing, this is a concerning indicator, especially if it is accompanied by negative developments. Likewise, if these lesions progress to the stage of suppuration but then inexplicably dry up, it is cause for alarm.
Carbuncles that originate from blood typically have a deeper and more extensive eschar than those formed from choler. The blood’s denser consistency allows it to occupy a greater volume within the flesh, while choler, being thinner and less substantial, affects only the upper layers of the flesh, as evident in erysipelas. I have encountered carbuncles with eschars as large as half the back. I have also witnessed others that extended from the shoulders to the throat, consuming the underlying flesh to such an extent that the rough artery or windpipe was exposed once the eschar fell away. I once experienced a carbuncle located in the center of my abdomen, which, upon the eschar’s removal, revealed my peritoneum quite distinctly, with a scar as wide as my hand. Such extensive spread is seldom seen without putting the patient at significant risk of mortality.
Moreover, some carbuncles emerge beneath the chin, gradually extending to the patella bones, leading to strangulation of the patient. In many cases, buboes in the groin can arise from a considerable portion of the epigastric muscles. The presence of such large and alarming abscesses poses a serious threat to the patient’s life, or at the very least, jeopardizes the affected area. Following consolidation, the involved region may appear leprous, impairing its function, as I have observed in numerous cases.
Often, the corruption of the underlying tissue is so severe that the flesh leaves the bones exposed. Carbuncles, in particular, frequently resolve the joints and ligaments due to moisture that becomes absorbed into them. These lesions are known to expel putrefied and virulent matter, leading to the formation of ulcerations that can be both deep and widespread, accompanied by numerous blisters and pustules in the surrounding areas. As these blisters break open, they coalesce into significant ulcers.
These lesions seldom progress to suppuration or produce healthy exudate, particularly when they have their origin in choler. This is because the matter is more likely to be consumed by heat than to undergo proper suppuration. Therefore, if these lesions resist suppuration despite medical intervention, if the tumor remains discolored, and if upon being opened they yield little or no discharge, the prognosis is dire. In fact, it is rare for patients experiencing such symptoms to recover.
While small blisters arising from vapors trapped beneath the skin do not necessarily indicate a fatal outcome in carbuncles, a swollen or distended area that exhibits a green or black hue and lacks any sensation of pricking or burning is a sign of mortal gangrene. Buboes and carbuncles almost always present with fever; however, the intensity of the fever is greater when the lesions are located in the emunctories or nervous tissue compared to the fleshy areas. Symptoms tend to be milder and more manageable in individuals who are strong and of balanced temperament.
Carbuncles can impact both external and internal organs, frequently affecting both simultaneously. When a carbuncle severely afflicts the heart without any visible manifestations on the surface, all hope for recovery is lost, and patients often succumb suddenly while engaging in ordinary activities such as eating, drinking, or walking, completely unaware of their impending death.
If a carbuncle develops in the diaphragm or lungs, it can lead to rapid suffocation. In cases where the lesion is situated in the brain, the patient may become delirious, ultimately resulting in death. Similarly, if the carbuncle forms in areas relevant to urinary passage, it can lead to fatal complications due to urinary retention, as was the case with the waiting maid of the Queen Mother at the Castle of Roslin, whom I previously mentioned. Lastly, carbuncles located in the stomach are associated with specific complications that will be discussed further in this account.
While serving as a surgeon at the Hospital of Paris, I encountered a young and robust monk from the Order of St. Victor, who was overseeing the care of sick patients within the facility. He suddenly developed a persistent fever, characterized by a blackened, dry, and rough tongue—symptoms that indicated the presence of putrefied and corrupted humors, as well as vapors rising throughout his body. His tongue hung out like that of a hound, and he experienced insatiable thirst, frequent fainting spells, and a strong urge to vomit.
The severity and malignancy of his condition resulted in convulsions that affected his entire body, ultimately leading to his death on the third day. This alarming turn of events led the caregivers at the hospital to suspect poisoning. To ascertain the cause of his demise, the hospital’s authorities ordered an autopsy on his body.
Summoning a physician and a surgeon to assist, we discovered a distinct impression at the base of his stomach, resembling a mark made by a hot iron or cautery. This eschar was roughly the size of a fingernail, while the surrounding tissue of his stomach appeared greatly contracted and leathery. Given this evidence, particularly the deep eschar embedded in the stomach’s substance, we collectively concluded that he had been poisoned by sublimated mercury or arsenic.
However, as I was suturing his abdomen, I noticed numerous black spots scattered across his skin. Curious, I inquired of my colleagues their thoughts on these spots. I remarked that they resembled the purplish marks associated with plague. The physician and surgeon dismissed my concern, attributing the spots to flea bites. Yet, I urged them to consider both their abundance across the body and their significant depth. Upon inserting needles into the flesh around these spots, we observed that the tissue surrounding the needles turned black.
