Chapter I: Front Matter

A SHORT
DISCOURSE
CONCERNING
_Pestilential Contagion_,
AND THE
METHODS
To be used to Prevent it.

By _RICHARD MEAD_, M.D.
Fellow of the College of Physicians
and of the Royal Society.

_LONDON_:
Printed for _Sam. Buckley_ in _Amen-Corner_, and
_Ralph Smith_ at the _Royal-Exchange_, 1720.

TO THE

Right Honourable

_James Craggs_, Esq;

ONE OF

His Majesties principal
Secretaries of State.

_SIR_,

I _Most humbly offer to You my Thoughts concerning the_ Prevention of the Plague, _which I have put together_ _by your Command. As soon as you was pleased to signify to me, in his_ Majestie's _Absence; that their Excellencies the_ Lords Justices _thought it necessary for the Publick Safety, upon the Account of the_ Sickness _now in_ France, _that proper Directions should be drawn up to defend our selves from such a Calamity; I most readily undertook the Task, though upon short Warning, and with little Leisure: I have therefore rather put down the_ principal Heads of Caution, _than a_ Set of Directions in Form.

The first, _which relate to_ the performing Quarentines, _&c. You, who are perfectly versed in the History of_ Europe, _will see are agreable to what is practised in other Countries, with some new Regulations_. The next, _concerning the_ suppressing Infection here, _are very different from the Methods taken in former Times among_ Us, _and from what they commonly Do_ Abroad: _But, I persuade my self, will be found agreable to Reason_.

_I most heartily wish, that the wise Measures, the_ Government _has already taken, and will continue to take, with Regard to the_ former _of_ these, _may make the_ Rules _about the_ latter _unnecessary: However it is fit, we should be always provided with proper_ Means of Defence _against so terrible an_ Enemy.

_May this short_ Essay _be received as one Instance, among many others, of the Care, you always shew for Your Country; and as a_ _Testimony of the great Esteem and Respect, with which I have the Honour to be,_

SIR,

Your most obedient,
Most humble Servant,

Novemb. 25. 1720.

R. MEAD.