Page:Lives of British Physicians.djvu/32

16 BRITISH PHYSICIANS. itself forms a very curious article in the annals of medicine, and relates to a sort of pestilence, which infested this country at various periods, committed great ravages, and was attended with some remarkable circumstances. The title of the work is, " A Boke, or Counseill against the disease, commonly called the Sweate, or Sweatyng Sicknesse. Made by Ihon Caius, doctour in phisicke. Very necessary for everye personne, and much requisite to be had in the handes of al sortes, for their better instruction, preparacion, and defence, against the souddein comying and fearfid assaulting of the same dis- ease."— 12mo. 1552. The author makes an apology for writing his treatise in English, " For," says he, " the commo- ditie of that which is so written, passetli not the compasse of England, but remaineth enclosed v/ithin the seas. But," he adds, " as this disease is almost peculiar unto us Englishemen, and not common to all men, following us, as the shadowe the body, in all countries, albeit not at all times ; therefore compelled I am to use this our English tongue, as best to be understood and most needful, to whom it most behoveth to have speedy remedie." This curious disease appeared, for the first time, in the army of the Earl of Kichmond, upon his landing at Milford-haven in 1485, and spread to London, where it raged from the beginning of August to the end of October. So formidable and fatal were its effects, that the coronation of Henry VII., the victor in the battle of Bosworth- field, was deferred till this strange pestilence had subsided. It was a species of malady