Furthermore, his nostrils, nails, and ears exhibited a livid discoloration, and his overall condition appeared inconsistent with other illnesses. Those who had been caring for him reported that his face had become so altered shortly before his death that his closest friends could barely recognize him.
Given this accumulation of evidence, we reconsidered our initial assessment. We revised our conclusions and prepared a certificate for the governors and masters of the hospital, affixing our signatures and seals to attest that he had succumbed to a pestilent carbuncle.
By the aforementioned signs of a pestilent carbuncle—particularly the severe pain, the malignancy of the venomous matter, and the accompanying high fever—it becomes clear that highly heated, adhesive, and drawing medications should not be applied to this type of tumor. Such treatments can obstruct the exhalation or expulsion of the toxic malignancy, as they tend to close the skin’s pores, resulting in increased heat in the affected area. Therefore, it is preferable to use resolving medications that alleviate heat and encourage the opening of the skin’s pores.
Initially, the affected area should be fomented with a mixture of water and oil, into which a small amount of treacle has been dissolved. Applying wet cloths soaked in this concoction can be beneficial. Additionally, a decoction of malows, lily roots, linseeds, figs, and oil of hypericum can be employed to thin the skin and facilitate the drawing out of the venomous matter. The following day, it is essential to apply the recommended cataplasm.
To prepare a cataplasm, begin by taking the leaves of sorrel and henbane, roasting them gently under hot ashes. Once roasted, combine them with four egg yolks, two drams of treacle, and three ounces of lily oil, along with enough barley meal to achieve a suitable consistency. This mixture will help to reduce heat and promote suppuration.
Alternatively, you can create another effective cataplasm using four ounces each of marshmallow and lily roots, along with half an ounce of linseeds. Boil and mash these ingredients, then strain them through a sieve. To the strained mixture, add one and a half ounces of fresh butter, one dram of mithridate, and sufficient barley meal to achieve the desired consistency. This cataplasm is particularly effective in drawing out venomous matter and facilitating complete suppuration, especially when the flow of the pus is manageable.
For an even more potent formulation, take half an ounce each of white lily roots, onions, and leaven; one dram each of mustard seeds, pigeon dung, and soap; and six snails in their shells. Add half a dram each of fine sugar, treacle, and mithridate. Combine all these ingredients thoroughly and mix them with the yolks of eggs to create a cataplasm, which should be applied warm.
Lastly, another variation can be made using the yolks of six eggs, one ounce of powdered salt, and half a dram each of lily oil and treacle, along with enough barley meal to obtain the right consistency. Mix these ingredients to create a cataplasm suitable for application.
To prepare a medicinal mixture, begin with four ounces of ordinary diachylon, two ounces of unguentum basilicon, and half an ounce of violet oil. Combine these ingredients to create an effective topical remedy.
Many ancient scholars have recommended scabious, ground or crushed between two stones, mixed with old hog’s grease, egg yolks, and a pinch of salt. This formulation is believed to promote suppuration in carbuncles. Additionally, a mixture of an egg combined with barley meal and violet oil can help alleviate pain and encourage suppuration.
For drawing out toxins, slice a radish root and apply the slices directly onto the carbuncle or pestilential tumor, as this method has proven to be highly effective. The juice of coltsfoot helps to cool the heat associated with carbuncles, while bruised devil’s-bit herb yields similar results. I have frequently employed the following remedy for the heat of carbuncles with considerable success; it not only alleviates pain but also promotes suppuration.
To create this remedy, take four ounces of soot scraped from a chimney and two ounces of common salt. Grind them into a fine powder, then incorporate the yolks of two eggs, mixing until the blend reaches a paste-like consistency. Apply this warm paste to the carbuncle. Initially, if the carbuncle presents a blackened point or head, it should be treated by applying scalding hot oil or aquafortis to it. This burning technique suffocates the venom much like a lightning strike, significantly reducing pain, as I have consistently observed. There is no need to fear excessive pain from this burning, as it affects only the point of the carbuncle, which is devoid of sensation due to the eschar formed there.
Following this burning, continue with the aforementioned treatments until the eschar appears to detach from the surrounding flesh, indicating the patient’s recovery and signifying that the body’s natural defenses are overcoming the poison. Once the eschar falls off, apply gentle cleansing agents as prescribed for a pestilent bubo. It is also advisable to intermittently use suppurative and emollient treatments, allowing the thicker matter to clear while coaxing any remaining raw tissue toward suppuration. This dual approach addresses two objectives: promoting suppuration of any lingering raw material and cleansing the well-digested matter present in the ulcer.
