Neither did I do, what I know ſome did, keep the Spirits always high and hot with Cordials, and Wine, and ſuch things, and which, as I obſerv’d, one learned Phyſician uſed himſelf ſo much to, as that he could not leave them off when the Infection was quite gone, and ſo became a Sot for all his Life after.
I remember, my Friend the Doctor us’d to ſay, that there was a certain Set of Drugs and Preparations, which were all certainly good and uſeful in the caſe of an Infection; out of which, or with which, Phyſicians might make an infinite Variety of Medicines, as the Ringers of Bells make ſeveral Hundred different Rounds of Muſick by the changing and Order of Sound but in ſix Bells; and that all theſe Preparations ſhall be really very good; therefore, ſaid he, I do not wonder that ſo vaſt a Throng of Medicines is offer’d in the preſent Calamity; and almoſt every Phyſician preſcribes or prepares a different thing, as his Judgment or Experience guides him: but, ſays my Friend, let all the Preſcriptions of all the Phyſicians in London be examined; and it will be found, that they are all compounded of the ſame things, With ſuch Variations only, as the particular Fancy of the Doctor leads him to; ſo that, ſays he, every Man judging a little of his own Conſtitution and manner of his living, and Circumſtances οὗ his being infected, may direct his own Medicines out of the ordinary Drugs and Preparations: Only that, ſays he, ſome recommend one thing as moſt ſovereign,and ſome another; ſome, ſays he, think that Pill. Ruff which is call’d itſelf the Anti-peſtilential Pill, is the beſt Preparation that can be made; others think, that Venice Treacle is ſufficient of it ſelf to reſiſt the Contagion, and I, ſays he, think as both theſe think, viz. that the laſt is good to take beforehand to prevent it, and the laſt, if touch’d, to expel it. According to this Opinion. I
