Contagion — Premodern Concordance

Candidate findings

What the corpus suggests

Patterns synthesized only from the linked claims below. Each remains a research lead, not a substitute for reading the passages.

recurrence

Susceptibility of vulnerable populations to contagion

Both claims identify specific groups—pregnant women and those with delicate constitutions—as being at heightened risk of contracting pestilential contagion. This suggests a consistent medical focus on individual physical state as a primary factor in disease transmission.

supports · João Curvo Semedo, 1741

Aſegundacaſtade gente que ſaõobrigados a fugir, fao as mulheres , prenhadas , porquede maisdeſerem muyto arriſcadas a ſelhes pegar o contagio

Polyanthea Medicinal →

supports · João Curvo Semedo, 1741

Aterceyracaſta degente quedeve fugir, ſab os delicados ,& mal , " compleycionados , porque eſtes ,pela ſuamà diſpoſiçaó , com facilidade po- ,, dem fer aflaltadosdo contagio peftilente

Polyanthea Medicinal →

method shift

Transition from miasmatic to parasitic explanations of contagion

Early modern accounts emphasize environmental factors like air quality or general pestilential qualities, whereas the 19th-century account identifies a specific biological parasite as the cause of contagion. This marks a shift from holistic environmental observation to microscopic biological identification.

contradicts · Willem Piso & Georg Marcgrave, 1648

t. Q^afi affiduitas Euri ab Ocea- no fpirantisaerem fcrcnet 6k quail verratus adco, utfeminaria contagii impediantur

Historia Naturalis Brasiliae →

supports · Claude Bernard, 1865

On connaît l'acare et on explique par lui la contagion de la gale

Introduction à l'étude de la médecine expérimentale →

qualification

Environmental mitigation of contagion

While one claim suggests that natural sea breezes clear the air to prevent contagion, another suggests that human intervention through burning herbs is necessary to correct indoor air. The latter qualifies the former by implying that environmental prevention is not always sufficient in enclosed spaces.

qualifies · Willem Piso & Georg Marcgrave, 1648

t. Q^afi affiduitas Euri ab Ocea- no fpirantisaerem fcrcnet 6k quail verratus adco, utfeminaria contagii impediantur

Historia Naturalis Brasiliae →

supports · Nicholas Culpeper, 1652

to burn the Herb in Houses and Chambers correcteth the Air in them:

The English Physitian →

Names and forms

Term history

Contagionpreferred labelSuggested

Meanings in context

Senses in this corpus

Transmission of infectious disease

The process by which a disease, pestilence, or malignant fever is communicated between humans, animals, or bodies through physical contact or proximity.

8 passages

Medicinal counteraction of contagion

The therapeutic use of substances to expel or neutralize the infectious influence of a pestilence.

2 passages

Analyzed source evidence

Historical usages and claims

Distinct local senses and assertions recovered from the corpus. Quotations retain the source OCR and link to the full passage and scan.

Historical account of disease transmission between humans and animals via contagion.

t. Triginta annorum decurfu femel duntaxat Afri ex Angola hue variolis laborantcs deve&i , rcliquos nullo malo contami- natos, ingcntimancipiorumftragCjinquinarunt. Pari propemodum modo contagiofa lues inter pecoradomefuca, hyeme pluviofa , aliquos grcges dcpopulata eft

The introduction of infected individuals from Angola caused a smallpox outbreak among the local population.

asserts · observation · causal effect

The author suggests that the constant sea breeze in Brazil clears the air and prevents the spread of contagion.

asserts · reasoning · mechanism

The medicinal property of an herb to counteract or drive out the infectious influence of plague.

The Flowers and the Conserve made of them, is singular good to comfort the Heart, and to expel the contagion of the Pestilence;

The herb's flowers and conserve are effective at expelling the contagion of the plague.

asserts · authority citation · function use

Burning the herb in indoor spaces serves to correct the air, presumably mitigating contagion.

asserts · observation · function use

The transmission of epilepsy through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person.

bujus morbi contagio correptuseft.

