A Succinct Account of the Plague at Marseilles

In the autumn of 1720 Marseille was gripped by a lethal plague, prompting the Duke Regent to dispatch three Parisian doctors—Chicoyneau, Verney, and Soullier—to assess and report the crisis. Their translated account, printed for the city’s magistrates, records the harrowing early symptoms: violent shivering, a weak or erratic pulse, a heavy, confused mind, and a pallid, cadaverous complexion. The language is stark and clinical, letting listeners feel the urgency and dread that raced through the streets.

The physicians classify patients into five types, beginning with those who die within hours, showing no rash but extreme fatigue, vomiting, and a mind clouded by fever. They note that traditional bleeding and purgatives proved harmful, while only warm cordials and sudorifics bought a few extra hours, highlighting the limits of contemporary medicine. This vivid report offers a rare glimpse into early modern public‑health efforts, showing how observation, fear, and civic responsibility collided during a devastating outbreak.