The surrounding tissues of a pestilent ulcer are often superficially excoriated due to ulcerous pustules that intermittently produce a burning sensation accompanied by intense itching. This irritation may arise from both internal and external factors. Internally, the cause can be traced to a thin, irritating discharge from the ulcer that moistens the adjacent areas. Externally, it may result from the clogged pores of the skin, often the consequence of prolonged application of topical medications.
To address this issue, the affected area should be fomented with substances that have discussing and relaxing properties, such as aquafortis (commonly used by goldsmiths to separate metals), alum water, lime water, brine, and similar agents.
Ulcers resulting from carbuncles and pestilent buboes present further challenges in cicatrization due to the corrosive discharge produced by either choleric, phlegmatic, or saline blood. This corrupted state of the underlying tissue contributes to the formation of abscesses. Moreover, these ulcers tend to be round, complicating the healing process as the discharge lacks a free exit. The inherently acrid and corrosive nature of the discharge intensifies when it remains trapped, causing further degradation of the surrounding flesh and obstructing the healing of the ulcer’s edges.
During this process, the ulcer’s margins may become callous, and unless corrective measures are employed—such as surgical intervention or the use of caustic agents—the healing process will be significantly hindered. The density of the callous tissue obstructs the release of sufficient moisture necessary for the regeneration and closure of the ulcer.
Once the ulcer has been smoothed and brought to a level with the surrounding healthy tissue, it is essential to employ epulotics—substances capable of promoting cicatrization by condensing and hardening the surface of the flesh. There are two primary categories of epulotics. The first group consists of mildly astringent agents that bind and dry without causing significant irritation. These include pomegranate peels, oak bark, tutia, litharge, burnt bones, brass scales, galls, cypress nuts, minium, antimony, bolearmeniac, the burnt and washed shells of oysters, and lime that has been washed nine times, among various metalline substances.
The second category includes more potent agents that can consume excessive granulation tissue or proud flesh; however, these must be used sparingly. This category includes washed vitriol and burnt alum, which stands out among other epulotics due to its exceptional drying and astringent properties. These compounds help consolidate the tissue, which may become thin and weak due to excessive excrementitious moisture.
Scar formation in such cases can often be unsightly, resulting in scars that appear red, livid, blackened, swollen, or rough, due to significant burning effects on the area. To address this deformity, I propose several remedies.
For scars that are too prominent or raised, one effective method involves applying a lead plate—coated with mercury—secured tightly to the affected area. To improve the appearance, the scar can be whitened by anointing it with lime that has been washed nine times (which mitigates bitterness), mixed with rose oil.
Another technique involves taking two pounds of tartar or argole, burning it, and grinding it into powder. This powder should be placed in a cloth and allowed to hang in a moist vault or cellar, with a container positioned below to catch the dripping liquid, which is beneficial for rubbing onto the scar over an extended period.
Additionally, the moisture that seeps from eggs while they are roasted in coals is believed to possess similar healing properties, as does Unguentum Citrinum and freshly prepared Plasters of Cerussa. The three following compositions are particularly well-regarded for their effectiveness.
Prescription:
Take four ounces of lard, thoroughly washed nine times in highly acidic vinegar, along with half an ounce each of cinnabar, lemon juice, and calcinated alum, and two drams of unburnt sulfur.
Blend these components thoroughly to create a fine powder. Subsequently, incorporate them to form an ointment. This preparation serves to soften the skin and effectively cleanse blemishes.
Prescription:
Take one ounce each of henbane oil and cucumber seed oil, along with half an ounce of tartar oil and three drachms of white wax.
Gently heat all these ingredients together over a low flame until they are fully melted. Then, remove the mixture from the heat and allow it to cool slightly. Next, incorporate six drachms of whale sperm.
Once combined, gradually add three drachms of powdered Rhasis’ white trochiscus and one drachm of caph. Finally, mix everything thoroughly with the juice of malic wax to create a smooth liniment.
Or else,
Prescription:
Take one ounce of serpent radix and boil it in one pound of distilled water until reduced by half. Then, add an equal amount of powdered red and white sulfur and alum, both at one and a half drachms, to the mixture. Strain the resulting liquid and incorporate one drachm of caph and one and a half drachms of hyoscyamus juice.
Store this preparation in a lead or glass container. When you wish to use it, dip clean linen cloths into the solution and apply them to the affected area. This remedy can also be utilized to alleviate facial redness. Each morning, cleanse the face with warm water mixed with bran to wash away any remaining residue.
