although the plan broke down in other cases--but this was not
Harmer's idea. He did indeed advise his wife and daughters to be
careful how they adventured themselves abroad, and where they went.
He had arranged at the farm near Greenwich for a regular supply of
provisions to be brought by water to the stairs hard by the bridge;
and since their house was supplied by water from the New River,
they were sure of a constant fresh supply. But he had no intention
of incarcerating himself or any of his household, and preventing
them from being of use to afflicted neighbours, whilst he himself
anticipated having to go into many stricken homes and into infected
houses. All the restriction he imposed was that any person sallying
forth into places where infection might be met should change his
raiment before going out, in a small building in the rear of the
shop which he was about to fit up for that purpose, and to keep
constantly fumigated by the frequent burning of certain perfumes,
of oil of sulphur, and of a coarse medicated vinegar which was said
to be an excellent disinfectant. On returning home again, the
person who had been exposed would doff all outer garments in this
little room, would resume his former clothing, and hang up the
discarded garments where they would be subjected to this
disinfecting fumigation for a number of hours, and would be then
safe to wear upon another occasion. He intended burning regularly
in his house a fire of pungent wood such as pine or cedar, which
was to be constantly fed with such spices and perfumes and
disinfectants as the physicians should pronounce most efficacious.
Perfect cleanliness he did not need to insist upon, for his wife
could not endure a speck of dust upon anything in the house.

A careful diet, regular hours, and freedom from needless fears
would, he was assured, do much towards maintaining them all in