Part 4

The Doctor is very full on this first Head of Caution, and bestows no fewer than nine Pages about _Quarantines_, and _Lazarettoes_; but as there is nothing newer said of them than what has been known, these two hundred Years; I leave that Affair to the Civil Magistrate, whose Care can never exceed, when it’s employed for the Good of the People. But as far as we may depend upon the first, and Philosophical Part of this Discourse, there is no great Occasion for either of them: We live a great way from the South of _France_, and the Doctor has assured us, that the Plague cannot reach us, by some hundreds of Miles. For, to our Satisfaction be it remember’d, that Air it self is very pure and harmless; nor can it otherwise be infected, than by pestilential Steams issuing out of Bodies, at the end of the Disease; as also, that they cannot travel any length, if there is not a Disposition in the Air, which it only has when supposed. And therefore, we are very little obnoxious to a Plague, and consequently have no great Occasion for _Lazarettoes_ or _Quarantines_.

I cannot omit, without incurring Displeasure, the pretty Expedient the Doctor recommends, for discovering when the Plague has forsaken a Parcel of Goods; and that because he might foresee a Question might arise, about the Time they should serve their _Quarantine_; and whether forty Days were sufficient. His Answer is fine! why; _we must set little Birds upon the exposed Goods_. But, may not the Attempt prove dangerous, and as dangerous as to set a lighted Match to a good large Barrel of Gun-powder. The Reason for this Experiment, is, because it has been observed in times of the Plague, that that Country is forsaken by the Birds; and for this he quotes _Diemerbroeck_.

How beautifully are such Presages related by _Lucretius_, _Virgil_, _Ovid_, and other Poets; but how insipidly are they misapplied on this Occasion. Physicians have carefully observed and recorded, every thing considerable and extraordinary that preceded the Pestilence; and that in order to provide themselves against it, and to give the Alarm of its first Approaches, that People may provide for their Safety in time. Some of these Presages are taken from the _Heavens_; some from the _Air_; others from the _Earth_; and many from the _Waters_.

——_Sæpe exiguus Mus Augurium tibi triste dabit._

But as the Consideration of those Presages do not fall properly in my way at this time; we proceed next to consider, how a stop is put to the Plague, in _Case, through a Miscarriage in the Publick Care, by the Neglect of Officers, or otherwise, such a Calamity should be suffered to befal us_.

And here we must observe, that this Art of _Quarantines_, and _Lazarettoes_, is so infallible, that we may blame the Civil Magistrate, and his Officers, if ever the Plague is suffered to come among us. For my part, I cannot think any Government so foolishly malicious to suffer a Plague to come into their Country, if they knew how to avoid it. But that we may not slightly bring an ill Report against Governors; the Physicians are to be blamed, when the Orders of the Civil Magistrate are hurtful; for he always takes Counsel with Physicians in all Matters, relating to _Nature_ and _Health_: This has been the Practice in all Nations, and in all Times, since Mankind has been govern’d by Law; and if these wrong Measures are owing _to the Ignorance of the true Nature of Contagion_, surely it’s none of the Magistrate’s Business to discover it.

The Magistrate may contradict his former Orders, for any Thing that is better, at least not so pernicious, as those whereunto he was led by Physicians. But the Physicians in _London_ might not have advised the shutting up of Houses, if they had remember’d the fatal Experiments of it in other Countries, recorded in Books of Physick. _Mercurialis_ tells us, how the Houses were shut up in _Milan_ on this Occasion, but that the Magistrates found their Mistake in a Week, and set them open again, very much to the Comfort of the Healthy, and Relief of the Sick. The same learned Author informs us, that burning _infected Goods_ was found to do great Mischief in a Plague in _Padua_, and what then shall we think of our celebrated Physician, who [15]recommends this Method of Burning? [16]_Quapropter_, says the famous _Mercurialis_, _non possum commendare eos, qui hisce temporibus infectas supellectiles in urbibus cremant, propterea quod_, &c. We may surely say, that this Error is not only _owing to his Ignorance of the true Nature of Contagion_, but even of his Ignorance of what Physicians do Abroad.

[Footnote 15: Page 40.]

[Footnote 16: _Cap._ 21.]