The insidious malady is not only expelled from the body through the eruption of pustules and spots, but also via various forms of excretion, including sweating, vomiting, nasal bleeding, hemorrhoidal bleeding, menstrual flow, diarrhea, and other methods. Thus, nature strives to rid itself of this lethal toxin, particularly the portions that have not yet reached the heart. However, special attention must be paid to the body’s natural inclinations, as we should observe the specific pathways it is attempting to utilize for excretion.
It is important to note that these forms of evacuation are not always critical responses; rather, they are often symptomatic. This is because nature can become so agitated by the relentless malignancy of the affliction that it cannot properly process the harmful material, compelling it to expel these substances in their raw state. Therefore, if the body’s signs—including moist skin, reduced urination, and other indicators—suggest that it is striving for a crisis or seeking to excrete through sweating, one should take appropriate measures as previously discussed to facilitate this process.
The ancients held that all instances of sweating during acute illnesses are beneficial, particularly when they occur on critical days, are universal in nature, and show signs prior to these critical days. However, in the context of the swift and perilous plague, we should not anticipate a true crisis. Instead, we must act quickly and with whatever means available to liberate the body from such a formidable and dangerous adversary.
Often, dense and viscous excrementitious humors can be expelled through vomiting, even when stronger purgatives fail to achieve this result. Thus, we can reasonably expect to eliminate the pestilential venom through this method of excretion, provided there are no obstacles to hinder the process. If the body exhibits frequent nausea, it may indicate its inclination toward this means of discharge.
To aid in this endeavor, one may administer a mixture of half a pint of warm water combined with four ounces of common oil, one ounce of vinegar, and a little radish juice. After consuming this potion, it is advisable to use a goose quill dipped in the same oil to stimulate the throat, or alternatively, to employ a sprig of rosemary, or even the fingers, to induce vomiting. Additionally, an eight-ounce dose of the mucilaginous liquid derived from the decoction of linseeds can also promote vomiting effectively.
Or else,
Prescription:
Take radish root (Raphanus sativus) in a quantity of three grams along with its seeds and the seeds of antirhinitis, and boil them in a sufficient amount of common water. After boiling, strain the mixture and dissolve in it an equal quantity of oxymel and vinegar syrup, each measuring one and a half ounces. This preparation should be administered as a sizeable potion, served warm.
Or else,
Prescription:
Prepare a potion using six ounces of oxymel of Galen and two ounces of common oil, serving it warm. However, it is essential to let nature take its course; inducing vomiting should only occur when the body instinctively initiates this action. Forcing or violent vomiting can lead to the distension of the nerve fibers in the stomach, weaken the body, and rupture the blood vessels in the lungs, potentially resulting in life-threatening hemoptysis. Therefore, if the stomach experiences a harmful urge to vomit, it is preferable to strengthen it instead. This can be achieved using sachets filled with rose petals, wormwood, and sandalwood, while internally administering the juices of quinces and barberries, as well as broths prepared for this purpose.
Long evacuations can occur through spitting and salivation, as illustrated by cases of pleurisy. In such instances, the fluid associated with pleurisy transforms into pus. This purulent matter is absorbed by the delicate, sponge-like tissue of the lungs and subsequently transported into the trachea, from which it is ultimately expelled through the mouth.
It is widely acknowledged that individuals suffering from syphilis (Lues venerea) benefit significantly from spitting and salivation. These effects can be enhanced through the use of masticatories made from the roots of iris, Pellitory of Spain, mastic gum, and similar substances. Additionally, holding the mucilage of linseed in the mouth can produce the same beneficial results.
Individuals with a moist brain can expel excess humor through sneezing and blowing their noses. This process, driven by the brain’s expulsive capacity, serves to eliminate harmful substances. This phenomenon is particularly evident in elderly individuals and children, who regularly clear their nostrils. The brain can be stimulated to facilitate two types of excretion due to both internal and external factors:
1. Internal Factors: The presence of phlegmatic and vaporous substances within the brain may irritate it, prompting the need for expulsion.
2. External Factors: Exposure to sunlight, tickling the nostrils with a feather, or inhaling powders such as hellebore, euphorbium, pyrethrum, mustard seed, and other sternutatory agents can also provoke this reaction.
When stimulated, the brain employs its expulsive faculty to rid itself of bothersome materials. Sneezing, which typically occurs with a sound, results from the passage of nasal matter through the constricted spaces of the cribiform plate situated at the base of the nostrils.
However, it is inadvisable to induce sneezing in individuals exhibiting plethoric conditions without first administering general remedies. Otherwise, the excess humor may be forcibly drawn into the brain, potentially leading to serious complications such as apoplexy or vertigo.
Belching serves to expel the flatulence contained in the stomach, which arises from the consumption of crude or gas-producing foods. The characteristics of these gases—whether pleasant, noxious, sweet, bitter, or tart—provide insight into the condition and nature of the digestive disturbances from which they originate.
