Some of these,
though considered necessary to the well-being of the community,
were by many citizens regarded as hardships, more especially the
rule which related to closing of infected houses.
The misery endured by those in health suffering such confinement,
was scarcely less than that realized by the afflicted. And fear
making way for disease, it frequently occurred a whole family,
when confined with one infected member, speedily became stricken
by plague, and consequently overtaken by death. It therefore
happened that many attempts were made by those in health to
escape incarceration. In some cases they bribed, and in others
ill-treated the watchmen: one of whom was actually blown up by
gunpowder in Coleman Street, that those he guarded might flee
unmolested. Again, it chanced that strong men, rendered
desperate when brought face to face with loathsome death, lowered
themselves from windows of their houses in sight of the watch,
whom they threatened with instant death if they cried out or
stirred.
The apprehension of the sick, who were in most cases deserted by
their friends, was increased tenfold by the practices of public
nurses: for being hardened to affliction by nature of their
employment, and incapable of remorse for crime by reason of their
vileness, they were guilty of many barbarous usages. "These
wretches," says Dr. Hodges, "out of greediness to plunder the
dead, would strangle their patients, and charge it to the
distemper in their throats.
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