Whatvarietyofstratagemswereusedtoescapeandgetoutofhousesthusshutup,bywhichthewatchmenweredeceivedoroverpowered,andthatthepeoplegotaway,Ihavetakennoticeofalready,andshallsaynomoretothat。ButIsaythemagistratesdidmoderateandeasefamiliesuponmanyoccasionsinthiscase,andparticularlyinthatoftakingaway,orsufferingtoberemoved,thesickpersonsoutofsuchhouseswhentheywerewillingtoberemovedeithertoapest—houseorotherPlaces;andsometimesgivingthewellpersonsinthefamilysoshutup,leavetoremoveuponinformationgiventhattheywerewell,andthattheywouldconfinethemselvesinsuchhouseswheretheywentsolongasshouldberequiredofthem。
Theconcern,also,ofthemagistratesforthesupplyingsuchpoorfamiliesaswereinfected—Isay,supplyingthemwithnecessaries,aswellphysicasfood—wasverygreat,andinwhichtheydidnotcontentthemselveswithgivingthenecessaryorderstotheofficersappointed,butthealdermeninperson,andonhorseback,frequentlyrodetosuchhousesandcausedthepeopletobeaskedattheirwindowswhethertheyweredulyattendedornot;also,whethertheywantedanythingthatwasnecessary,andiftheofficershadconstantlycarriedtheirmessagesandfetchedthemsuchthingsastheywantedornot。Andiftheyansweredintheaffirmative,allwaswell;butiftheycomplainedthattheywereillsupplied,andthattheofficerdidnotdohisduty,ordidnottreatthemcivilly,they（theofficers）weregenerallyremoved,andothersplacedintheirstead。
Itistruesuchcomplaintmightbeunjust,andiftheofficerhadsuchargumentstouseaswouldconvincethemagistratethathewasright,andthatthepeoplehadinjuredhim,hewascontinuedandtheyreproved。Butthispartcouldnotwellbearaparticularinquiry,forthepartiescouldveryillbewellheardandansweredinthestreetfromthewindows,aswasthecasethen。Themagistrates,therefore,generallychosetofavourthepeopleandremovetheman,aswhatseemedtobetheleastwrongandoftheleastillconsequence;seeingifthewatchmanwasinjured,yettheycouldeasilymakehimamendsbygivinghimanotherpostofthelikenature;butifthefamilywasinjured,therewasnosatisfactioncouldbemadetothem,thedamageperhapsbeingirreparable,asitconcernedtheirlives。
Agreatvarietyofthesecasesfrequentlyhappenedbetweenthewatchmenandthepoorpeopleshutup,besidesthoseIformerlymentionedaboutescaping。Sometimesthewatchmenwereabsent,sometimesdrunk,sometimesasleepwhenthepeoplewantedthem,andsuchneverfailedtobepunishedseverely,asindeedtheydeserved。
Butafterallthatwasorcouldbedoneinthesecases,theshuttingupofhouses,soastoconfinethosethatwerewellwiththosethatweresick,hadverygreatinconveniencesinit,andsomethatwereverytragical,andwhichmeritedtohavebeenconsiderediftherehadbeenroomforit。Butitwasauthorisedbyalaw,ithadthepublicgoodinviewastheendchieflyaimedat,andalltheprivateinjuriesthatweredonebytheputtingitinexecutionmustbeputtotheaccountofthepublicbenefit。
Itisdoubtfultothisdaywhether,inthewhole,itcontributedanythingtothestopoftheinfection;andindeedIcannotsayitdid,fornothingcouldrunwithgreaterfuryandragethantheinfectiondidwhenitwasinitschiefviolence,thoughthehousesinfectedwereshutupasexactlyandaseffectuallyasitwaspossible。Certainitisthatifalltheinfectedpersonswereeffectuallyshutin,nosoundpersoncouldhavebeeninfectedbythem,becausetheycouldnothavecomenearthem。Butthecasewasthis（andIshallonlytouchithere）:
namely,thattheinfectionwaspropagatedinsensibly,andbysuchpersonsaswerenotvisiblyinfected,whoneitherknewwhomtheyinfectedorwhotheywereinfectedby。
AhouseinWhitechappelwasshutupforthesakeofoneinfectedmaid,whohadonlyspots,notthetokenscomeoutuponher,andrecovered;yetthesepeopleobtainednolibertytostir,neitherforairorexercise,fortydays。Wantofbreath,fear,anger,vexation,andalltheothergiftsattendingsuchaninjurioustreatmentcastthemistressofthefamilyintoafever,andvisitorscameintothehouseandsaiditwastheplague,thoughthephysiciansdeclareditwasnot。However,thefamilywereobligedtobegintheirquarantineanewonthereportofthevisitorsorexaminer,thoughtheirformerquarantinewantedbutafewdaysofbeingfinished。Thisoppressedthemsowithangerandgrief,and,asbefore,straitenedthemalsosomuchastoroom,andforwantofbreathingandfreeair,thatmostofthefamilyfellsick,oneofonedistemper,oneofanother,chieflyscorbuticailments;onlyone,aviolentcolic;till,afterseveralprolongingsoftheirconfinement,someorotherofthosethatcameinwiththevisitorstoinspectthepersonsthatwereill,inhopesofreleasingthem,broughtthedistemperwiththemandinfectedthewholehouse;andallormostofthemdied,notoftheplagueasreallyuponthembefore,butoftheplaguethatthosepeoplebroughtthem,whoshouldhavebeencarefultohaveprotectedthemfromit。Andthiswasathingwhichfrequentlyhappened,andwasindeedoneoftheworstconsequencesofshuttinghousesup。
Ihadaboutthistimealittlehardshipputuponme,whichIwasatfirstgreatlyafflictedat,andverymuchdisturbedaboutthough,asitproved,itdidnotexposemetoanydisaster;andthiswasbeingappointedbythealdermanofPortsokenWardoneoftheexaminersofthehousesintheprecinctwhereIlived。Wehadalargeparish,andhadnolessthaneighteenexaminers,astheordercalledus;thepeoplecalledusvisitors。Iendeavouredwithallmymighttobeexcusedfromsuchanemployment,andusedmanyargumentswiththealderman\'sdeputytobeexcused;particularlyIallegedthatIwasagainstshuttinguphousesatall,andthatitwouldbeveryhardtoobligemetobeaninstrumentinthatwhichwasagainstmyjudgement,andwhichIdidverilybelievewouldnotanswertheenditwasintendedfor;butalltheabatementIcouldgetwasonly,thatwhereastheofficerwasappointedbymyLordMayortocontinuetwomonths,Ishouldbeobligedtoholditbutthreeweeks,onconditionneverthelessthatIcouldthengetsomeothersufficienthousekeepertoservetherestofthetimeforme—whichwas,inshort,butaverysmallfavour,itbeingverydifficulttogetanymantoacceptofsuchanemployment,thatwasfittobeentrustedwithit。
Itistruethatshuttingupofhouseshadoneeffect,whichIamsensiblewasofmoment,namely,itconfinedthedistemperedpeople,whowouldotherwisehavebeenbothverytroublesomeandverydangerousintheirrunningaboutstreetswiththedistemperuponthem—which,whentheyweredelirious,theywouldhavedoneinamostfrightfulmanner,andasindeedtheybegantodoatfirstverymuch,tilltheywerethusrestraided;nay,soveryopentheywerethatthepoorwouldgoaboutandbegatpeople\'sdoors,andsaytheyhadtheplagueuponthem,andbegragsfortheirsores,orboth,oranythingthatdeliriousnaturehappenedtothinkof。