Vomiting, on the other hand, alleviates the stomach of these crude substances. However, to effectively restore balance to the digestive system, any disorder must be addressed with appropriate countermeasures, as advised by a physician.
Hiccuping (hicketting) is a reflex involving the contraction and extension of the stomach’s nerve fibers, which occurs to expel substances that are excessively lodged within its walls. However, it is not solely caused by overindulgence; a lack of food can also contribute. Additionally, putrid vapors originating from other areas of the body, such as from a pestilent bubo or carbuncle, can invade the stomach.
Moreover, irritants—particularly acidic and acrid substances—can stimulate the stomach’s lining, causing sensations that provoke hiccuping. Common irritants include vinegar and various spices. Frequent and persistent hiccuping after events such as purging, a wound, or vomiting can indicate a serious condition; if accompanied by subsequent convulsions, it may prove fatal.
Various remedies should be employed based on the specific causes of hiccuping. For instances where hiccups arise from overeating, moderation in food intake can be beneficial, while hiccups triggered by an empty stomach may be alleviated through appropriate nourishment. When hiccups are caused by putrid or toxic vapors, treatment can be supported by antidotes such as treacle. In cases where irritants—particularly acidic and acrid substances—are the culprits, consuming heavy, fatty, and cooling foods can provide relief.
The entire body can often be purged through urine, making it a primary method for eliminating feverish substances. Many individuals suffering from syphilis have found relief when salivation through ointments was unsuccessful; they were cured by significant urine output induced by diuretic medications. The diuretics that can stimulate urine production were previously discussed in relation to kidney stones. However, it is essential to avoid the use of harsh diuretics, particularly in the presence of bladder inflammation, as this can lead to the transfer of harmful humors to the affected area, increasing the risk of a potentially deadly gangrene. In such cases, it is preferable to encourage diversion through sweating instead.
It is not only reason but also extensive experience that leads us to believe that women benefit greatly from their menstrual purgation, which helps them avoid serious, pestilent, and potentially fatal diseases. For this reason, such purgation must be actively encouraged through both internal remedies and external applications.
Among the effective internal remedies are Cassia lignea, cinnamon, the bark of mulberry roots, saffron, agrimony, nutmeg, savin, diagridium, and various others. If a stronger effect is required, more potent substances such as the roots of euphorbia, antimony, and cantharides (when taken in small quantities) can powerfully stimulate menstruation.
Additionally, various external methods may enhance this process. Frictions and ligatures applied to the thighs and legs can be beneficial, as can cupping in the inner and middle parts of the thighs. Opening the saphena vein, using leeches at the cervical orifice of the womb, and employing pessaries can also contribute significantly to menstrual purgation.
Fomentations made with aromatic substances—whose fragrant odors or warming properties can help to thin and expel dense humors—are particularly effective. Suitable ingredients include marshmallow roots, orris, parsley, fennel, knotted marjoram, as well as the leaves and flowers of St. John’s Wort, asparagus, rocket, balm, chervil, mugwort, mint, pennyroyal, savory, rosemary, rue, thyme, sage, bay berries, broom, ginger, cloves, pepper, nutmeg, and similar herbs.
To utilize these substances, a woman can sit over a perforated seat and allow the vapors from the boiling preparations to enter the womb through a funnel, ensuring she remains warm and insulated on all sides to prevent any loss of heat. Such preparations can be used for both general and specific baths, as well as for crafting effective pessaries.
Prescription:
Take 1 ounce of theriac mithridatic (theriac made by Mithridates), 1 drachm of castor, and 1 drachm of gum ammoniac. Mix these ingredients with cotton in a tincture of mercurial juice to create a pessary.
Or else,
Prescription:
Take parsley root and fenugreek, and roast them under ashes. Next, crush these ingredients and combine them with powdered staphisagria, pepper, saffron, and lily oil. Form this mixture into a pessary, shaping it into the form of a suppository or nodulus.
Or,
Prescription:
Take 1 drachm of powdered myrrh and 1 drachm of aloes, along with 2 drachms of leaves from sabina, nigella, and artemisia, and 1 drachm of black hellebore root. Add 1 scruple of saffron, along with mercury succus and common honey. Combine these ingredients to create a pessary, encapsulated in cotton. The following formulation may prove more effective.
Prescription:
Take 2 drachms of the following ingredients: succus absinthii (wormwood juice), myrrh, euphorbia, castor, sabina, diacridium, terebinth, galbanum, and theriac.
Prepare a pessary according to established methods, ensuring that a thread is attached at one end. This design allows for easy removal at your convenience.
