While most physicians fled the city, including the renowned Thomas Sydenham, and Sir Edward Alston, president of the Royal College of Physicians, Hodges was one of the few physicians who remained in the city during 1665, to record observations and test the effectiveness of treatments against the plague. The book also contains statistics on the victims in each parish.
During the plague outbreak in 1665, most physicians left the city, including prominent figures like Thomas Sydenham and Sir Edward Alston, president of the Royal College of Physicians. Hodges remained in the city to document observations and test treatments for the disease. The book also provides statistics on the number of victims in each parish.