A Receipt against the Plague

Take of Rue, Sage, Mint, Rosemary, Wormwood and Lavender, a Handful of each, infuse them together in a Gallon of White Wine-Vinegar, put the whole into a Stone-pot closely covered up, upon warm Wood Ashes for four Days: After which draw off (or drain through fine Flannel) the Liquid, and put it into Bottles well corked; and into every Quart Bottle, put a Quarter of an Ounce of Camphire. With this Preparation, wash your Mouth, and rub your Loins and your Temples every Day; snuff a little up your Nostrils when you go into the Air, and carry about you a Bit of Spunge dipped in the same, in order to smell to upon all Occasions, especially when you are near any Place or Person that is infected. They write, that four Malefactors (who had robbed the infected Houses, and murdered the People during the Course of the Plague) owned, when they came to the Gallows, that they had preserved themselves from the Contagion, by using the above Medicine only; and that they went the whole time from House to House, without any fear of the Distemper.