The author reports that epilepsy can be transmitted through contagion via shared drinking vessels.

reports · case report · causal effect

The passage describes a malignant and contagious fever spreading through a household.

7 ceraonaquellacaſa todasaspeſſoasdella,dehumafebre taomaligna ,&contagioſa

The author classifies the malignant fever affecting the household as contagious.

asserts · observation · classification

The transmission of pestilential quality from animals to humans through physical proximity.

e ,&entrando pe>>lascafasdagente ſaapodem communicaro contagio

Dogs can act as vectors for contagion by consuming filth and then entering human dwellings.

asserts · observation · mechanism

The author defines plague as a contagious disease requiring specific transmission between analogous or similar bodies.

teheenfermidadecontagiofa,perguntarà alguem fe paraa razaódo contagiobaſtará só quehuma doença ſejagrande,» Porque &tenhamuyta actividadeem marar ?Reſpondo que nao : porquepara ocon. Mercurialisde Peſtilenti febre cap. tagiohe neceſſario que ataldoençaſe com

The transmission of plague or pestilential disease to vulnerable individuals.

porquede maisdeſerem muyto arriſcadas a ſelhes pegar o contagio,maisneceffitaõ de que as firvaõ ,do que ſervirem ellas aoutrem

Pregnant women are highly susceptible to contracting the contagion.

asserts · reasoning · property

Delicate and poorly constituted individuals are easily attacked by the pestilential contagion.

asserts · reasoning · property

The author asserts that dead bodies retain the capacity to transmit disease.

nem me digao que os corpos mortos jànão tem contagio

Dead bodies possess the property of being contagious.

asserts · observation · property

Historical medical reference to contagion as a factor in the providence and treatment of plague.

Rodericus a Fonfecatomo 1. confiliorum , conf. 47. &conf. 49. pro provi- dentia,&curationepestis ex contagio

Rodericus a Fonseca provides medical guidance for the treatment of plague arising from contagion.

asserts · authority citation · causal effect

The transmission of scabies explained by the presence of the acarus parasite.

On connaît l'acare et on explique par lui la contagion de la gale

The contagion of scabies is explained by the presence and activity of the acarus parasite.

asserts · observation · mechanism

Related, not identical

Adjacent histories

Passages worth comparing without treating their subjects as names or senses of this entry.

The transfer of disease or symptoms from one body to another, often via sympathetic or magical means.

DaTransplantaçağõ, oupaſſagemque muytas doenças fazemdebūs corpos para outros.

Diseases can be transferred from a sick person to another living being, such as a dog or a mule.

asserts · case report · mechanism

The transfer of disease can occur through the ingestion of materials or contact with items associated with the sick.

asserts · case report · mechanism

The psychological phenomenon of collective emotional influence or behavioral mimicry within a large group of people.

the contagion of a crowd

The author classifies the collective behavior of a crowd as a form of contagion.

asserts · observation · classification

The metaphorical transmission of enthusiasm or behavioral state from teacher to student through personal example.

Above all, the teacher must himself be alive and ready, and must use the contagion of his own example.

A teacher's personal example acts as a contagious force to maintain student engagement.

asserts · reasoning · function use

Social influence or collective psychological pressure acting as a stimulus for individual behavioral transformation.

The stimuli of those who successfully spend and undergo the transformation here, are duty, the example of others, and crowd-pressure and contagion.

Contagion is identified as a stimulus that contributes to the transformation of an individual's energy levels.

asserts · observation · classification

The psychological phenomenon of emotional influence spreading rapidly through a group of people.

the stimuli that carry us over the usually effective dam are most often the classic emotional ones, love, anger, crowd-contagion or despair.

