按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
leave of the house before it was really known that the family was any
way touched。
This might be sufficient to convince any reasonable person that as it
was not in the power of the magistrates or of any human methods of
policy； to prevent the spreading the infection； so that this way of
shutting up of houses was perfectly insufficient for that end。 Indeed it
seemed to have no manner of public good in it； equal or
proportionable to the grievous burden that it was to the particular
families that were so shut up； and； as far as I was employed by the
public in directing that severity； I frequently found occasion to see
that it was incapable of answering the end。 For example； as I was
desired； as a visitor or examiner； to inquire into the particulars of
several families which were infected； we scarce came to any house
where the plague had visibly appeared in the family but that some of
the family were fled and gone。 The magistrates would resent this； and
charge the examiners with being remiss in their examination or
inspection。 But by that means houses were long infected before it was
known。 Now； as I was in this dangerous office but half the appointed
time； which was two months； it was long enough to inform myself that
we were no way capable of coming at the knowledge of the true state
of any family but by inquiring at the door or of the neighbours。 As for
going into every house to search； that was a part no authority would
offer to impose on the inhabitants； or any citizen would undertake： for
it would have been exposing us to certain infection and death； and to
the ruin of our own families as well as of ourselves； nor would any
citizen of probity； and that could be depended upon； have stayed in the
town if they had been made liable to such a severity。
Seeing then that we could come at the certainty of things by no
method but that of inquiry of the neighbours or of the family； and on
that we could not justly depend； it was not possible but that the
uncertainty of this matter would remain as above。
It is true masters of families were bound by the order to give notice
to the examiner of the place wherein he lived； within two hours after
he should discover it； of any person being sick in his house （that is to
say； having signs of the infection）… but they found so many ways to
evade this and excuse their negligence that they seldom gave that
notice till they had taken measures to have every one escape out of the
house who had a mind to escape； whether they were sick or sound；
and while this was so； it is easy to see that the shutting up of houses
was no way to be depended upon as a sufficient method for putting a
stop to the infection because； as I have said elsewhere； many of those
that so went out of those infected houses had the plague really upon
them； though they might really think themselves sound。 And some of
these were the people that walked the streets till they fell down dead；
not that they were suddenly struck with the distemper as with a
bullet that killed with the stroke； but that they really had the infection
in their blood long before； only； that as it preyed secretly on the vitals；
it appeared not till it seized the heart with a mortal power； and the
patient died in a moment； as with a sudden fainting or an apoplectic fit。
I know that some even of our physicians thought for a time that
those people that so died in the streets were seized but that moment
they fell； as if they had been touched by a stroke from heaven as men
are killed by a flash of lightning … but they found reason to alter their
opinion afterward； for upon examining the bodies of such after they
were dead； they always either had tokens upon them or other evident
proofs of the distemper having been longer upon them than they had
otherwise expected。
This often was the reason that； as I have said； we that were
examiners were not able to come at the knowledge of the infection
being entered into a house till it was too late to shut it up； and
sometimes not till the people that were left were all dead。 In Petticoat
Lane two houses together were infected； and several people sick； but
the distemper was so well concealed； the examiner； who was my
neighbour； got no knowledge of it till notice was sent him that the
people were all dead； and that the carts should call there to fetch them
away。 The two heads of the families concerted their measures； and so
ordered their matters as that when the examiner was in the
neighbourhood they appeared generally at a time； and answered； that
is； lied； for one another； or got some of the neighbourhood to say they
were all in health … and perhaps knew no better … till； death making it
impossible to keep it any longer as a secret； the dead…carts were called
in the night to both the houses t and so it became public。 But when
the examiner ordered the constable to shut up the houses there was
nobody left in them but three people； two in one house and one in the
other； just dying； and a nurse in each house who acknowledged that
they had buried five before； that the houses had been infected nine or
ten days； and that for all the rest of the two families； which were
many； they were gone； some sick； some well； or whether sick or well
could not be known。
In like manner； at another house in the same lane； a man having his
family infected but very unwilling to be shut up； when he could
conceal it no longer； shut up himself； that is to say； he set the great red
cross upon his door with the words； 'Lord have mercy upon us'； and so
deluded the examiner； who supposed it had been done by the
constable by order of the other examiner； for there were two
examiners to every district or precinct。 By this means he had free
egress and regress into his house again。 and out of it； as he pleased；
notwithstanding it was infected； till at length his stratagem was found
out； and then he； with the sound part of his servants and family； made
off and escaped； so they were not shut up at all。
These things made it very hard； if not impossible； as I have said； to
prevent the spreading of an infection by the shutting up of houses …
unless the people would think the shutting of their houses no
grievance； and be so willing to have it done as that they would give
notice duly and faithfully to the magistrates of their being infected as
soon as it was known by themselves； but as that cannot be expected
from them； and the examiners cannot be supposed； as above； to go
into their houses to visit and search； all the good of shutting up houses
will be defeated； and few houses will be shut up in time； except those
of the poor； who cannot conceal it； and of some people who will be
discovered by the terror and consternation which the things put them into。
I got myself discharged of the dangerous office I was in as soon as I
could get another admitted； whom I had obtained for a little money to
accept of it； and so； instead of serving