a good while, when it being by that time High-water, he takes the River again, and ſwam back to the Still-yard, landed, ran up the Streets again to his own Houſe, knocking at the Door, went up the Stairs, and into his Bed again; and that this terrible Experiment cur’d him of the Plague, that is to ſay, that the violent Motion of his Arms and Legs ſtretch’d the Parts where the Swellings he had upon him were, that is to ſay under his Arms and his Groin, and cauſed them to ripen and break; and that the cold of the Water abated the Fever in his Blood.
I have only to add, that I do not relate this any more than ſome of the other, as a Fact within my own Knowledge, ſo as that I can vouch the Truth of them, and eſpecially that of the Man being cur’d by the extravagant Adventure, which I confeſs I do not think very poſſible, but it may ſerve to confirm the many deſperate Things which the diſtreſs’d People falling into, Diliriums, and what we call Lightheadedneſs, were frequently run upon at that time, and how infinitely more ſuch there wou’d ha’ been, if ſuch People had not been confin’d by the ſhutting up of Houſes; and this I take to be the beſt, if not the only good thing which was perform’d by that ſevere Method.
On the other Hand, the Complaints and the Murmurings were very bitter againſt the thing itſelf. It would pierce the Hearts of all that came by to hear the piteous Cries of thoſe infected People, who being thus out of their Underſtandings by the Violence of their Pain, or the heat of their Blood, were either ſhut in, or perhaps ty’d in their Beds and Chairs, to prevent their doing themſelves Hurt, and who wou’d make a dreadful outcry at their being confin’d, and at their being not permitted to die at large, as they call’d it, and as they wou’d ha’ done before.
This running of diſtemper’d People about the Streets was very diſmal, and the Magiſtrates did their utmoſt to prevent it, but as it was generally in