However, if the menstrual flow is provoked and becomes excessively heavy, it is essential to take measures to halt it. This can be achieved by administering richer, more viscous foods, opening a vein in the arm, applying cupping glasses beneath the breasts, performing frictional techniques and ligations on the upper limbs, using pessaries, and applying cooling and astringent plasters to the lower abdomen, hips, and sides. Additionally, ensure the woman is placed in a suitable position, avoiding a feather bed.
The following injection effectively halts the bleeding from the womb.
Prescription: Combine 1 pound of plant water and 2 ounces each of immature walnut galls, barberry, sumac, and pomegranate rind with 2 ounces of Roman vitriol and rock alum. Boil all the ingredients together to create a decoction. Use this solution as an injection into the womb.
In carrying out these procedures, I advise that the surgeon consult with a physician as the situation and circumstances allow.
If nature attempts to expel the pestilent matter through hemorrhoids, you may encourage this process using specific techniques. Employ friction and strong ligatures on the lower body, particularly around the thighs and legs, as if treating a fracture. Additionally, apply cupping glasses (ventosas) with considerable heat to the inner thigh.
Warm and attractive substances can also be introduced near the rectum. Examples include fomentations, poultices, or ointments, such as a mixture made from an onion roasted in the embers, combined with treacle and a small amount of rue oil. Once the hemorrhoidal veins become prominent through these methods, gently rub them with rough linen cloths, fig leaves, raw onion, or a mixture of ox gall and powdered colocynth.
As a final measure, you may apply horse leeches or choose to incise them with a lancet, particularly if they protrude significantly and are swollen with excess blood. However, if there is excessive bleeding, you should manage it using the same techniques employed for menstrual flow control.
Severe and uncontrolled diarrhea can weaken the body’s faculties and may ultimately lead the patient toward a path of consumption and death. Therefore, if such symptoms manifest, it is crucial to intervene promptly with remedies administered both orally and rectally.
To this end, a medicinal pudding can be prepared using wheat flour boiled in a decoction of pomegranate juice, barberries, bole armoniac, terra sigillata, and white poppy seeds—each measured at approximately 1 drachm. This mixture serves to stabilize the stomach while alleviating the acrimony of the choleric humor and promoting regular bowel movements.
Additionally, an almond milk concoction can provide further support. To prepare it, take sweet almonds that have been boiled in barley water, preferably that which has been previously used to quench steel or iron. Grind the almonds in a marble mortar until finely pulverized, then combine with some of the same barley water to create the almond milk. To enhance its efficacy, add 1 drachm of Diarhodon Abbat before administering it to the patient for consumption.
The following remedy was imparted to me by Dr. Chappelaine, the King’s chief physician, who inherited it from his father. He regarded it as a closely guarded secret and often prescribed it with remarkable success to his patients. The preparation is as follows:
Prescription:
Take the following ingredients: Arabic bole (*boli àrmen*), seal of the stone hare (*sigil. lapid. haemat*), each in the quantity of one drachm (*an. ʒi*), naval tar (*picis navalis*) – two drachms (*ʒiss*), red coral (*coral rub*), margarite (*marg. elect.*), burnt deer antler (*corn. cervi ust.*), and dissolved in herbal water (*loti in aq. plant*) – one scruple (*an. ℈i*), along with two ounces (*℥ii*) of rose sugar (*sacchar. ros*).
Grind these ingredients into a fine powder. The patient should take a spoonful of this mixture before meals or with the yolk of an egg.
Christopher Andrew, in his work *Oecoiatria*, highly recommends using dog feces, provided that the dog has exclusively been fed bones for the three days prior.
Quinces roasted in embers or boiled in a pot, along with conserve made from cornelian cherries, preserved barberries, and myrobalans, are all beneficial. Roasted nutmeg, consumed before meals, strengthens the stomach and alleviates diarrhea. Patients should focus on nourishing foods, preferably roasted rather than boiled. For their drink, they may consume chalibeate water derived from a decoction of pomegranate, quince, medlar, mulberry, brambleberries, and similar fruits, all of which possess qualities that help bind and eliminate excess moisture from the body. These waters can be enhanced with syrup of red currants, rose julep, and other suitable additives.
Anoint the area of the stomach and abdomen with a mixture of mastic oil, musk oil, myrtle oil, and quince oil. Additionally, a crust of freshly baked bread soaked in vinegar and rose water can be effectively applied. Alternatively, a poultice composed of red roses, sumac, barberries, myrtles, quince pulp, mastic, bean flowers, and rose honey can be prepared using chalibeate water.
Anodyne, abstergent, astringent, consolidating, and nourishing enemas should be administered. These treatments help neutralize the acidity of bodily humors and alleviate discomfort.