I think the Doctor has made a little too free with the Civil Magistrate, and his Brethren of the Faculty; especially, that he has no where told us any Thing of the Nature of Contagion; not so much as what we may read in many Books of Physick. And therefore his further inveighing against _Physick_ and _Physicians_, is the most surprizing, unaccountable Indiscretion that Man ever was guilty of: A Man that has done nothing, but to corrupt it: For thus he puts an End to a great deal of rambling Stuff, about shutting up Houses. [17]_The Management in former Times neither answers the Purpose of discovering the beginning of the Infection, nor of putting a stop to it when discovered; other Measures are certainly to be taken, which I think should be of this Nature._

[Footnote 17: Page 37.]

Here begins an Account of Things to be done in a _new_ Manner, and what will be found _agreeable_ to Reason. _Imprimis_, Then, _instead of ignorant old Women, we ought to have understanding and diligent Men_. There is nothing New in this, nor very _Unreasonable_; but as the Doctor has enhansed the whole Knowledge of Physick in his own Person, and made _old Women_ of his _Brethren_, I hope he will allow these _Officers_ of _Health_ to consist of discarded Physicians. _Secondly, When the sick Families are gone_ (whether?) _all the Goods of the Houses, in which they were, should be burnt; nay, the Houses themselves, if that can conveniently be done._ A very good Advice, and, I hope, the City of _London_ will erect another _Monument_ for the Doctor, after they have burned their City, upon so _reasonable_ Advice. But as this Advice has been found hurtful in Experience, so neither is it _New_, because it has been practised Two Hundred Years ago; as I lately observed. He has now the late Fire of _London_ in view, and recommends another general Conflagration of our City, from the great Good, he fancies, accrued thereby: But the Reason he brings is admirable. _For nothing approaches so near to the first Original of Contagion, as Air pent up, loaded with Damps._ This is the very Reason, why _Hippocrates_, and all other Physicians after him, have advised making Fires for preventing the Plague; neither spared they any _Expence_ in _Scents_, _sweet_ and _aromatick Woods_; and even they put _sacred_ Things to that very Use. Yet, according to Custom, the Doctor [18]contradicts himself, on this Article, at the small distance of four Pages; where Fires again are condemned as pernicious. The Reason alledged for this later Experiment is absolutely false; for Dr. _Hodges_ assures us, that the Weather was not Hot in that Summer. But, I believe, the true Reason of the Contradiction is, that the Doctor will, at any Time, venture being found in a Contradiction, three Doors off, as well as four Pages off, to save his Bacon, or for a merry Conceit. But there is, _even in this_, nothing New, for there was one _Raymundus_, who is noted for this Singularity by other Authors, whose Words our Doctor seems to translate. _Pestilentes Febres_, says _Raymundus_, _Ardentes sunt, & idcirco ab aere fervido, & calente augentur_. I must beg leave to crowd in another Conclusion, because I follow the Doctor; that as Fires are thus hurtful, so, and for that Reason, is the _firing_ of Guns. The Word _Fire_ is common in both Expressions, but it was never the _Heat_ of great Guns, but their _Noise_ that was recommended, and that is a sort of _Wind_, so much recommended formerly, by Dr. _Mead_; _but what some have too rashly advised. Mira vis verbis._

[Footnote 18: Page 45.]

But to return to _Damps_; he allows they approach the first Original of Contagion, so that if they are not the first, they may very well be the second Original of Contagion; for where there is a first, there is always a second in every Order and Number of Things. Now, as _Fires_ are manifestly useful in the Damps of Coal Pits, and Goals, why not in the raw Damps of Contagion? And if that is a true Experiment, why does Dr. _Mead_ forsake _Hippocrates_, and the antient Sages of Physick, for an Error that is not new; and, perhaps, not agreeable to Reason? And _Ovid_ tells us, _Temporibus Medicina valet_. As to the Story of the _Black Assize_ at _Oxford_, it shall not be carelessly neglected.

The last Member of Novelty mentioned, is the keeping our _Houses and Streets clean from Filth, Carrion, and all manner of Nusances_; and I hope every Body will readily admit, that this was never done before, neither _here_ at Home, nor _Abroad_ in other Countries; and I’ll swear for him, this Time, that it is highly _necessary_. His Inference is strong; for if all these _new_ and _reasonable_ Instructions _take effect, there will be no need of any Methods, for _CORRECTING_ the _AIR_, _PURIFYING HOUSES_, or of Rules for _PRESERVING PARTICULAR PERSONS_ from _INFECTION_._ Yet in this very instant there follows a fresh Contradiction, if I understand him; but least I do not, I shall give you his own Words, in order to be better inform’d. _To all which, if the Plague get head, so that the Sick are too many to be removed, Regard must be had._ Now, as far as I understand the Doctor, the Plague may get Head against all these infallible Methods, but I cannot for my Life tell, what we are to Regard; but as these Methods are both fallible and infallible, at the same Time, the Doctor has fallen into another gross _Contradiction_.

