A Discourse on the Plague

"A Discourse on the Plague" by Richard Mead is an early 18th-century scientific text that examines the plague, a serious worry during that era. The composition looks at what the plague is, what makes it happen, and how to stop it from spreading by using the era’s knowledge of medicine and public health. The book starts by stating its purpose: to help prevent the plague, especially since it was recently found in France. Mead's goal is to describe the major actions required to combat this threat to public health, relying on numerous historical and factual discoveries. He alludes to earlier plagues and emphasizes the relevance of quarantine procedures and the need to inspect infected items to prevent future outbreaks. The symptoms that were treated and how it was spread, as explained in the first few chapters, serve as a springboard for the book’s in-depth examination and suggestions.