Crowd-contagion is classified as a classic emotional stimulus that can push individuals beyond their normal limits.

asserts · reasoning · classification

Primary-source evidence

Full passages, chronologically

Historia Naturalis BrasiliaeWillem Piso & Georg Marcgrave, 1648

Suggested

Quod quidem potiftimum de advenis mulieribus dictum fit. Quantumvis tempusaeftivum hibcrno magis fitfalubre, quoniam in Brafilia ficcitashu- miditati praavalct , naturarum tamen alias ad acftatcm , aliae ad hyemem bene vel male feha- bent. Proindcmuliercs & infantes, cumcorpore fint magis pituitofoj aaftate melius quam hyemc valcnt. Contra , biliofa corpora & gracilia melius hyemc, pejus autcm Deflate. Ethaec quidem dc intempcratis , quae moderato contrariorum ufu confervantur , corrumpuntur a fimili. Contrariumvero intempcratis fieri confuevit. Caeternm a morbis qui evaporibus ex terra aut lacubus ortis, nafcuntur, non eft prorfus libera Brafilia. Coelo cnim cxiftcntc tur- bido ■, & vento marino a tcrrcftri vifto , fubito fiunt catharri & raucedines. Abiis tamen qui Epidemici dicuntur , 6k: a maligno fiderum influxu , vitiofaque qualitate coelitus dimiffa , cer- tis temporibus faeviunt , immunis femper fuit habita. Anno millefimo fexecntcfimo quadra - geiimo&tertio, aeftatc admodnm ficca anthraces apparacrunt. Triginta annorum decurfu femel duntaxat Afri ex Angola hue variolis laborantcs deve&i , rcliquos nullo malo contami- natos, ingcntimancipiorumftragCjinquinarunt. Pari propemodum modo contagiofa lues inter pecoradomefuca, hyeme pluviofa , aliquos grcges dcpopulata eft. Eo tamen maligni- tatis contagium adfeendifle , utpeftisfficut in Peruvia a tcrgo Brafiliie fit) aut morbus pefli nffinis, indc exortus fuerit, a ncmine umquam compcrtum eft. Q^afi affiduitas Euri ab Ocea- no fpirantisaerem fcrcnet 6k quail verratus adco, utfeminaria contagii impediantur , haud alitcracalido&ficco, quamfubZonis tempcratis a frigido & ficco exftinguuntur.

The English PhysitianNicholas Culpeper, 1652

Suggested

It hel∣peth those that are Livergrown, by opening the Obstructions thereof. It helpeth dim Eyes, and procureth cleer sight, the Flowers thereof being taken all the while it is Flow∣ring, every morning fasting with bread and Salt. Both D•oscorides and Galen say. That if a Decoction be made thereof with Water and they that have the yellow Jaundice* 8.530 do ex∣ercise their Bodies presenty after the taking thereof, it will certainly cure it: The Flowers and the Conserve made of them, is singular good to comfort the Heart, and to expel the contagion of the Pestilence;* 8.531 to burn the Herb in Houses and Chambers correcteth the Air in them: Both the Flowers and the Leavs are very profitable for Women that are troubled with the Whites, if they be daily taken.* 8.532 The dried Leavs shred smal and taken in a Pipe like as Tobacco is taken, helpeth those that have any Cough or Phtisick, or Consumption, by warming and drying the thin Distillations which caus those Diseases. The Leavs are much used in Bathing, and made into Oynt∣ments or Oyls, is singular good to help cold benummed Joynts,* 8.

Polyanthea MedicinalJoão Curvo Semedo, 1741

Suggested

dando-lhe hum pleuriz agudiſſimo,foy neceſſario ſangralla muytas vezes, MathiasUntzerus lib. 1.de Epilep. & quedaquelle tempo pordiantenao tornara ater ostaes accidentes.Omefcap. 16. §. 11 . mo diz ChriſtovãodaVeiga, 28. que obſervou em tresdoentes. Eu digo * 26 . omefmo , porque tendo certomeninoaccidentes deGottaCoral , quere- * Bertin.lib. fuæMedicin. cap.5. mor- ſiſtirão amil remedios, o feriraó cafualmentenateſta ,& deytando muy fol. 316. ibi:12.Puerintegrèfanus bum effe totius fubftantia, &venenatum expertuseft, qui cùm poft egrum epilepfia laborantem in codemneſtatim cyatho bibiffet,bujus morbi contagio correptuseft. 27.

