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Lastly, her Majesty had some Conferences with
the Galenick Physicians about several Diseases, and
amongst the rest, desired to know the cause and nature
of Apoplexy, and the spotted Plague. They answered,
That a deadly Apoplexy was a dead palsie of
the brain, and the spotted Plague was a Gangrene of
the Vital parts, and as the Gangrene of outward parts
did strike inwardly; so the Gangrene of inward parts,
did break forth outwardly; which is the cause, said
they, that as soon as the spots appear, death follows;
for then it is an infallible sign, that the body is throughout
infected with a Gangrene, which is a spreading
evil; but some Gangrenes do spread more suddenly
then others, and of all sorts of Gangrenes, the Plaguy-gangrene
is the most infectious; for other Gangrenes
infect but the next adjoining parts of one particular body,
and having killed that same Creature, go no further,
but cease; when as, the Gangrene of the Plague, infects
not onely the adjoining parts of one particular
Creature, but also those that are distant; that is, one
particular body infects another, and so breeds a Universal
Contagion. But the Emperess being very desirous
to know in what manner the Plague was propagated
and became so contagious, asked, Whether it
went actually out of one body into another? To
which they answered, That it was a great dispute amongst
the Learned of their profession, whether it
came by a division and composition of parts; that is,
by expiration and inspiration; or whether it was caused
by imitation: Some Experimental Philosophers,
said they, will make us believe, that by the help of their
Microscopes, they have observed the Plague to be a
body of little Flyes like Atomes, which go out of one
body into another, through the sensitive passages; but
the most experienced and wisest of our society, have
rejected this opinion as a ridiculous fancy, and do for
the most part believe, that it is caused by an imitation
of Parts, so that the motions of some parts which are
sound, do imitate the motions of those that are infected,
and that by this means, the Plague becomes contagious
and spreading.
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| And if any should like the world I have made,
and be willing to be my subjects, they may imagine themselves such, and they are such—I mean
in their minds, fancies or imaginations. But if they cannot endure to be subjects, they may
create worlds of their own and govern themselves as they please.
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| © 2020 by Sarah Reitmeier, except text from The Description of a New World, Called the Blazing World, published 1666 by Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle.
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