But, which is a more melancholy Story, this seems to be the whole of _Preventing_ we have hitherto expected; so that all the Philosophy he brought forth, in the first Part of his Discourse, has only been to make us _Constables_ and _Scavengers_, to set the Watch, and clean the Streets. A fine Account, indeed, of _Preventing_.

This Discourse never look’d as if it were to live long, its first _Stamina_ were so rotten, and defective; and any one, with half an Eye, might see it would die of an Apoplexy, or first die and then have an Apoplexy, as the Fashion of Dying has been of late.

When I formerly observed the great Neglect of the _Disposition_ and _Aptness_ of a Subject to receive and cherish the Disease, I was then very much afraid that the celebrated Dr. _Mead_ must suffer, when it was his Business to teach us how to preserve our selves from Infection; which has, at this Time, befallen him with a witness; for now our Security consists in the former. But if the Plague should chance to force his Lines, it is very plain, that we must surrender at Discretion to this most cruel Enemy. Our Generals taught the _French_, some Years ago, how slender a Defence Lines were; and the Plague has taught them, to their sad Experience, how insufficient they are to restrain its Violence; for it has nor only marched over their Lines in Defiance of their Guards, but even _Eastwards_ and _Southwards_, to the Contempt of _Matthæus Villanus_, and our Doctor, his zealous Follower.

But I am, again, afraid that the Case at present is much the same as it was in the beginning of his _short Discourse_; for he then proposed to treat of _Contagion_, but he quickly dropp’d it, without so much as telling us what is meant by the Word. Here now we should _prevent_, but he knows as little of this as he did formerly of Contagion: For when he [19]_is to consider by what Means particular Persons may best defend themselves against Contagion_; he adds, _for the effectual doing of which it would be necessary to put the Humors of the Body into such a State, as not to be alterable by the Matter of Infection_. What Physician ever said so before Dr. _Mead_? And if an Impossibility of this Nature was expected from the Faculty of Physick, I hope they would acknowledge and confess their Ignorance. It is the same Thing, as if the Government should expect, that Physicians are to cure the Subjects of any one Disease, so that they should never feel it hereafter; the _Curative_ Part of _Physick_, in that Sense, must be as impossible as the _Preservative_. Mankind is more easy, and not only bears with what is not possible, but even with Blunders, that proceed from Ignorance and Stupidity. All that is expected from Physicians, is to have such Rules, whereby our Health may be secured to them, as far as it is consistent with Human Nature, and the known Means: And if Dr. _Mead_ would have communicated some of those wise Rules, that are to be found in Books of Physick, even without deducing them from any Principle of Reason, he then had done them the greatest Good, and what they seem to want and desire.

[Footnote 19: Page 48.]

That we may see, how little Doctor _Mead_ understands the Method of _Preventing_, and also how practicable it is: We find _Hippocrates_ values himself for being the first that foresaw a Disease; and he tells us, That [20]_Diseases do not come upon Men of a sudden; but being collected by degrees, shew themselves afterwards in the bulk_. And [21]_Galen_ says, That _all Physicians are agreed, that there must be some Time for breeding a Distemper_. Now, if Diseases take a Time before they are bred; then it is an obvious Consequence, that Diseases may be prevented. Surely this is consonant to common Sense; for an _Embryo_ Disease must be far more easily cured, than a Disease after it is formed, and settled upon any Person; and thereby his Strength, or Constitution, destroyed: For however _Curative_ Method, and _Preservative_, are different Words, they only signify the same Thing at different Times. Curing a nascent Disease is _preserving_ us from being hurt by it; and curing a settled Disease, where the Instruments of Action are hurt, is curing it in the common Acceptation.

[Footnote 20: Lib. 1. _De Vict. rat._ Lib. 3. _De Diæta_.]

[Footnote 21: Lib. 1. _De loc. affect._ Pag. 13. Junt.]