Apoor,unhappygentlewoman,asubstantialcitizen\'swife,was（ifthestorybetrue）murderedbyoneofthesecreaturesinAldersgateStreet,orthatway。Hewasgoingalongthestreet,ravingmadtobesure,andsinging;thepeopleonlysaidhewasdrunk,buthehimselfsaidhehadtheplagueuponhim,whichitseemswastrue;andmeetingthisgentlewoman,hewouldkissher。Shewasterriblyfrighted,ashewasonlyarudefellow,andsheranfromhim,butthestreetbeingverythinofpeople,therewasnobodynearenoughtohelpher。Whenshesawhewouldovertakeher,sheturnedandgavehimathrustsoforcibly,hebeingbutweak,andpushedhimdownbackward。Butveryunhappily,shebeingsonear,hecaughtholdofherandpulledherdownalso,andgettingupfirst,masteredherandkissedher;andwhichwasworstofall,whenhehaddone,toldherhehadtheplague,andwhyshouldnotshehaveitaswellashe？Shewasfrightedenoughbefore,beingalsoyoungwithchild;butwhensheheardhimsayhehadtheplague,shescreamedoutandfelldownintoaswoon,orinafit,which,thoughsherecoveredalittle,yetkilledherinaveryfewdays;andIneverheardwhethershehadtheplagueorno。
Anotherinfectedpersoncameandknockedatthedoorofacitizen\'shousewheretheyknewhimverywell;theservantlethimin,andbeingtoldthemasterofthehousewasabove,heranupandcameintotheroomtothemasthewholefamilywasatsupper。Theybegantoriseup,alittlesurprised,notknowingwhatthematterwas;buthebidthemsitstill,heonlycametotakehisleaveofthem。Theyaskedhim,\'Why,Mr—,whereareyougoing？\'\'Going,\'sayshe;\'Ihavegotthesickness,andshalldietomorrownight。\'\'Tiseasytobelieve,thoughnottodescribe,theconsternationtheywereallin。Thewomenandtheman\'sdaughters,whichwerebutlittlegirls,werefrightedalmosttodeathandgotup,onerunningoutatonedoorandoneatanother,somedownstairsandsomeupstairs,andgettingtogetheraswellastheycould,lockedthemselvesintotheirchambersandscreamedoutatthewindowforhelp,asiftheyhadbeenfrightedoutoftheir,wits。
Themaster,morecomposedthanthey,thoughbothfrightedandprovoked,wasgoingtolayhandsonhimandthrowhimdownstairs,beinginapassion;butthen,consideringalittletheconditionofthemanandthedangeroftouchinghim,horrorseizedhismind,andhestoodstilllikeoneastonished。Thepoordistemperedmanallthiswhile,beingaswelldiseasedinhisbrainasinhisbody,stoodstilllikeoneamazed。Atlengthheturnsround:\'Ay！\'sayshe,withalltheseemingcalmnessimaginable,\'isitsowithyouall？Areyoualldisturbedatme？Why,thenI\'lle\'engohomeanddiethere。\'Andsohegoesimmediatelydownstairs。Theservantthathadlethimingoesdownafterhimwithacandle,butwasafraidtogopasthimandopenthedoor,sohestoodonthestairstoseewhathewoulddo。Themanwentandopenedthedoor,andwentoutandflungthedoorafterhim。
Itwassomewhilebeforethefamilyrecoveredthefright,butasnoillconsequenceattended,theyhavehadoccasionsincetospeakofit（Youmaybesure）withgreatsatisfaction。Thoughthemanwasgone,itwassometime—nay,asIheard,somedaysbeforetheyrecoveredthemselvesofthehurrytheywerein;nordidtheygoupanddownthehousewithanyassurancetilltheyhadburntagreatvarietyoffumesandperfumesinalltherooms,andmadeagreatmanysmokesofpitch,ofgunpowder,andofsulphur,allseparatelyshifted,andwashedtheirclothes,andthelike。Astothepoorman,whetherhelivedordiedIdon\'tremember。