Polyanthea MedicinalJoão Curvo Semedo, 1741

Suggested

: 5. DaTransplantaçağõ, oupaſſagemque muytas doenças fazemdebūs corpos para outros. Eu occaſiaó a fallar neſta materia , o dizermos atraz que be- D bendo hum homem ſaó , por hum pucaro por ondehavia bebidohum enfermo de Gotta Coral , ſe tranſplantaraó osaccidentes no homem ſao de tal modo , çue daquelle dia por diante os começou a padecer com o meſmo rigor , que odoente os padecia. Eporquenãopareça que eſte meu dizer he apocrifo ,ou livremente proferido ,apontareyalguns exemplos em confirmaçãoda verdade ; pois, como diz Sallustio, 1. aexperiencia , &o exemplo lao mais poderofos que a 2. Arte. I. 3. Sallust. Longum eftadſcientiam ,vel Sejapois oprimeyro exemplo queconfirme haver Tranſplantação artemiter perpræcepta breve , & dedoençasdoscorpos enfermos paraos laos ,o ſeguinte,caſo , que mepaſiou efficaxperexempla. pelasmãos noannode 1668. Sendo o DoutorAntonio Roballo Freyte Juiz Vide Doctiffim. Francifcum à Fon- de Fóra na Villade Santarem , padeceo humasmaleytas rebeldiſſimas;&porque naquelle temponão havia noticiada Quinaquina , nemda agua de Ingla3.obf.45.mihifolio495. Demorboſec. Henriques in ſuo Apiario cent. rum transplantatione. terra,nem daminha agua Lusitana , nem de outros remediostão efficazes, como eſtes ſao ,ſe viomuyto apertado , atè que ( por conſelhode huma velha) lhe cortaraō asunhas dos pès , & feytas em aparas delgadiffimas as miſturarao com pão ,& queijoralados ,& asdéraő a comer ahum cão , & daquelle dia pordiantecomeçou odoente a melhorar ,& o cão a estar triſte,&tão amor-

Polyanthea MedicinalJoão Curvo Semedo, 1741

Suggested

modorras ,outros deytavaõlombrigas vivas pelaboca ; &como eu eftiveſſeja convalecido , me chamáraó para curarosditosdoentes ,&dando-lhes a todos •meuCordealcomlargamão, foyo effeytodelle tao milagroſo , que eſcapáraótodos.Bem poderiaō eſtes ſucceſſos fercafuaes;mas hegrande cafo , que denovedoentes,ſóhumque nao tomou o meu Cordeal morreſſe ,&todos os : que o tomarao farafiem. Omeſmo prodigiofo effeyto obſervey com o Cor deal em caſa de Luis de Vargas , aonde otomaraó cincodoentes defebres malignas,& todos cinco ſaràraō. O Padre Carlos Pereyra, Capellaō do Emi nentiſſimo Senhor Cardeal de Souſa , pòde certificar o que vio obrar a efte Cordealem ſuacaſa ,aonde tres irmás fuas adoecèraó gravemente com febres malignas ; receiteylhe oCordeal paratodas , duasotomaraō,&livráraó, & fó humaque o naó quiz tomar morreo. 33: 1. Ovigefimo feptimo caſo obſervey no mez deJaneyro de 1696.em caladoPadreJoao Ribeyro, morador àBoaVista no pateodasGalegas; adoecèrao Tratado II. Cap. CVI. $77 ceraonaquellacaſa todasaspeſſoasdella,dehumafebre taomaligna ,&contagioſa, quefoyneceflario chamargente de fóra parathes acudir ; & fem em bargoquehuns tiveraó pintas, outros parotidas, outros delirios, outros foluços ,&finalmente outro eſteve mudo ſeis dias ,ſem poder articular huma fo

