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hen they were dying； eat and drank with them； especially those that had sores； sat down by their bedsides and upon their beds； discoursing with them an hour together。 If I had time I stayed by them to see them die。 Then if people had nobody to help them （for help was scarce at such time and place） I helped to lay them forth out of the bed； and afterwards into the coffin； and last of all； accompanied them to the ground。〃
Of the physicians remaining in the city； nine fell a sacrifice to duty。 Amongst those who survived was the learned Dr。 Nathaniel Hodges； who was spared to meet a philanthropist's fate in penury and neglect。 ＇Dr。 Hodges subsequently wrote a work entitled 〃Loimologia； or； an Historical Account of the Plague of London；〃 first published in 1672； of which； together with a collection of the bills of mortality for 1665； entitled 〃London's Dreadful Visitation；〃 and a pamphlet by the Rev。 Thomas Vincent； 〃God's Terrible Voice in the City；〃 printed in 1667； De Foe largely availed himself in writing his vivid but unreliable 〃Journal of the Plague Year；〃 which first saw the light in 1722。＇ The king had； on outbreak of the distemper； shown solicitude for his citizens by summoning a privy council； when a committee of peers was formed for 〃Prevention and Spreading of the Infection。〃 Under their orders the College of Physicians drew up 〃Certain necessary Directions for the Prevention and Cure of the Plague； with Divers remedies for small Change；〃 which were printed in pamphlet form； and widely distributed amongst the people。 ＇We learn that at this time the College was stored with 〃men of learning； virtue； and probity； nothing acquainted with the little arts of getting a name by plotting against the honesty and credulity of the people。〃 The prescriptions given by this worthy body were consequently received with a simple faith which later and more sceptical generations might deny them。 Perhaps the most remarkable of these directions； given under the heading of 〃Medicines External；〃 was the following： 〃Pull off the feathers from the tails of living cocks； hens； pigeons； or chickens； and holding their bills； hold them hard to the botch or swelling； and so keep them at that part until they die； and by that means draw out the poison。 It is good to apply a cupping glass； or embers in a dish； with a handful of sorrel upon the embers。〃＇
The lord mayor； having likewise the welfare of the people at heart； 〃conceived and published〃 rules to be observed； and orders to be obeyed； by them during this visitation。 These directed the appointment of two examiners for every parish； who were bound to discover those who were sick； and inquire into the nature of their illness： and finding persons afflicted by plague； they； with the members of their family and domestics； were to be confined in their houses。 These were to be securely locked outside； and guarded day and night by watchmen； whose duty it should be to prevent persons entering or leaving those habitations； as likewise to perform such offices as were required； such as conveying medicines and food。 And all houses visited by the distemper were to be forthwith marked on the door by a red cross a foot long； with the words LORD HAVE MERCY UPON US set close over the same sacred sign。 Female searchers； 〃such as are of honest reputation； and of the best sort as can be got of the kind；〃 were selected that they might report of what disease people died； such women not being permitted during this visitation to use any public work or employment； or keep shop or stall； or wash linen for the people。 Nurses to attend the afflicted deserted by their friends were also appointed。 And inasmuch as multitudes of idle rogues and wandering beggars swarming the city were a great means of spreading disease； the constables had orders not to suffer their presence in the streets。 And dogs and cats； being domestic animals； apt to run from house to house； and carry infection in their fur and hair； an order was made that they should be killed； and an officer nominated to see it carried into execution。 It was computed that； in accordance with this edict； forty thousand dogs； and five times that number of cats； were massacred。
All plays bear…baitings； exhibitions； and games were forbidden； as were likewise 〃all public feasting； and particularly by the companies of the city； and dinners at taverns； alehouses； and other places of common entertainment； and the money thereby spared； be employed for the benefit and relief of the poor visited with the infection。〃 Pest…houses were opened at Tothill Fields； Westminster； and at Bunhill Fields； near Old Street； for reception of the sick： and indeed every possible remedy calculated to check the disease was adopted。 Some of these； though considered necessary to the well…being of the community； were by many citizens regarded as hardships； more especially the rule which related to closing of infected houses。
The misery endured by those in health suffering such confinement； was scarcely less than that realized by the afflicted。 And fear making way for disease； it frequently occurred a whole family； when confined with one infected member； speedily became stricken by plague； and consequently overtaken by death。 It therefore happened that many attempts were made by those in health to escape incarceration。 In some cases they bribed； and in others ill…treated the watchmen： one of whom was actually blown up by gunpowder in Coleman Street； that those he guarded might flee unmolested。 Again； it chanced that strong men； rendered desperate when brought face to face with loathsome death； lowered themselves from windows of their houses in sight of the watch； whom they threatened with instant death if they cried out or stirred。
The apprehension of the sick； who were in most cases deserted by their friends； was increased tenfold by the practices of public nurses： for being hardened to affliction by nature of their employment； and incapable of remorse for crime by reason of their vileness； they were guilty of many barbarous usages。 〃These wretches；〃 says Dr。 Hodges； 〃out of greediness to plunder the dead； would strangle their patients； and charge it to the distemper in their throats。 Others would secretly convey the pestilential taint from sores of the infected to those who were well； and nothing indeed deterred these abandoned miscreants from prosecuting their avaricious purposes by all methods their wickedness could invent； who； although they were without witnesses to accuse them； yet it is not doubted but divine vengeance will overtake such wicked barbarities with due punishment。 Nay； some were remarkably struck from heaven in the perpetration of their crimes； and one particularly amongst many； as she was leaving the house of a family； all dead； loaded with her robberies； fell down lifeless under her burden in the street。 And the case of a worthy citizen was very remarkable； who； being suspected dying by his nurse； was beforehand stripped by her； but recovering again； he came a second time into the world naked。〃
But notwithstanding all precautions and care taken by the Duke of Albemarle and the worthy lord mayor； the dreadful pestilence spread with alarmin