Itismostcertainthat,ifbytheshuttingupofhousesthesickbadnotbeenconfined,multitudeswhointheheightoftheirfeverweredeliriousanddistractedwouldhavebeencontinuallyrunningupanddownthestreets;andevenasitwasaverygreatnumberdidso,andofferedallsortsofviolencetothosetheymet,。evenjustasamaddogrunsonandbitesateveryonehemeets;norcanIdoubtbutthat,shouldoneofthoseinfected,diseasedcreatureshavebittenanymanorwomanwhilethefrenzyofthedistemperwasuponthem,they,I
meanthepersonsowounded,wouldascertainlyhavebeenincurablyinfectedasonethatwassickbefore,andhadthetokensuponhim。
Iheardofoneinfectedcreaturewho,runningoutofhisbedinhisshirtintheanguishandagonyofhisswellings,ofwhichhehadthreeuponhim,gothisshoesonandwenttoputonhiscoat;butthenurseresisting,andsnatchingthecoatfromhim,hethrewherdown,ranoverher,randownstairsandintothestreet,directlytotheThamesinhisshirt;thenurserunningafterhim,andcallingtothewatchtostophim;butthewatchman,ftightedattheman,andafraidtotouchhim,lethimgoon;uponwhichherandowntotheStillyardstairs,threwawayhisshirt,andplungedintotheThames,and,beingagoodswimmer,swamquiteovertheriver;andthetidebeingcomingin,astheycallit（thatis,runningwestward）hereachedthelandnottillhecameabouttheFalconstairs,wherelanding,andfindingnopeoplethere,itbeinginthenight,heranaboutthestreetsthere,nakedashewas,foragoodwhile,when,itbeingbythattimehighwater,hetakestheriveragain,andswambacktotheStillyard,landed,ranupthestreetsagaintohisownhouse,knockingatthedoor,wentupthestairsandintohisbedagain;andthatthisterribleexperimentcuredhimoftheplague,thatistosay,thattheviolentmotionofhisarmsandlegsstretchedthepartswheretheswellingshehaduponhimwere,thatistosay,underhisarmsandhisgroin,andcausedthemtoripenandbreak;andthatthecoldofthewaterabatedthefeverinhisblood。
IhaveonlytoaddthatIdonotrelatethisanymorethansomeoftheother,asafactwithinmyownknowledge,soasthatIcanvouchthetruthofthem,andespeciallythatofthemanbeingcuredbytheextravagantadventure,whichIconfessIdonotthinkverypossible;
butitmayservetoconfirmthemanydesperatethingswhichthedistressedpeoplefallingintodeliriums,andwhatwecalllight—
headedness,werefrequentlyrunuponatthattime,andhowinfinitelymoresuchtherewouldhavebeenifsuchpeoplehadnotbeenconfinedbytheshuttingupofhouses;andthisItaketobethebest,ifnottheonlygoodthingwhichwasperformedbythatseveremethod。
Ontheotherhand,thecomplaintsandthemurmuringswereverybitteragainstthethingitself。Itwouldpiercetheheartsofallthatcamebytohearthepiteouscriesofthoseinfectedpeople,who,beingthusoutoftheirunderstandingsbytheviolenceoftheirpainortheheatoftheirblood,wereeithershutinorperhapstiedintheirbedsandchairs,topreventtheirdoingthemselveshurt—andwhowouldmakeadreadfuloutcryattheirbeingconfined,andattheirbeingnotpermittedtodieatlarge,astheycalledit,andastheywouldhavedonebefore。
