ed 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