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minion of her baleful tyranny。
CHAPTER VIPHYSICIANS
If we now turn to the medical talent which encountered the 〃Great Mortality；〃 the Middle Ages must stand excused； since even the moderns are of opinion that the art of medicine is not able to cope with the Oriental plague； and can afford deliverance from it only under particularly favourable circumstances。 We must bear in mind； also； that human science and art appear particularly weak in great pestilences； because they have to contend with the powers of nature； of which they have no knowledge； and which； if they had been； or could be； comprehended in their collective effects； would remain uncontrollable by them； principally on account of the disordered condition of human society。 Moreover； every new plague has its peculiarities； which are the less easily discovered on first view because； during its ravages； fear and consternation humble the proud spirit。
The physicians of the fourteenth century； during the Black Death； did what human intellect could do in the actual condition of the healing art； and their knowledge of the disease was by no means despicable。 They； like the rest of mankind； have indulged in prejudices； and defended them； perhaps； with too much obstinacy： some of these； however； were founded on the mode of thinking of the age； and passed current in those days as established truths； others continue to exist to the present hour。
Their successors in the nineteenth century ought not therefore to vaunt too highly the pre…eminence of their knowledge； for they too will be subjected to the severe judgment of posteritythey too will； with reason； be accused of human weakness and want of foresight。
The medical faculty of Paris； the most celebrated of the fourteenth century； were commissioned to deliver their opinion on the causes of the Black Plague； and to furnish some appropriate regulations with regard to living during its prevalence。 This document is sufficiently remarkable to find a place here。
〃We； the Members of the College of Physicians of Paris； have； after mature consideration and consultation on the present mortality； collected the advice of our old masters in the art； and intend to make known the causes of this pestilence more clearly than could be done according to the rules and principles of astrology and natural science； we； therefore； declare as follows：…
〃It is known that in India and the vicinity of the Great Sea； the constellations which combated the rays of the sun； and the warmth of the heavenly fire； exerted their power especially against that sea； and struggled violently with its waters。 （Hence vapours often originate which envelop the sun； and convert his light into darkness。） These vapours alternately rose and fell for twenty… eight days； but； at last； sun and fire acted so powerfully upon the sea that they attracted a great portion of it to themselves； and the waters of the ocean arose in the form of vapour； thereby the waters were in some parts so corrupted that the fish which they contained died。 These corrupted waters； however； the heat of the sun could not consume； neither could other wholesome water； hail or snow and dew； originate therefrom。 On the contrary； this vapour spread itself through the air in many places on the earth； and enveloped them in fog。
〃Such was the case all over Arabia； in a part of India； in Crete； in the plains and valleys of Macedonia； in Hungary； Albania； and Sicily。 Should the same thing occur in Sardinia； not a man will be left alive； and the like will continue so long as the sun remains in the sign of Leo； on all the islands and adjoining countries to which this corrupted sea…wind extends； or has already extended； from India。 If the inhabitants of those parts do not employ and adhere to the following or similar means and precepts； we announce to them inevitable death； except the grace of Christ preserve their lives。
〃We are of opinion that the constellations； with the aid of nature； strive by virtue of their Divine might； to protect and heal the human race； and to this end； in union with the rays of the sun； acting through the power of fire； endeavour to break through the mist。 Accordingly； within the next ten days； and until the 17th of the ensuing month of July； this mist will be converted into a stinking deleterious rain； whereby the air will be much purified。 Now； as soon as this rain shall announce itself by thunder or hail； every one of you should protect himself from the air； and； as well before as after the rain； kindle a large fire of vine…wood； green laurel； or other green wood； wormwood and camomile should also be burnt in great quantity in the market… places； in other densely inhabited localities； and in the houses。 Until the earth is again completely dry； and for three days afterwards； no one ought to go abroad in the fields。 During this time the diet should be simple； and people should be cautious in avoiding exposure in the cool of the evening； at night； and in the morning。 Poultry and water…fowl； young pork； old beef； and fat meat in general； should not be eaten； but； on the contrary； meat of a proper age； of a warm and dry； but on no account of a heating and exciting nature。 Broth should be taken； seasoned with ground pepper； ginger； and cloves； especially by those who are accustomed to live temperately； and are yet choice in their diet。 Sleep in the day…time is detrimental； it should be taken at night until sunrise； or somewhat longer。 At breakfast one should drink little； supper should be taken an hour before sunset； when more may be drunk than in the morning。 Clear light wine； mixed with a fifth or six part of water； should be used as a beverage。 Dried or fresh fruits； with wine； are not injurious； but highly so without it。 Beet…root and other vegetables； whether eaten pickled or fresh； are hurtful； on the contrary； spicy pot…herbs； as sage or rosemary； are wholesome。 Cold； moist； watery food in is general prejudicial。 Going out at night； and even until three o'clock in the morning； is dangerous； on account of dew。 Only small river fish should be used。 Too much exercise is hurtful。 The body should be kept warmer than usual； and thus protected from moisture and cold。 Rain…water must not be employed in cooking； and every one should guard against exposure to wet weather。 If it rain； a little fine treacle should be taken after dinner。 Fat people should not sit in the sunshine。 Good clear wine should be selected and drunk often； but in small quantities； by day。 Olive oil as an article of food is fatal。 Equally injurious are fasting and excessive abstemiousness； anxiety of mind； anger； and immoderate drinking。 Young people； in autumn especially； must abstain from all these things if they do not wish to run a risk of dying of dysentery。 In order to keep the body properly open； an enema； or some other simple means； should be employed when necessary。 Bathing is injurious。 Men must preserve chastity as they value their lives。 Every one should impress this on his recollection； but especially those who reside on the coast； or upon an island into which the noxious wind has penetrated。〃
On what occasion these strange precepts were delivered can no longer be ascertained； even if it were an object to know it。 It must be acknowledged； however； that they do not redound to the credit either of the faculty of Paris； or of the fourteenth century in general。 This famous faculty found themselves under the painful necessity of being wise at command； and of firing a point…blank shot of erudition at an enemy who enveloped himself in a dark mist； of the nature of which they had no conception。 In concealing their ignorance by authoritative assertions； they suffered themselves； therefore； to be misled； and while endeavouring to appear to the world with eclat； only betrayed to the intelligent their lamentable weakness。 Now some might suppose that； in the condition of the sciences of the fourteenth century； no intelligent physicians existed； but this is altogether at variance with the laws of human advancement； and is contradicted by history。 The real knowledge of an age is shown only in the archives of its literature。 Here alone the genius of truth speaks audiblyhere alone men of talent deposit the results of their experience and reflection without vanity or a selfish object。 There is no ground for believing that in the fourteenth century men of this kind were publicly questioned regarding their views； and it is； therefore； the more necessary that impartial history should take up their cause； and do justice to their merits。
The first notice on this subject is due to a very celebrated teacher in Perugia； Gentilis of Foligno； who； on the 18th of June； 1348； fell a sacrifice to the plague； in the faithful discharge of his duty。 Attached to Arabian doctrines； and to the universally respected Galen； he； in common with all his contemporaries； believed in a putrid corruption of the blood in the lungs and in the heart； which was occasioned by the pestilential atmosphere； and was forthwith communicated to the whole body。 He thought； therefore； that everything depended upon a sufficient purification of the air； by means of large blazing fires of odoriferous wood；