Thisrunningofdistemperedpeopleaboutthestreetswasverydismal,andthemagistratesdidtheirutmosttopreventit;butasitwasgenerallyinthenightandalwayssuddenwhensuchattemptsweremade,theofficerscouldnotbeatbandtopreventit;andevenwhenanygotoutintheday,theofficersappointeddidnotcaretomeddlewiththem,because,astheywereallgrievouslyinfected,tobesure,whentheywerecometothatheight,sotheyweremorethanordinarilyinfectious,anditwasoneofthemostdangerousthingsthatcouldbetotouchthem。Ontheotherhand,theygenerallyranon,notknowingwhattheydid,tilltheydroppeddownstarkdead,ortilltheyhadexhaustedtheirspiritssoasthattheywouldfallandthendieinperhapshalf—an—houroranhour;and,whichwasmostpiteoustohear,theyweresuretocometothemselvesentirelyinthathalf—hourorhour,andthentomakemostgrievousandpiercingcriesandlamentationsinthedeep,afflictingsenseoftheconditiontheywerein。Thiswasmuchofitbeforetheorderforshuttingupofhouseswasstrictlyputinexecution,foratfirstthewatchmenwerenotsovigorousandsevereastheywereafterwardinthekeepingthepeoplein;thatistosay,beforetheywere（Imeansomeofthem）severelypunishedfortheirneglect,failingintheirduty,andlettingpeoplewhowereundertheircareslipaway,orconnivingattheirgoingabroad,whethersickorwell。Butaftertheysawtheofficersappointedtoexamineintotheirconductwereresolvedtohavethemdotheirdutyorbepunishedfortheomission,theyweremoreexact,andthepeoplewerestrictlyrestrained;whichwasathingtheytooksoillandboresoimpatientlythattheirdiscontentscanhardlybedescribed。Buttherewasanabsolutenecessityforit,thatmustbeconfessed,unlesssomeothermeasureshadbeentimelyenteredupon,anditwastoolateforthat。
Hadnotthisparticular（ofthesickbeingrestrainedasabove）beenourcaseatthattime,Londonwouldhavebeenthemostdreadfulplacethateverwasintheworld;therewould,foraughtIknow,haveasmanypeoplediedinthestreetsasdiedintheirhouses;forwhenthedistemperwasatitsheightitgenerallymadethemravinganddelirious,andwhentheyweresotheywouldneverbepersuadedtokeepintheirbedsbutbyforce;andmanywhowerenottiedthrewthemselvesoutofwindowswhentheyfoundtheycouldnotgetleavetogooutoftheirdoors。
Itwasforwantofpeopleconversingonewithanother,inthistimeofcalamity,thatitwasimpossibleanyparticularpersoncouldcomeattheknowledgeofalltheextraordinarycasesthatoccurredindifferentfamilies;andparticularlyIbelieveitwasneverknowntothisdayhowmanypeopleintheirdeliriumsdrownedthemselvesintheThames,andintheriverwhichrunsfromthemarshesbyHackney,whichwegenerallycalledWareRiver,orHackneyRiver。Astothosewhichweresetdownintheweeklybill,theywereindeedfew;norcoulditbeknownofanyofthosewhethertheydrownedthemselvesbyaccidentornot。ButIbelieveImightreckonupmorewhowithinthecompassofmyknowledgeorobservationreallydrownedthemselvesinthatyear,thanareputdowninthebillofallputtogether:formanyofthebodieswereneverfoundwhoyetwereknowntobelost;andthelikeinothermethodsofself—destruction。
TherewasalsoonemaninoraboutWhitecrossStreetburnedhimselftodeathinhisbed;somesaiditwasdonebyhimself,othersthatitwasbythetreacheryofthenursethatattendedhim;butthathehadtheplagueuponhimwasagreedbyall。
ItwasamercifuldispositionofProvidencealso,andwhichIhavemanytimesthoughtofatthattime,thatnofires,ornoconsiderableonesatleast,happenedinthecityduringthatyear,which,ifithadbeenotherwise,wouldhavebeenverydreadful;andeitherthepeoplemusthaveletthemaloneunquenched,orhavecometogetheringreatcrowdsandthrongs,unconcernedatthedangeroftheinfection,notconcernedatthehousestheywentinto,atthegoodstheyhandled,oratthepersonsorthepeopletheycameamong。