Polyanthea MedicinalJoão Curvo Semedo, 1741

Suggested

26. He" Tratado II.Cap. CXXVII. 657 26. Hebomconſelho deytar fóradaterra(emque ha,ouſetemeaPeſte) 4 >>todosos cães , ou matallos , porque como eſtes animaes comem muytas im- >>mundicias, comfacilidade ſethes pegaa qualidade peftilente ,&entrando pe>>lascafasdagente ſaapodem communicaro contagio,ſem que teadvirtadon "deveyoodano. ‫دو‬ ১ 27. Acudão àgentepobre com oque lhe for neceſſario,porqueda fome >>ſe ſegueufaremde ruins comidas,de que ſe criaõ venenofos humores , &def- :: >>tesasfebrespeftilentes , comodizGaleno : 25. examinem-ſeos mantimen25. " tos, &as aguas , porque de ferem ruins morreraó exercitos inteyros ,como Galen.lib.deciboboni, &malifucoi cap. 1. ibi: Humor vitiofus ex pravis >>tem moſtrado aexperiencia,&o diz Fernelio. 26.3 ‫در‬ 28. collectusdiù venis qui latet , in Sobreo paoſe deve fazer muyparticular exame, inquirindo aſua cibis temporis progreſſu pestiferas febres >>qualidade,pois he iguariatão commuaa todos ,& nocaſoque otrigo ſejamal gignit. "ſazonado, ou ſejatalafalta , que nos obrigue a ufardelle , oudo que vem de 26.

Polyanthea MedicinalJoão Curvo Semedo, 1741

Suggested

" 22 ‫נג‬ 43 : naonoverde;por quantoo fecco tem difpofições capazespara ſe lhe atearo Hippocrateslib.de flatibus,mihi fof. "incendio', asquaesnaotemoverde. 99.ibi:Differtequidem corpus àcorpo- " re,naturaànature , & mutrimentum ànutrimento. も ef Da PolyantheaMedicinal. 660 DacuradaPeste. 44 . १ Ternelius cap. 12.de peſtilentia,mihi fol. 106. ibi : Memorie proditum eft peftilentiam incidere, quæfolos bove Des 1.45. jugulat , aliam , quefues, aut oves, aliam,quefoloshomines, &c. 45. Orque aPefteheenfermidadecontagiofa,perguntarà alguem fe paraa razaódo contagiobaſtará só quehuma doença ſejagrande,» Porque &tenhamuyta actividadeem marar ?Reſpondo que nao : porquepara ocon. Mercurialisde Peſtilenti febre cap. tagiohe neceſſario que ataldoençaſe communiquede huma outro , &deou." 25. mihi fol. 32.verf. ibi:Sunt enim, tro amuytos , com os quaes tenha certaanalogia , ou ſemelhança, por faltada>> ut audiviſtis,magna expartefebres qual vemos muytasvezes que tendooshomenspeſte, anaotemosgados;ou." ardentes. 46. trasvezes obfervamos que tendo-a os gados , a nao tem os homens ;por quan-> " , Rondeletius defebre peftilenti , mi- toeſtes viventes tem entre fi diverſas analogias , ou ſemelhanças,& afſim ten-» hifol.803. ibi : Nos autem putamus doa peſtilencia analogia com huns , a nao tem com outros ; como o obſervou , effetertiumgenus canfonisfactum ex Fernelio 44. na Peſle que houveno annode 1514.que matandoogado,não , Sanguinemelancholico, &c. 47. matavaa gente.

Polyanthea MedicinalJoão Curvo Semedo, 1741

Suggested

lente,&poriſſo ſaoa gente, a quem aPeſte fepegaprimeyro. 84. Aſegundacaſtade gente que ſaõobrigados a fugir, fao as mulheres , prenhadas , porquede maisdeſerem muyto arriſcadas a ſelhes pegar o contagio,maisneceffitaõ de que as firvaõ ,do que ſervirem ellas aoutrem , & por ,, iſto ſe nãodevem pòra perigo,quando nao podemferde proveyto. 85. Aterceyracaſta degente quedeve fugir, ſab os delicados ,& mal , " compleycionados , porque eſtes ,pela ſuamà diſpoſiçaó , com facilidade po- ,, dem fer aflaltadosdo contagio peftilente. 86. Aquarta caſtade peſſoas quedevem fugir , ſaõ os muyto medrofos,,, porquenao ſoestãomuy capazes,& ázados para cair no perigo ; mascom a fua grande triſteza entriſtecem aos outros,& lhes fazem grande dano ,& por iflo,, dizaEfcrituraSagrada noDeuteronomio 2. Homo formidolofus, &cordepavido