Prescription: Infuse one ounce each of lettuce, hyoscyamus, and water spinach, combined with one ounce of violet and lotus flowers. Prepare a decoction totaling one pound. In the strained liquid, dissolve six drachms of cassia fistula and add one and a half ounces of rose oil and lotus flowers. This mixture shall be used as an enema.
Or else,
Prescription: Prepare a decoction using equal parts of red roses, whole barley, and plant seeds. Once strained, incorporate two ounces of rose oil and two egg yolks into the mixture. This formulation will be used as an enema.
Or,
Prescription: Prepare a decoction consisting of two pounds of capillary and vervain, along with the skin of the mentioned herbs. In this mixture, boil one ounce each of the following: violet leaves, marshmallow, mercury, plantain, and one ounce of whole barley. Additionally, include four ounces of major cold seeds and one and a half ounces of the strained decoction. Dissolve one ounce of recently extracted cinnamon in this solution, followed by adding four ounces of violet oil and two egg yolks. Finally, sweeten with one ounce of red sugar. This preparation is intended for use as an enema.
Or,
Prescription: Combine equal parts of chamomile flowers, melilotus, and anise, each totaling one drachm, along with one ounce of bismal root. Prepare a decoction in milk. After straining the mixture, add two ounces of mucilage made from linseed and fenugreek extract, diluted in marshmallow water. Sweeten with one ounce of red sugar and incorporate one and a half ounces each of chamomile and anise oils. Finally, include the yolks of two eggs. This preparation should be used as an enema.
Such enemas should be retained for an extended period to more effectively alleviate pain. The presence of gut shavings in the stool indicates the possibility of an ulcer in the intestines. In such cases, it is essential to utilize cleansing and restorative enemas, such as the one described below.
Prescription: Take 2 parts of whole barley, 1 part each of red rose petals, chamomile flowers, and plantain leaves, to prepare a decoction. Once the decoction is strained, dissolve in it an equal amount of rose honey and absinthe syrup, totaling 2 ounces. Add 2 egg yolks to this mixture. This enema serves to consolidate and restore health.
Prescription: Combine 2 ounces of plantain juice, centaury juice, and purslane juice with 2 drams of Armenian bole, 1 dram of dragon’s blood, and 3 drams of dissolved goat fat. Prepare this mixture as an enema.
Additionally, boiled cow’s milk combined with plantain and mixed with rose syrup serves as an excellent remedy for ulcerated intestines.
The following clyster is binding.
Prescription:
Prepare a decoction of horse chestnut and plantain, using 31 grams in a quantity of three quarts of roasted milk. Once strained, add two drachms of bolus armeniaca (armenian clay) and two drachms of dragon’s blood. Incorporate the albumin of two eggs to complete the clyster preparation.
Or else,
To prepare a clyster, use a sufficient quantity of purified juices from plantain, lamb’s tongue, knotgrass, and purslane as the base. Add one drachm each of Armenian bole, sigillated earth, and dragon’s blood. Then, incorporate two ounces each of myrtle oil and rose oil. Mix thoroughly to create the clyster.
If pure blood is expelled from the intestines, I recommend using more potent astringents. To address this, I highly advocate a decoction made from pomegranate peels, cypress nuts, red rose petals, sumac, alum, and vitriol, prepared with smithy water. This mixture should be used for enemas, omitting any oil. Additionally, it is beneficial to apply this same decoction as a fomentation to the anal area, perineum, and the entire abdomen.
Astringent enemas should not be administered until harmful humors have been expelled and cleansed using purgative medicines. Otherwise, their premature use could lead to an obstruction, potentially causing harm to the body.
If the patient is too weak to ingest anything orally, he should be administered nutritive enemas instead.
Take a decoction made from a capon and veal shank, about 1.235 liters, cooked together with sorrel, bugloss, borage, burnet, and lettuce—approximately 10 or 12 ounces. In this mixture, dissolve the yolks of three eggs, along with one ounce each of rose sugar and brandy. Add two drams of unsalted fresh butter. Combine all ingredients to prepare an enema.
The pernicious influence, often absorbed through the pores into the body by way of transpiration, is frequently expelled through the same imperceptible channels. Our innate bodily heat, perpetually active within us, disperses these harmful substances, transforming them into vapor and air that are exhaled through the tiny, unseen openings of the skin. Evidence of this process can be observed when tumors and abscesses, which form contrary to nature and reach the stage of suppuration, are sometimes resolved and dissipated solely through the natural efficacy of the body’s heat, without any intervention from medical practices. Thus, it is undeniable that nature, when sufficiently robust, can rid itself of the pestilent malignancy through transpiration. An abscess, bubo, or carbuncle may surface, indicating that some material has accumulated within a particular region of the body. When nature and the body’s innate warmth are potent and vigorous, no challenge is insurmountable, especially when the pathways for elimination are equally unobstructed and open.