Butsoitwas,thatexceptingthatinCripplegateparish,andtwoorthreelittleeruptionsoffires,whichwerepresentlyextinguished,therewasnodisasterofthatkindhappenedinthewholeyear。TheytoldusastoryofahouseinaplacecalledSwanAlley,passingfromGoswellStreet,neartheendofOldStreet,intoStJohnStreet,thatafamilywasinfectedthereinsoterribleamannerthateveryoneofthehousedied。Thelastpersonlaydeadonthefloor,and,asitissupposed,hadlainherselfallalongtodiejustbeforethefire;thefire,itseems,hadfallenfromitsplace,beingofwood,andhadtakenholdoftheboardsandthejoiststheylayon,andburntasfarasjusttothebody,buthadnottakenholdofthedeadbody（thoughshehadlittlemorethanhershifton）andhadgoneoutofitself,notburningtherestofthehouse,thoughitwasaslighttimberhouse。HowtruethismightbeIdonotdetermine,butthecitybeingtosufferseverelythenextyearbyfire,thisyearitfeltverylittleofthatcalamity。
Indeed,consideringthedeliriumswhichtheagonythrewpeopleinto,andhowIhavementionedintheirmadness,whentheywerealone,theydidmanydesperatethings,itwasverystrangetherewerenomoredisastersofthatkind。
Ithasbeenfrequentlyaskedme,andIcannotsaythatIeverknewhowtogiveadirectanswertoit,howitcametopassthatsomanyinfectedpeopleappearedabroadinthestreetsatthesametimethatthehouseswhichwereinfectedweresovigilantlysearched,andallofthemshutupandguardedastheywere。
IconfessIknownotwhatanswertogivetothis,unlessitbethis:
thatinsogreatandpopulousacityasthisisitwasimpossibletodiscovereveryhousethatwasinfectedassoonasitwasso,ortoshutupallthehousesthatwereinfected;sothatpeoplehadthelibertyofgoingaboutthestreets,evenwheretheyPleased,unlesstheywereknowntobelongtosuch—and—suchinfectedhouses。
Itistruethat,asseveralphysicianstoldmyLordMayor,thefuryofthecontagionwassuchatsomeparticulartimes,andpeoplesickenedsofastanddiedsosoon,thatitwasimpossible,andindeedtonopurpose,togoabouttoinquirewhowassickandwhowaswell,ortoshutthemupwithsuchexactnessasthethingrequired,almosteveryhouseinawholestreetbeinginfected,andinmanyplaceseverypersoninsomeofthehouses;andthatwhichwasstillworse,bythetimethatthehouseswereknowntobeinfected,mostofthepersonsinfectedwouldbestonedead,andtherestrunawayforfearofbeingshutup;sothatitwastoverysmallpurposetocalltheminfectedhousesandshutthemup,theinfectionhavingravagedandtakenitsleaveofthehousebeforeitwasreallyknownthatthefamilywasanywaytouched。
Thismightbesufficienttoconvinceanyreasonablepersonthatasitwasnotinthepowerofthemagistratesorofanyhumanmethodsofpolicy,topreventthespreadingtheinfection,sothatthiswayofshuttingupofhouseswasperfectlyinsufficientforthatend。Indeeditseemedtohavenomannerofpublicgoodinit,equalorproportionabletothegrievousburdenthatitwastotheparticularfamiliesthatweresoshutup;and,asfarasIwasemployedbythepublicindirectingthatseverity,Ifrequentlyfoundoccasiontoseethatitwasincapableofansweringtheend。Forexample,asIwasdesired,asavisitororexaminer,toinquireintotheparticularsofseveralfamilieswhichwereinfected,wescarcecametoanyhousewheretheplaguehadvisiblyappearedinthefamilybutthatsomeofthefamilywerefledandgone。Themagistrateswouldresentthis,andchargetheexaminerswithbeingremissintheirexaminationorinspection。Butbythatmeanshouseswerelonginfectedbeforeitwasknown。