Vol. I, p.19A little before the Rising of Arcturus and during its Continuance, there fell many great Showers with northerly Winds: But about the Equinox, and rising of the Pleiades, little southerly Showers. The Winter was northerly, and drier than ordinary, the Winds cold, and Snows deep. About the Equinox the Cold was sharpest. The Spring was northerly, and drier than ordinary, but yet the Weather was a little wet and cold. About the Summer Solstice fell a little Rain, with a great deal of Cold to the rising of the Dog-Star; from which Time, to the rising of Arcturus, the Summer was hot, and the Heats were great and scorching, not gradually, or at Intervals, but continually. The Droughts were also great, and the Ætefæ blew. About the rising of Arcturus, southerly gentle Showers fell to the Equinox. During this State of the Weather in the WinterVol. I, p.20Paraplegias began and attacked many, some of whom died in a short Time; for the Disease was very epidemical. In other Respects they were well: But in the very beginning of the Spring, burning Fevers came on, and continued to the Equinox, and even to the Summer. Most of those escaped who were seized presently after the Beginning of the Spring and Summer, and some died: But when the Harvest and wet Weather set in, they proved mortal to many. These Fevers were of such a Nature, that where any bled freely and plentifully at the Nose, he was saved by it, more than by anything else, and not one of these who were taken thus died this Season. Most of them were seized with Shiverings about the Crisis, especially where there had been no Hæmorrhage, and with the Shivering came on a Sweat about the Head and Shoulders. Others again were attacked with a Jaundice the 6th Day, and these were relieved by a Discharge either by Urine or Stool, or a plentiful Haemorrhage, which was very frequent, especially among young Persons and Adults; and where nothing of this kind happened, it very often proved fatal. Those who were more advanced in Years had the Jaundice, or a Disorder in their Belly, or a Dysentery. In the Summer, Dysenteries were epidemical, and even, where Haemorrhages had happened, some were at least seized with Dysenteries. This Humour was particularly redundant in many; for where there was no Hæmonhage at the Crisis, the TumoursVol. I, p.21behind the Ears disappeared, and upon this a Weight was felt in the left Side of the Belly, and in the Extremity of the Hip. Pain coming on after the Crisis, and their Urine passing off, they began to bleed a little. Many Women were taken ill, but less than the Men, and died less. Many of them had hard Labours, and after the Birth were taken ill again, and for the most part died. A great many had their Menses Come down in their Fevers, others bled at the Nose, and many young Girls had the first Appearance of their Menses then, others bled at the Nose, and had their Menses too. Nor did he remember any that died where these Things happened well; all of his Acquaintance died that chanced to be with Child. The Urine was in general well coloured, but thin, and with a small Sediment. The Stools were thin and bilious: And in many, where there was a Crisis in other Respects, it terminated in a Dysentery. The Urine watry, much clear and thin, and even after the Crisis, where there was a good Sediment, in other Respects a laudable Crisis, a Dysentery came upon some. About the rising of Arcturus, a Crisis happened to many the 11th Day, nor did the Fever return again in the natural, and usual way of Returns; but they were comatose at this Time, especially Children, of which fewer died than any. But about the Equinox, to the rising of the Pleiades, and even in the Winter, burning Fevers continued; About the same Time too, a great many became phrenitic, and went off, and a few in theVol. I, p.22Summer. These burning Fevers pointed out the Prognosticks from the Beginning, where the Case was desperate; for immediately an acute Fever came on from the first, with gentle Shiverings, Watchings, Ramblings, Thirst, Nausea, Anxiety, they sweated a little about the Fore-head and Collar-bone, but nobody all over. Great Deliriums attended, with Fears and Dejectedness, the Extremities, especially the Toes and Fingers, were coldish. The Fits were upon equal Days, and in many the greatest Pains upon the fourth. The Sweats were generally somewhat cold. The Extremities did not recover their Warmth, but were livid and cold; nor did they complain of Thirst. The Urine was black, little and thin, the Body bound. No Hæmorrhage from the Nose, where this was the Case, but only a few Drops; nor did any of these relapse, but died the 6th Day in a Sweat. As to the Phrenitics, all the Circumstances here mentioned did not happen to them, but the Crisis came on generally the 11th Day, and in some the 20th. —Where the Phrenzy did not immediately appear from the Beginning about the 3d or 4th Day, but Things went on moderately at first, there the Fever raged most upon the 7th. The Number of Diseases now was very great, and those who died of them were chiefly Children, young Persons, Adults, and such as had smooth Bodies, white Skins, straight black Hair, and black Eyes. The Lazy and Indolent died likewise, and, so did these whose Voice was either high, small, or rough, and where there was an Impediment in the SpeechVol. I, p.23or a choleric Temper: Many Women of this kind died too. But during this Situation, some were preserved by bleeding plentifully at the Nose; by a great deal of Urine, with a large and good Sediment; by considerable bilious Stools; or, 4thly, by falling into a Dysentery. These proved critical to a great many, not singly indeed, but jointly, though not without much Trouble; however all such escaped whose Case was thus. Women too and Maids were subject to every one of those Symptoms; and where any of them happened well, or where the Menses came down plentifully, it proved a salutary Crisis, and none of them died. Many had a Crisis the 5th, an Intermission on the 7th, others again had a Crisis the 6th, and an Intermission six Days, after this an Attack for three Days, then an Intermission one Day, and the next a Return, and Crisis the same Day: To some a Crisis came the 6th, intermitted seven, and was determined the 4th Day after the Return. The greatest Number of those who were taken ill this Season were thus afflicted; and he knew of none escaped without a Relapse, according to the natural Course of Relapses; neither knew he of any that miscarried when the Relapses happened in this Manner, nor of any thus affected who had Returns again, but many died the 6th Day. Where any Tumours happened behind the Ears, the Crisis came on the 10th, the Tumours subsided universally, where no Suppuration followed, and were turned upon the Bladder. In some the Crisis happened the 7th, the Intermission nine Days,Vol. I, p.24and another Crisis the 4th Day after the Return. In others the Crisis the 7th, the intermission six Days, and the other Crisis seven Days after the Return. But about the Winter Solstice, and even to the Equinox, the burning Fevers and Phrenzies remained, and very mortal, The Crisis happened to many the 5th Day from the Beginning, and after four Days Intermission the Fever returned again, five Days after this the other Crisis came on, in all fourteen Days. Thus it happened to most Children, and to those of more advanced Age. Sometimes the Crisis came on the 11th, the Relapse 14th, and the perfect Crisis the 20th; but if any were seized with Shivering upon the 20th, it was then protracted to the 40th. The greatest Part shivered upon the first Crisis; and those who shivered at the Beginning, shivered again at the Crisis, and at the Relapses after the Crisis. But Shiverings happened least in the Spring, more in the Summer, more still in the Harvest, and most of all in Winter. The Haemorrhages also ceased.