In this section, we will explore effective methods for treating infants and children who have contracted the plague. It is crucial to approach their care with sensitivity and caution, given their vulnerable state.
In the unfortunate event that infants, whether nursing or weaned, become infected with the plague, a different approach to treatment is necessary compared to standard practices. For nursing infants, it is imperative that the nurse follows a regimen as though she herself were suffering from the plague. Her diet and use of medicine should adhere to the principles of the six non-natural things, emphasizing moderation. This moderation positively influences the quality of her milk, which is the sole nourishment for the infant.
The infant should be maintained on a consistent routine concerning sleep, awakeness, and the elimination of excess humors and bodily waste, resembling the nurse’s regimen. The nurse’s diet should comprise foods and broths with cooling properties, alongside herbs and meats of moderate temperature to reduce the feverish heat. She must avoid consuming wine and should regularly apply a mixture of water or sorrel juice tempered with sugar of roses to her nipples before nursing.
To fortify the infant’s heart against the aggressive venom of the disease, administer one scruple of treacle through the nurse’s milk, a broth made from a young chicken, or another cordial water. Additionally, it is essential to apply the same remedy on the infant’s chest, the emunctories (areas where toxins are expelled), and both wrists. Moreover, frequently smelling treacle dissolved in rose water, vinegar of roses, and a small amount of aqua vitae can strengthen the body’s natural defenses against the harmful effects of the plague.
Medicinal Approaches for Weaned Children
Once children are weaned and have reached a reasonable level of growth, they can begin to take oral medications. As they develop the ability to digest more substantial foods that can be converted into blood, they can also handle gentle medicinal treatments more readily. Accordingly, a potion can be prepared using twelve grains of treacle, dissolved in a small amount of succory syrup and mixed with a cordial water or the broth of a capon. Alternatively, some may prefer to administer it with a conserve of roses in the form of a bolus. It is crucial to give treacle to children in small doses, as larger quantities can provoke an inflammatory response and lead to a fever.
Additionally, a nourishing broth can be prepared for frequent consumption, using capon meat seasoned with sorrel, lettuce, purslane, and cooling seeds. To enhance its therapeutic effect, one ounce each of bole armenick and terra sigillata can be tied in a cloth and occasionally pressed out during the cooking process. Bole armenick possesses remarkable drying properties, as noted by Galen; it is effective in treating those infected with the plague, provided they are responsive to medical intervention. If patients cannot benefit from bole armenick, it is unlikely they will respond to any other remedies.
Given that children’s bodies are warm, moist, and vaporous, they can eliminate some of the toxic elements through their skin by inducing sweating. This can be achieved with a decoction made from parsley seeds, prunes, figs, and sorrel roots, complemented with a small amount of powdered hartshorn or ivory.
Enhancing Perspiration and Remedies for Children during Illness
To promote a more abundant and effective perspiration in children, apply sponges soaked in a warm decoction of sage, rosemary, lavender, bay leaves, chamomile, melilot, and mallows. Alternatively, use pig bladders half-filled with the same herbal decoction and place them under the arms and by the groins. While the child is sweating, gently fan their face to keep them cool. Additionally, apply a small amount of treacle, dissolved in vinegar and rose water, to the nostrils. It’s important to moderate sweating in children, as their fragile constitution can easily dissipate. Often, even if they do not visibly sweat, the beneficial effects of sweating are felt due to the dissipation of harmful substances through the skin’s pores thanks to the body’s heat.
During the sweating process, while the face is fanned and fragrant, restorative substances are applied to the nostrils, it is crucial to sustain and strengthen the body’s natural functions. This helps to prevent any weakening that might otherwise occur due to the sweating process, enabling the body to more effectively expel toxins. Once perspiration has been wiped away, offering a potion of the rose conserve mixed with powdered hartshorn or ivory, dissolved in bugloss and sorrel water, can be highly beneficial in cooling and protecting the heart.
Should any swelling appear in the armpits or groin area, it should be treated gently to maturity using a softening, relaxing, drawing, and finally a suppurative fomentation or poultice. Handle these areas with utmost care considering the child’s tender age.
If purging is necessary, the following can be prescribed as a highly effective remedy: take one dram of powdered rhubarb and infuse it in carduus benedictus water, adding one scruple of cinnamon. Stir in the strained mixture with two drams of diacatholicon and three drams of the laxative syrup of roses to prepare a mild potion.
This method is considered an effective treatment for pestilence and pestilent fevers, based on the wisdom of esteemed physicians and my own extensive experience, by the grace and permission of God. Only from Him, the source of all good things enjoyed by humankind, should the true means of protection against pestilence be sought and hoped for.