Now,asIwasinthisdangerousofficebuthalftheappointedtime,whichwastwomonths,itwaslongenoughtoinformmyselfthatwewerenowaycapableofcomingattheknowledgeofthetruestateofanyfamilybutbyinquiringatthedoororoftheneighbours。Asforgoingintoeveryhousetosearch,thatwasapartnoauthoritywouldoffertoimposeontheinhabitants,oranycitizenwouldundertake:foritwouldhavebeenexposingustocertaininfectionanddeath,andtotheruinofourownfamiliesaswellasofourselves;norwouldanycitizenofprobity,andthatcouldbedependedupon,havestayedinthetowniftheyhadbeenmadeliabletosuchaseverity。
Seeingthenthatwecouldcomeatthecertaintyofthingsbynomethodbutthatofinquiryoftheneighboursorofthefamily,andonthatwecouldnotjustlydepend,itwasnotpossiblebutthattheuncertaintyofthismatterwouldremainasabove。
Itistruemastersoffamilieswereboundbytheordertogivenoticetotheexamineroftheplacewhereinhelived,withintwohoursafterheshoulddiscoverit,ofanypersonbeingsickinhishouse（thatistosay,havingsignsoftheinfection）—buttheyfoundsomanywaystoevadethisandexcusetheirnegligencethattheyseldomgavethatnoticetilltheyhadtakenmeasurestohaveeveryoneescapeoutofthehousewhohadamindtoescape,whethertheyweresickorsound;
andwhilethiswasso,itiseasytoseethattheshuttingupofhouseswasnowaytobedependeduponasasufficientmethodforputtingastoptotheinfectionbecause,asIhavesaidelsewhere,manyofthosethatsowentoutofthoseinfectedhouseshadtheplaguereallyuponthem,thoughtheymightreallythinkthemselvessound。Andsomeofthesewerethepeoplethatwalkedthestreetstilltheyfelldowndead,notthattheyweresuddenlystruckwiththedistemperaswithabulletthatkilledwiththestroke,butthattheyreallyhadtheinfectionintheirbloodlongbefore;only,thatasitpreyedsecretlyonthevitals,itappearednottillitseizedtheheartwithamortalpower,andthepatientdiedinamoment,aswithasuddenfaintingoranapoplecticfit。
Iknowthatsomeevenofourphysiciansthoughtforatimethatthosepeoplethatsodiedinthestreetswereseizedbutthatmomenttheyfell,asiftheyhadbeentouchedbyastrokefromheavenasmenarekilledbyaflashoflightning—buttheyfoundreasontoaltertheiropinionafterward;foruponexaminingthebodiesofsuchaftertheyweredead,theyalwayseitherhadtokensuponthemorotherevidentproofsofthedistemperhavingbeenlongeruponthemthantheyhadotherwiseexpected。
Thisoftenwasthereasonthat,asIhavesaid,wethatwereexaminerswerenotabletocomeattheknowledgeoftheinfectionbeingenteredintoahousetillitwastoolatetoshutitup,andsometimesnottillthepeoplethatwereleftwerealldead。InPetticoatLanetwohousestogetherwereinfected,andseveralpeoplesick;butthedistemperwassowellconcealed,theexaminer,whowasmyneighbour,gotnoknowledgeofittillnoticewassenthimthatthepeoplewerealldead,andthatthecartsshouldcalltheretofetchthemaway。Thetwoheadsofthefamiliesconcertedtheirmeasures,andsoorderedtheirmattersasthatwhentheexaminerwasintheneighbourhoodtheyappearedgenerallyatatime,andanswered,thatis,lied,foroneanother,orgotsomeoftheneighbourhoodtosaytheywereallinhealth—andperhapsknewnobetter—till,deathmakingitimpossibletokeepitanylongerasasecret,thedead—cartswerecalledinthenighttoboththehousestandsoitbecamepublic。Butwhentheexaminerorderedtheconstabletoshutupthehousestherewasnobodyleftinthembutthreepeople,twoinonehouseandoneintheother,justdying,andanurseineachhousewhoacknowledgedthattheyhadburiedfivebefore,thatthehouseshadbeeninfectednineortendays,andthatforalltherestofthetwofamilies,whichweremany,theyweregone,somesick,somewell,orwhethersickorwellcouldnotbeknown。
