Something plainly had to be done to check the spread of the infection.

And as there was no means of removing the sick from their houses--there being but two or three pest houses in all London--even should their friends be prompt to give notice, and permit them to be borne away, the only alternative seemed to be to shut them up within the doors of the house where they lay stricken; and since they might already have infected all within it, condemn these also to share the imprisonment.

It was this that was the hardship, and which caused so many to strive to evade the law by every means in their power.

It drove men mad with fear to think of being shut up in an infected house with a person smitten with the fell disease.

Yet if the houses were not so closed, and guarded by watchmen hired for the purpose, the sick in their delirium would have constantly been getting out and running madly about the streets, as indeed did sometimes happen, infecting every person they met.