Page:A Journal of the Plague Year (1722).djvu/249

 People converſe a great while freely, eſpecially with their Neighbours and ſuch as they knew. But when the Phyſicians aſſured us, that the Danger was as well from the Sound, that is the ſeemingly ſound, as the Sick; and that thoſe People, who thought themſelves entirely free, were oftentimes the moſt fatal; and that it came to be generally underſtood, that People were ſenſible of it, and of the reaſon of it: Then I ſay they began to be jealous of every Body, and a vat Number of People lock’d themſelves up, ſo as not to come abroad into any Company at all, nor ſuffer any, that had been abroad in promiſcuous Company, to come into their Houſes, or near them; at leaſt not ſo near them, as to be within the Reach of their Breath, or of any Smell from them; and when they were oblig’d to converſe at a Diſtance with Strangers, they would always have Preſervatives in their Mouths, and about their Cloths to repell and keep off the Infection.

It muſt be acknowledg’d, that when People began to uſe theſe Cautions, they were leſs expoſed to Danger, and the Infection did not break into ſuch Hoiſes ſo furiouſly as it did into others before, and thouſands of Families were preſerved, ſpeaking with due Reſerve to the Direction of Divine Providence, by that Means.

But it was impoſſible to beat any thing into the Heads of the Poor, they went on with the uſual Impetuoſity of their Tempers full of Outcries and Lamentations when taken, but madly careleſs of themſelves, Fool-hardy and obſtinate, while they were well: Where they could get Employment they puſh’d into any kind of Buſineſs, the moſt dangerous and the moſt liable to Infection; and if they were ſpoken to, their Anſwer would be, I muſt truſt to God for that; if I am taken, then I am provided for, and there is an End of me, and the like: , ''Why, What muſt I do? I can't ſtarve, I had as''