Black Death
By Jordan Barry
Introduction
The Bubonic Plague or in the 14th century was known as the 'Black Death' was one of the deadliest diseases of its time. Killing around 50 million people Bubonic Plague was a disease not to make a joke about. People in the 14th century did not have the knowledge nor the research to learn or prevent the disease from stopping or even slowing.
Symtoms
Symtoms of the Bubonic Plague include fever and swollen Lymph nodes which are called Buboes. A Bubo is usually around the size of a tenis ball and tender and lukewarm to the touch. Buboes are usually found in the areas of the groin, armpits or neck. Gangrene is also a sign of Black Death it is were your fingers start to die from blood clots. Your fingers tun black and you will usually have to amputate them.
Transmission
Transmission of the Bubonic Plague is from a flea or ratbut maybe from animal tissue, or infectious droplets but rarely from human to human contact. The carriers (rat & flea) carry the bacterium, this bacteria is called Yersinia Pestis once the bacterium enters the body of a plague victim the virus spreads through the Lymphatic system to Lymph nodes. The nodes swell up and become very painful and tender, these are the Buboes.
History
Outbreaks in the 14th century and after were very deadly. For the people did not have the knowledge or resources to learn or prevent the disease. Outbreaks started as early as 531 and lasted to 1893, that's over a thousand years of Bubonic Plague. Most of the outbreaks happened in rural areas like most parts of Africa, Asia, some parts of South America. But back in the 14th century and before most people didn't know about diseases so it really didn't matter if the area was rural or not. The deadliest outbreak was in London in 1665, where 7,165 died in the time radius of a month.
Medieval Treatment consisted of Bloodletting and cupping. Bloodletting is where you drain the 'infected' blood of a Plague victim so that the victim does not have the virus no more. Cupping is where you placed heated cups on the skin that are supposed to release 'infectious toxins'. Another form of treatment is to practice a religion by praying.
Jews in the 14th century were blamed for the Plague and were often tortured. The Jews were dunked in wells as an ancient form of water boarding. The Jews were also thrown into pits then lit on fire and burned alive. Flagellants were brothers of the cross that took the blame for the Plague. The Flagellants often whipped themselves in town square to take the blame from gods wrath- (people often thought bad things happen because god was angry).
Bibliography
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