Moshia‘ ḥosim (Savior of Those Who Take Refuge)

Chapter 4

The scholars of nature [natural philosophers] and medicine [physicians] agree that they have no clear-cut, accurate, and reliable sign by which the poisonous fever can be correctly diagnosed and which will rule out uncertainty. For sometimes the invalid’s urine will be clear, when the humor which dominates does not go to the liver, while in other instances the fever will be [only] slightly evident, as the poison will not be in such hot humors, and does not show signs of putridity on the outside.

On yet other occasions, it appears as though the fever has eased off him, since nature is trying to push it away from him and from the area of the senses and the vital organs. But subsequently, when the poison rejoins the fight as before, nature cannot fight it and overcome it, as it has already been weakened by the first encounter, and thus the patient withers away and dies. This is the way of them that are foolish (Psalms 49:14), to initially show signs in the invalid as though he is on the way to recovery, before he once again succumbs, this time even worse than previously. There are also times when it seems that the patient does not feel the illness at all, and he is as strong and valiant as the mighty ones, and can go forth and do all he chooses. This is because the poison is not the enemy of all the limbs, as it is with regard to the heart.

Consequently, in times when these illnesses are spreading, one should not set a timetable and be satisfied that nature is showing the kind of change in appearances that physicians usually look for, and at which point they will assist nature on her way through various medications. Rather, in those days one should not take so much notice of the duration of the disease, as nature itself will not be enough, and the signs will not tell you the truth. Instead, you should strengthen yourself and do what you must while you still have life within you. Do not put things off until tomorrow, as you do not know what the next day will bring. For it can be assumed that as long as this poisonous creature is in the air, all the excess humors and all illnesses that would come at other times will turn into these poisonous diseases. This is similar to how sulfur, when it senses the flame of a fire, will be set alight and burn itself, due to its great readiness to do so. Likewise, because of the readiness of the atmosphere, anything whose influence tends beneath the middle line, such that it can become putrid, will turn into that poison, in accordance with the quality of the atmosphere. This is why you will see that when a plague hits a city, there will be few other diseases present. By the same token, when you observe an increase of other illnesses in a city that has the plague, you can trust that the plague will soon be over.

The signs of this poisonous fever, as listed by medical scholars, are as follows: the presence of the fever is constant, but will rise and fall in no known order. One will experience a shortness of breath and chest pains, and the pulse will quickly weaken. There is a great heating throughout the body; all of his limbs and his body are very painful to him, especially the magnitude of his headache. He will also suffer from delirium, which is called phrenitis, and great thirst. Bloodstains will appear on him and his body, in changeable spots. His urine will be thick and murky, and it will be similar to the urine of an animal.

You should know this general rule; in such evil times, any children who contract the disease of worms have little hope of survival, for that disease is like chaff sensing fire, and like sulfur to a flame, as the substance that causes worms is the most ready to receive the poisonous fever.

The signs of a plague, apart from the noxious, murky, and poisonous atmosphere, are the increase of creatures that come into being due to the fetid air, in particular an increase in worms, and an increase in the diseases [unidentified], and persistent fevers involving a redness of the eyes, and the confusion of patients’ minds. In addition, these diseases will proliferate in the vital organs and the surrounding areas.

Also, you should know that when the fetid, murky air lingers in a place for a lengthy period of time, the poison will reach springs, cisterns, rivers, and will also putrefy the fruit on trees. It is therefore advisable to drink only boiled water, by cooling a hot piece of iron or burnished brass in the water until it is purified. One should then use this water to dilute wine, since concentrated, smoky wine is bad and bitter. Wine should not be drunk until it has been diluted by water, and the wine should be clear and clean of all dross. It should be white and good quality, and it should not be sweet.

Regarding all other fruits and such foods, it is best to cook and prepare them by removing their bad parts until they are healthy and good, and their taste is almost salty or sour. This is especially the case when the plague begins after a thunderstorm, when the mountains are moved into the heart of the seas (Psalms 46:3), as then the foundations of the earth are weakened. It is very good to eat from the fruit of the mountains and the herbs that grow in rock crevices and in the sparse southern regions, not those full of sap and richness, while the fruit should be fragrant and of good quality.

One should live only in pleasant and spacious residences, and the houses should be clean and airy. It is a good idea to spread fine scents in them, and how appealing it is when they are decorated with beautiful pictures and etchings, which gladden a person’s heart.