History of the Plague in London.

Date:
[1850?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: History of the Plague in London. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Abracadabra, with the letters arranged in a triangle or pyra¬ mid.” In short, all remedies were grasped at that quackery or ignorance could suggest; the plague, meanwhile, spreading far and wide. THE PLAGUE INCREASES—PRECAUTIONS TAKEN BY THE MAGISTRATES—HOUSES SHUT UP. The mortality increased as the summer advanced. Thus, for the week ending the 13th of June 1665, the number of burials, according to the bills of mortality, were 558, and of these 1T2 were from plague; in the following week, the deaths from plague were reported at 168; in the week ending the 27th of June, the}7- had risen to 267 ; and in that ending the 4th of July, they were 470; and to all these returns would require to be added the numbers of those who had really died of plague, but whose deaths had been attributed by their friends to other diseases. It was at the beginning of July that the lord mayor and magistrates of the city of London—whose conduct during the whole period of the plague was as noble and praiseworthy as the conduct of public officers in a great emergency could be—pub¬ lished their orders for the regulation of the city. By these orders were appointed, in every parish, persons with the title of examiners, who were to be citizens of good repute, and whose office was to last two months. These examiners were to “ be sworn by the aldermen, to inquire and learn from time to time what houses in every parish be visited, and what persons be sick, and of what diseases, as near as they can inform them¬ selves ; and upon doubt in that case, to command restraint of access until it appear what the disease shall prove ; and if they find any person sick of the infection, to give orders to the con¬ stable that the house be shut up; and if the constable shall be found remiss and negligent, to give notice thereof to the aider- man of the ward.” Besides these examiners, there were to be 11 women-searchers in every parish, such as are of honest reputation, and of the best sort as can be got in this kind; and these to be sworn to make due search and true report, to the utmost of their knowledge, whether the persons whose bodies they are appointed to search do die of the infection, or of what other diseases, as near a« they can. No searcher, during the time of visitation, to be permitted to use any public work or employment, or keep a shop or stall, or be employed as a laundress, or in any other common employ¬ ment whatsover.” Surgeons were also to be appointed in each parish. u And forasmuch as the said chirurgeons are to be sequestered from all other cures, and kept only to this disease of the infection, it is ordered that every of the said chirurgeons shall have twelve- pence a body searched by them, to be paid out of the goods of the party searched, if he be able, or otherwise by the parish,”