Some observations concerning the plague. Occasion'd by, and with some reference to, the late ingenious discourse of the learned Dr. Mead, 'Concerning pestilential contagion, and the methods to prevent it.' / By a well-wisher to the publick.
- Date:
- 1721
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Some observations concerning the plague. Occasion'd by, and with some reference to, the late ingenious discourse of the learned Dr. Mead, 'Concerning pestilential contagion, and the methods to prevent it.' / By a well-wisher to the publick. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![CO xnzt in Kircher s Chronology of the moft remarka¬ ble Flag ues that are recorded in Hi/lory, annexed to his Scrutinium Phyfico- Medicnm contagiofa Lu¬ is qua PeJUs dicitur. The Subjlayice of what he writes is this ; That in the Pontificate of Clement the fixtli, Charles the fourth being Emperora there raged a mod cruel Pefiilence, the worft that ever was, fcarcely the third Part of Mortals being left alive. It fo prevailed every where, that God feemed as if he would, deftroy all Mankind by a general Ru¬ in, as of old in the univerfal Deluge. Villanhis tells us that it had its firft Rife in the Upper Afiay and particularly in the Kingdom of Cathay yin the Year 1346, from a moft filthy Smell fuppofed to proceed from a certain Fiery Body, which either fell from Heaven, or broke out of the Earthy and extended its horrible and terrifying Bulk to fo vaft a Compafs, that it confumed every thing that flood in its Way, Animals,Houfes,Trees, d^c.for the Space of fifteen Days Journey : And feme moft filthy lit¬ tle Beafis furnilhed with Feet and Tails, [by this Defcription they feera to have been a Sort of Neuts or Lizards'] as alfo Worms, and a fmall Sort of: Snakes in a numberlefs Multitude, fell at the fame: Time from the Air upon the Earth, the Stench and Putrefaction whereof infefted the whole Region. A Pefiilence hence arifing, invaded the adjacent Pla¬ ces, and then Ipread it felf to the remoter Cities and : Provinces, fo that it depopulated all Afia. After¬ wards it penetrated into Egypt, Greece, and Italy. Thence it palled over into France, Spain and En¬ gland\ and at length into Germany, Poland and all the Northern Partsy with the Deftrudion of innu¬ merable Perfons. In the City of Florence only, yillanius fays there periftied 6ccco; but St. Jn-u N theny;](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30774135_0010.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
