Customer Reviews

A Dialogue Against the Fever Pestilence (Extra, Series : No 52)

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This book is a healthy dose of wry, sly, wit. "Merry tales -- pills to purge melancholy at plague time", according to the editors, Mark Bullen and A. H. Bullen. The first edition of this work was written in 1564 by Dr. William Bullein, with later editions coming in 1573 and 1578. This text incorporates all three editions, pointing out the differences between the volumes. Although the editors have preserved the 16th century flavor of the text, I find it remarkably easy to read. The work is set as a dialogue between various characters. This seems to have been a novelty for the time, and the technique was copied by at least one later writer. From the dialogue between the characters comes a very good look at the practice of medicine in 16th century England. Dr. Bullein (or, "Bulleyn", or "Bullen" as he sometimes wrote)has "hidden nothing from you that maie be a meanes to your health". Instructions are provided for the making of ointments, pills and potions to cure a variety of ailments. Dr. Bullein will also tell you the signs of plague, and which segment of the population is likely to fall victim. The book may be considered a bit pricey by some, but I think it is priceless.