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Part 6
It may be proper to ask here how long it may be supposed men
might have the seeds of the contagion in them before it discovered
itself in this fatal manner； and how long they might go about
seemingly whole； and yet be contagious to all those that came near
them。 I believe the most experienced physicians cannot answer this
question directly any more than I can； and something an ordinary
observer may take notice of； which may pass their observations。 The
opinion of physicians abroad seems to be that it may lie dormant in
the spirits or in the blood…vessels a very considerable time。 Why else
do they exact a quarantine of those who came into their harbours and
ports from suspected places？ Forty days is； one would think； too long
for nature to struggle with such an enemy as this； and not conquer it or
yield to it。 But I could not think； by my own observation； that they
can be infected so as to be contagious to others above fifteen or
sixteen days at furthest； and on that score it was； that when a house
was shut up in the city and any one had died of the plague； but nobody
appeared to be ill in the family for sixteen or eighteen days after； they
were not so strict but that they would connive at their going privately
abroad； nor would people be much afraid of them afterward； but
rather think they were fortified the better； having not been vulnerable
when the enemy was in their own house； but we sometimes found it
had lain much longer concealed。
Upon the foot of all these observations I must say that though
Providence seemed to direct my conduct to be otherwise； yet it is my
opinion； and I must leave it as a prescription； viz。； that the best physic
against the plague is to run away from it。 I know people encourage
themselves by saying God is able to keep us in the midst of danger；
and able to overtake us when we think ourselves out of danger； and
this kept thousands in the town whose carcases went into the great pits
by cartloads； and who； if they had fled from the danger； had； I believe；
been safe from the disaster； at least 'tis probable they had been safe。
And were this very fundamental only duly considered by the people
on any future occasion of this or the like nature； I am persuaded it
would put them upon quite different measures for managing the
people from those that they took in 1665； or than any that have been
taken abroad that I have heard of。 In a word； they would consider of
separating the people into smaller bodies； and removing them in time
farther from one another … and not let such a contagion as this； which
is indeed chiefly dangerous to collected bodies of people； find a
million of people in a body together； as was very near the case before；
and would certainly be the case if it should ever appear again。
The plague； like a great fire； if a few houses only are contiguous
where it happens； can only burn a few houses； or if it begins in a
single； or； as we call it； a lone house； can only burn that lone house
where it begins。 But if it begins in a close…built town or city and gets
a head； there its fury increases： it rages over the whole place； and
consumes all it can reach。
I could propose many schemes on the foot of which the government
of this city； if ever they should be under the apprehensions of such
another enemy （God forbid they should）； might ease themselves of the
greatest part of the dangerous people that belong to them； I mean such
as the begging； starving； labouring poor； and among them chiefly
those who； in case of a siege； are called the useless mouths； who being
then prudently and to their own advantage disposed of； and the
wealthy inhabitants disposing of themselves and of their servants and
children； the city and its adjacent parts would be so effectually
evacuated that there would not be above a tenth part of its people left
together for the disease to take hold upon。 But suppose them to be a
fifth part； and that two hundred and fifty thousand people were left：
and if it did seize upon them； they would； by their living so much at
large； be much better prepared to defend themselves against the
infection； and be less liable to the effects of it than if the same number
of people lived dose together in one smaller city such as Dublin or
Amsterdam or the like。
It is true hundreds； yea； thousands of families fled away at this last
plague； but then of them； many fled too late； and not only died in their
flight； but carried the distemper with them into the countries where
they went and infected those whom they went among for safety；
which confounded the thing； and made that be a propagation of the
distemper which was the best means to prevent it； and this too is an
evidence of it； and brings me back to what I only hinted at before； but
must speak more fully to here； namely； that men went about
apparently well many days after they had the taint of the disease in
their vitals； and after their spirits were so seized as that they could
never escape it； and that all the while they did so they were dangerous
to others； I say； this proves that so it was； for such people infected the
very towns they went through； as well as the families they went
among； and it was by that means that almost all the great towns in
England had the distemper among them； more or less； and always they
would tell you such a Londoner or such a Londoner brought it down。
It must not be omitted that when I speak of those people who were
really thus dangerous； I suppose them to be utterly ignorant of their
own conditions； for if they really knew their circumstances to be such
as indeed they were； they must have been a kind of wilful murtherers
if they would have gone abroad among healthy people … and it would
have verified indeed the suggestion which I mentioned above； and
which I thought seemed untrue： viz。； that the infected people were
utterly careless as to giving the infection to others； and rather forward
to do it than not； and I believe it was partly from this very thing that
they raised that suggestion； which I hope was not really true in fact。
I confess no particular case is sufficient to prove a general； but I
could name several people within the knowledge of some of their
neighbours and families yet living who showed the contrary to an
extreme。 One man； a master of a family in my neighbourhood； having
had the distemper； he thought he had it given him by a poor workman
whom he employed； and whom he went to his house to see； or went
for some work that he wanted to have finished； and he had some
apprehensions even while he was at the poor workman's door； but did
not discover it fully； but the next day it discovered itself； and he was
taken very in； upon which he immediately caused himself to be
carried into an outbuilding which he had in his yard； and where there
was a chamber over a workhouse （the man being a brazier）。 Here he
lay； and here he died； and would be tended by none of his neighbours；
but by a nurse from abroad； and would not suffer his wife； nor
children； nor servants to come up into the room； lest they should be
infected … but sent them his blessing and prayers for them by the
nurse； who spoke it to them at a distance； and all this for fear of giving
them the distemper； and without which he knew； as they were kept up；
they could not have it。
And here I must observe also that the plague； as I suppose all
distempers do； operated in a different manner on differing
constitutions； some were immediately overwhelmed with it； and it
came to violent fevers； vomitings； insufferable headaches； pains in the
back； and so up to ravings and ragings with those pains； others with
swellings and tumours in the neck or groin； or armpits； which till they
could be broke put them into insufferable agonies and torment； while
others； as I have observed； were silently infected； the fever preying
upon their spirits insensibly； and they seeing little of it till they fell
into swooning； and faintings； and death without pain。
I am not physician enough to enter into the particular reasons and
manner of these differing effects of one and the same distemper； and
of its differing operation in several bodies； nor is it my business here
to record the observations which I really made； because the doctors
themselves have done that part much more effectually than I can do；
and because my opinion may in some things differ from theirs。 I am
only relating what I know； or have heard； or believe of the particular
cases； and what fell within the compass of my view； and the different
nature of the infection as it appeared in the particular cases which I
have related； but this may be added too： that though the former sort of
those cases； namely； those openly visited； were the worst for
themselves as to pain … I mean those that had such fevers； vomitings；
headaches； pains； and swellings； because they died in such a dreadful
manne