Page:A Journal of the Plague Year (1722).djvu/73

 cannot doubt but the ſeverity of thoſe Confinements, made many People deſperate; and made them run out of their Houſes at all Hazards, and with the Plague viſibly upon them, not knowing either whither to go, or what to do, or indeed, what they did; and many that did ſo, were driven to dreadful Exigences and Extremeties, and Periſh'd in the Streets or Fields for meer Want, or drop'd down, by the raging violence of the Fever upon them: Others wandred into the Country, and went forward any Way, as their Deſperation guided them, not knowing whether they went or would go, till faint and tir'd, and not getting any Relief; the Houſes and Villages on the Road, refuſing to admit them to lodge, whether infected or no; they have periſh'd by the Road Side, or gotten into Barns and dy'd there, none daring to come to them, or relieve them, tho' perhaps not infected, for no Body would believe them.

On the other Hand, when the Plague at firſt ſeiz'd a Family, that is to ſay, when any one Body of the Family, had gone out, and unwarily or otherwiſe catch'd the Diſtemper and brought it Home, it was certainly known by the Family, before it was known to the Officers, who, as you will ſee by the Order, were appointed to examine into the Circumſtances of all ſick Perſons, when they heard of their being ſick.

In this Interval, between their being taken Sick, and the Examiners coming, the Maſter of the Houſe had Leiſure and Liberty to remove himſelf, or all his Family, if he knew whether to go, and many did ſo: But the great diſaſter was, that many did thus, after they were really infected themſelves, and ſo carry'd the Diſeaſe into the Houſes of thoſe who were ſo Hoſpitable as to receive them, which it muſt be confeſs'd was very cruel and ungrateful. And