the black death and the dancing mania-第12节

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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；