And therefore our Doctor seems to have no manner of Notion of these Words, when he would tell us that it is as impossible to prevent the Plague; as to have a _Specifick Preservative from the Small Pox_; which we find is far from being impossible. But why a _Specifick_? Must he have a Specifick, because Dr. _Anodyne Necklace_ has one? I cannot find any other Reason, especially, that it now plainly appears, and is evident, that curing a Disease, and preventing it, is the same Action, and may be done with the same Tools, whether they are Common, or Specifick, in the strictest Sense Physicians use those Words. This his Misunderstanding the Doctrine of Physicians is further manifest from the last Paragraph of his Discourse; that his Directions may _be of Use towards establishing a better Method of Cure_, than Authors have commonly taught, which might be true, if that Doctrine had been drawn from the Nature of _Infection_ or _Contagion_; but, at present, he knows as little of the grammatical Sense of these Terms, as he does of the Things themselves.

Let us cease, then, to wonder why so great Care is had to keep our _Houses_ cool, at _Page 47_, and so little for our _Persons_, at _Page 49_ of the _Discourse_; and in Consequence to that, we find more Receipts for a House than for a Man. He mentions _Vinegar_ upon the Authority of _Rhazes_, which is no more for a Person that affects an Opinion for being learned, than if he had recommended it from Dr _Hodges_; since Physicians know, how much it has been esteemed by the most antient Physicians of _Greece_ and _Italy_: But this its Virtue in the Plague of Pestilence is not contrary to what Authors advise, in making Fumes of hot Things on that Occasion. This is very manifest, if the Doctor will consider what the great _Celsus_ has said of it.

But it will not be difficult to give a very probable Conjecture, why our Doctor gives so trifling, and contradictory Account of those Medicines, recommended for preserving us against the Plague; even, when there is not so great a Store for any other Disease, and some of them come well recommended for the Purpose of _Preventing_; if we remember the common Method of our Author through all this Book; for he constantly tells us, in the end of one Paragraph, what he offers to our Belief in the next. He has all along thrown mighty Contempt upon Physicians, when he would recommend himself; and now he disparages their Medicines; and surely, upon no other Design, but to set up his own. But what in the Name of Wonder are they? In this consists the great Mystery of State. If so, then there is an end of our wondering.

His Medicines are of two Sorts; one Set of them published in a very small Book, tho’ there is a large Account of their _Virtues_ and _Uses_. There is a second Sort, which some worthy Gentlemen of great Families, and great Estates, have told us of, and these were the _Secrets_ of an eminent Physician. But how do Gentlemen know Secrets in Physick? It is not hard to guess who were chiefly concern’d in their Information, and who have made a goodly _Income_ from a pretended _Inheritance_ to pretended _Secrets_. This is the _Shrine_ of the great _Diana_, to which every Thing must not only submit, but for it every other Shrine must be removed, even Truth it self; so that we may quickly hear of Doctor _R——f_’s Secrets for the Plague, if it should be the Will of God to send it us for a Punishment of our Sins.

How easy a Matter is it to become a great Physician, but how difficult to a Man of Education and Honour? Hence it is that we find in all Times, tho’ never more than in the present, that Physick is the common Resort of all indigent Men, that no other Arts can provide with a Living. Here Doctor _Rosary_ has made a better Market for his Beads, than ever was in any _Roman Catholick Country_, _Spain_ and _Portugal_ not excepted. At this Time too, he is among the chief Writers on the Plague, and with insufferable Assurance, dedicates that Trifle to the _President_ of the _College_ of _Physicians_, where, in the end, he tells the World, how useful _his Necklace_ is for the _Plague_.

_Amulets_, indeed, have been in great _Esteem_ in Times of the Plague, and I hope some great _Physician_ will lend his Name to one, that may frighten away this terrible Disease.

_FINIS._

Transcriber’s note:

Page 6, ‘preceeded’ changed to ‘preceded,’ “Air to have preceded it”

Page 12, ‘suffient’ changed to ‘sufficient,’ “and self-sufficient Person that ever”

Page 17, ‘Philosophers’ changed to ‘Philosopher’s,’ “make the Philosopher’s Stone, and”

Page 27, italics removed from around ‘and,’ “_Wool_, _Feathers_, _Hair_, and _Skins_”

Page 33, ‘shown’ changed to ‘shewn,’ “to have shewn the _Disposition_”

Page 34, ‘succeding’ changed to ‘succeeding,’ “good Author of succeeding Ages”

Page 55, full stop changed to comma after ‘Women,’ “ignorant old Women, we ought to have”

Page 57, ‘tell’ changed to ‘tells,’ “And _Ovid_ tells us”