And
it was estimated that the parish of Stepney alone lost one
hundred and sixteen gravediggers and sextons within that year.
During the month of September, the pestilence raged with
increased fury; and it now seemed as if the merciless distemper
would never cease whilst a single inhabitant remained in the
city. The lord mayor, having found all remedies to stay its
progress utterly fail, by advice of the medical faculty, ordered
that great fires should be kindled in certain districts, by way
of purifying the air, Accordingly, two hundred chaldrons of coal,
at four pounds a chaldron, were devoted to this purpose. At
first the fires were with great difficulty made to burn, through
the scarcity, it was believed, of oxygen in the atmosphere; but
once kindled, they continued blazing for three days and three
nights, when a heavy downpour of rain falling they were
extinguished. The following night death carried off four
thousand souls, and the experiment of these cleansing fires was
discontinued. All through this month fear and tribulation
continued; the death rate, from the 5th of September to the 3rd
of October, amounting to twenty-four thousand one hundred and
seventy-one.
During October, the weather being cool and dry, the pestilence
gave promise of rapid decrease. Hope came to the people, and was
received with eager greeting. Once more windows were
unshuttered, doors were opened, and the more venturous walked
abroad. The great crisis had passed.
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