The Black DEATH
What was it? 'The Black Death', or 'Black Plague' refers to a pandemic that came from Central Asia and spread to Europe in the 1300s through trade Between 30% and 60% of Europe's population was wiped out! There were additional until The Black Death largely died out around the 19th Century
Origins? This is why we don't touch dead things Yersina Pestis Bacteria in soil Y. Pestis multiplies in flea stomach Fleas infest rat (or other carrier animal) rat brings fleas to people Contact with animal corpse transmits Y. Pestis Flea bites rat and transmits/ contracts Y. Pestis Rat dies from plague This is why we don't touch dead things
Blocked fleas When flea bites, it vomits bacteria into the victim while trying to ingest blood Flea's digestive system fills with bacteria and flea becomes 'blocked'
Other theories... It’s possible that fleas could transmit infections without being 'blocked’ Poor sanitary conditions and poor health in general made it easier for The Black Death to spread, as well as spread from person to person disease rather than just flea to person The first outbreak of any new disease tends to be more devastating as no one has developed immunity Pneumonic plague is transmitted via saliva droplets (either air borne or on surfaces) produced during coughing - it cannot be transmitted via flea bites the way Bubonic and Septicaemic Plague can be
pus and blood that leak and rupture Bubonic Plague Signs and symptoms: Buboes - bacteria in lymphatic system Fever Headache Vomiting Aching joints Death usually within 4-8 days of infection Mortality rate up to 75% BUBOES: lymph nodes filled with pus and blood that leak and rupture
Pneumonic Plague Signs and symptoms: Bacteria in respiratory system bacteria laden lung tissue Signs and symptoms: Bacteria in respiratory system Fever Cough Bloody sputum (mucus in lungs) Death within 3-4 days of infection Mortality rate of 95% bloody sputum
Septicaemic Plague Signs and symptoms: bacteria in blood Signs and symptoms: Bacteria straight to blood stream High fever Purpura - skin discolouration Blood clots Death usually within 24 hours Mortality rate close to 100% discolouration from bleeding into skin
Treatment People believed The Plague was carried through 'vapours' in the air so they used scented objects such as handkerchief and posies to try to prevent infection (This is where the nursery rhyme ‘Ring a Ring o’ Roses’ came from!) Lanced buboes - BAD PLAN - exposed caretakers to bacteria and made sick people sicker Tried to treat people with a range of charms, talismans and 'medicines' (such as liquor and laxatives) many of which made patients worse Sound was thought to help cure the disease, hence the ringing of church bells 'Experts' suggested preventative treatments like thinking positive thoughts, avoiding chicken and fish, or even not bathing Really, no one had any idea how to deal with it - avoiding contact with sick and dead was the best they could manage
Plague Doctor leather hat for protection, beak filled with perfumed materials, red lenses to protect eyes from evil, resemblance to bird linked to idea that birds carried the disease waxed robes to keep 'vapours' out, or coated in animal fat to draw illness to doctor, with leather breeches underneath - trying to protect groin, armpits and neck where buboes were known to appear leather gloves protected against transmission through contact with diseased people "thas here's ma pokin' stick" used to inspect, make directions or even beat people away long leather boots protected feet and lower legs
What would happen if... a pandemic like this occurred today?
Recommended reading http://www.insecta-inspecta.com/fleas/bdeath/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Death http://history.boisestate.edu/westciv/plague/ http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/plague.htm http://www.historyonthenet.com/Stuarts/plague_doctor.htm http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/sylvatic+plague