’That there be a special care to appoint women
searchers in every parish, such as are of honest reputation,
and of the best sort as can be got in this kind; and
these to be sworn to make due search and true report
to the utmost of their knowledge whether the persons
whose bodies they are appointed to search do die of
the infection, or of what other diseases, as near
as they can. And that the physicians who shall
be appointed for cure and prevention of the infection
do call before them the said searchers who are, or
shall be, appointed for the several parishes under
their respective cares, to the end they may consider
whether they are fitly qualified for that employment,
and charge them from time to time as they shall see
cause, if they appear defective in their duties.
’That no searcher during this time of visitation
be permitted to use any public work or employment,
or keep any shop or stall, or be employed as a laundress,
or in any other common employment whatsoever.
Chirurgeons.
’For better assistance of the searchers, forasmuch
as there hath been heretofore great abuse in misreporting
the disease, to the further spreading of the infection,
it is therefore ordered that there be chosen and appointed
able and discreet chirurgeons, besides those that do
already belong to the pest-house, amongst whom the
city and Liberties to be quartered as the places lie
most apt and convenient; and every of these to have
one quarter for his limit; and the said chirurgeons
in every of their limits to join with the searchers
for the view of the body, to the end there may be
a true report made of the disease.
’And further, that the said chirurgeons shall
visit and search such-like persons as shall either
send for them or be named and directed unto them by
the examiners of every parish, and inform themselves
of the disease of the said parties.
’And forasmuch as the said chirurgeons are to
be sequestered from all other cures, and kept only
to this disease of the infection, it is ordered that
every of the said chirurgeons shall have twelve-pence
a body searched by them, to be paid out of the goods
of the party searched, if he be able, or otherwise
by the parish.
Nurse-keepers.
’If any nurse-keeper shall remove herself out
of any infected house before twenty-eight days after
the decease of any person dying of the infection,
the house to which the said nurse-keeper doth so remove
herself shall be shut up until the said twenty-eight
days be expired.’
Notice to be given of the Sickness.
’The master of every house, as soon as any one
in his house complaineth, either of blotch or purple,
or swelling in any part of his body, or falleth otherwise
dangerously sick, without apparent cause of some other
disease, shall give knowledge thereof to the examiner
of health within two hours after the said sign shall
appear.