Inlikemanner,atanotherhouseinthesamelane,amanhavinghisfamilyinfectedbutveryunwillingtobeshutup,whenhecouldconcealitnolonger,shutuphimself;thatistosay,hesetthegreatredcrossuponhisdoorwiththewords,\'Lordhavemercyuponus\',andsodeludedtheexaminer,whosupposedithadbeendonebytheconstablebyorderoftheotherexaminer,forthereweretwoexaminerstoeverydistrictorprecinct。Bythismeanshehadfreeegressandregressintohishouseagain。andoutofit,ashepleased,notwithstandingitwasinfected,tillatlengthhisstratagemwasfoundout;andthenhe,withthesoundpartofhisservantsandfamily,madeoffandescaped,sotheywerenotshutupatall。
Thesethingsmadeitveryhard,ifnotimpossible,asIhavesaid,topreventthespreadingofaninfectionbytheshuttingupofhouses—
unlessthepeoplewouldthinktheshuttingoftheirhousesnogrievance,andbesowillingtohaveitdoneasthattheywouldgivenoticedulyandfaithfullytothemagistratesoftheirbeinginfectedassoonasitwasknownbythemselves;butasthatcannotbeexpectedfromthem,andtheexaminerscannotbesupposed,asabove,togointotheirhousestovisitandsearch,allthegoodofshuttinguphouseswillbedefeated,andfewhouseswillbeshutupintime,exceptthoseofthepoor,whocannotconcealit,andofsomepeoplewhowillbediscoveredbytheterrorandconsternationwhichthethingsputtheminto。
IgotmyselfdischargedofthedangerousofficeIwasinassoonasI
couldgetanotheradmitted,whomIhadobtainedforalittlemoneytoacceptofit;andso,insteadofservingthetwomonths,whichwasdirected,Iwasnotabovethreeweeksinit;andagreatwhiletoo,consideringitwasinthemonthofAugust,atwhichtimethedistemperbegantoragewithgreatviolenceatourendofthetown。
IntheexecutionofthisofficeIcouldnotrefrainspeakingmyopinionamongmyneighboursastothisshuttingupthepeopleintheirhouses;inwhichwesawmostevidentlytheseveritiesthatwereused,thoughgrievousinthemselves,hadalsothisparticularobjectionagainstthem:namely,thattheydidnotanswertheend,asIhavesaid,butthatthedistemperedpeoplewentdaybydayaboutthestreets;anditwasourunitedopinionthatamethodtohaveremovedthesoundfromthesick,incaseofaparticularhousebeingvisited,wouldhavebeenmuchmorereasonableonmanyaccounts,leavingnobodywiththesickpersonsbutsuchasshouldonsuchoccasionrequesttostayanddeclarethemselvescontenttobeshutupwiththemOurschemeforremovingthosethatweresoundfromthosethatweresickwasonlyinsuchhousesaswereinfected,andconfiningthesickwasnoconfinement;thosethatcouldnotstirwouldnotcomplainwhiletheywereintheirsensesandwhiletheyhadthepowerofjudging。Indeed,whentheycametobedeliriousandlight—headed,thentheywouldcryoutofthecrueltyofbeingconfined;butfortheremovalofthosethatwerewell,wethoughtithighlyreasonableandjust,fortheirownsakes,theyshouldberemovedfromthesick,andthatforotherpeople\'ssafetytheyshouldkeepretiredforawhile,toseethattheyweresound,andmightnotinfectothers;andwethoughttwentyorthirtydaysenoughforthis。
