A Plague That Killed Millions
By: Daisy Rinehart
Interduction
The Bubonic plague, or the Black Death is a disease that killed over 25 million people. The plague was extremely painful and extremely long. It was around for over 1,000 years without a cure. People who were infected only lasted four more days until the sudden tragic death. The bubonic plague got its name from the bubbles that appeared around the victims neck, groins, and armpits. The bubbles range from around as small as an egg to as large as an apple.
Where Did The Back Death Come From?
The Black Death came from China and made its way to Europe. Chinese men were on a boat, trading goods with Europe. The captain died of illness and his crew was very ill. The ship was infested with rats, and the rats were infested with fleas who carried bacteria that started the bubonic plague. Once they reached Europe it was down hill from there. One by one people would get the disease. People thought they could just run away from it, but didn't know that they were actually spreading it.
Ring Around the Rosie
When we were younger we've probably sang the song Ring Around The Rosie. This song actually has to do with the Bubonic Plague. Ring around the Rosie represents the red bubbles around the victim's neck, arms, or groin. Pockets full of poise, people would carry the flowers to mask the smell of death. Ashes, ashes we all fall down, represent the sudden deaths. I bet no one ever thought of that as a kid.
Preventing The Black Death
Preventing the plague seems very hard but as long as you are careful and aware then you should be able to not get the plague for as long as possible. People who buy rat fur are most likely going to get the plague. The fur will probably be infected. People who have sheds, barns, or houses infested with rats will have a grater risk of getting the plague. The disease seemed very painful and it must've been hard to get away from it. Good thing our medical fields are a lot more experienced and we are all in good hands.
Bibliography
-The Week(news article)
-History.com
-Gottfried, Robert, The Black Death(book)