Polyanthea MedicinalJoão Curvo Semedo, 1741

Suggested

>>deIfrael no templo que ellehavia edificado ,&ahi fez que pedifle aDeosthe » acudiſle, lib. 3.Regum 8.ibi: Sifames obortafuerit interra, autpestilentia,autcorruptus aer,quicumque oraverit in loco isto , & expanderit manusfuas indomobac,tu » exaudies in locotabernaculi tuiin Calo, &cum exaudieris,propitius cris. Confirma- , ſe eſtaverdade como quediſſeChriſto por Sao Mattheos : Ubicumque congregatifuerint duo, veltres innominemeo ,in medio eorumfum ego : &hemuy verofi- mel que aonde orarem muytas peſſoas , ſeachemduas , outres juſtas ,&ſejao „ ouvidas de Deos ,& conceda o que lhe pedem . " 92 . Quatro couſasquero ainda advertir importantiſſimas. Aprimeyra, >> que os enfermeyrosque houveremde aſſiſtir aosdoentes na całada Saude ,ſe „ efcolhaomuyto caridoſos ,&amigos de Deos , porque ſe forem ambiciofos, ,,& faltos de piedade, morreráōprimeyroos doentesdodefemparo ,que da en „ fermidade. 93 . Aſegunda , que os homens que ouverem de fer guardas das fazendas, ou peſſoas , que vierem deterras ſulpeytofas , ſejão tam ricos , &definte,, reſlados, quenenhumas dadivas ſejaõ capazes de os corromper, porque de ou,, tra forte, ſe forem levados da propria conveniencia ,deſprezaráóobemcom„ mum , por attender ſó ao ſeu intereſſe particular. Aterceyra, que os mortos ſe enterrem em covas muyto fundas logo 94,, que efpirarem : nem me digao que os corpos mortos jànão tem contagio,por‫دو‬

Polyanthea MedicinalJoão Curvo Semedo, 1741

Suggested

pivatiuspract. medic. lib.6. defebribus cap. 36.38. defebrepestifera,Joannes Caftellustract, de Peste , ejuspraſervatione , & curatione , Cornelius Celfus med. lib. 1 . cap. 16. prefervatioàpeftilentia, item lib. 3. cap. 7. quomodo pestilentesfebres curaridebeant , Rodericus a Fonfecatomo 1. confiliorum , conf. 47. &conf. 49. pro provi- dentia,&curationepestis ex contagio, Foreſtus lib.8. obferv . defebribuspublicegraf- ,, fantibus, &obſerv. 16. de univerfali curatione pestis Delphenfis , Fumanelus tractat. de curat.peftis ,Galenus lib. 1. de differentijsfebrium cap. 4. depestilentisfebrisge- neratione, &pracautione, Joannes Baptista,gemma de vera curandi ratione bubones, &carbunculos, Jacobus Gengerus depestis regimine,praſfervatione , &cura , Gordo- niuslil med.fol. 1.part. 1.cap. 10. defebribus pestilentialibus, Guainerius,opera me. " dicatract de peste fol. 205. cap. 1 Hartmanus Pract. Chymiat. pag. 224. pestis,,„ Gafparus Caldeyrade Heredia, illustratione 3. adfebrempestilentem , & malignam, PetrusMichaelde Heredia,opera medica,ſyntagmat, univers. tract. defebribus per- niciofis,Heurnines lib. defebribus cap 19. 20. defebribus pestilentibus,Holerius libr. 2. defebribusfol. 27. depeste , Duncanus de febribus libr. 3. depeste, Zacuius Lufitanus,demedicorum principum historia lib. 4. hiftor.46. depeste, idem Zacut. tomo 2. praxis hiftoriarum libro 4. cap. 28. de peste , &febre pestilenti , Manardus libr. 5 epift. 3. prafervatio , & curatiopestilentia, Maſſarias lib.5.cap. 24. 25. de febribus pestilentialibus , Mundela epist. 16. de febris peftilentis curatione epi-