Where did the Black Death Originate from
It is believed that the Black Death originated from the dry plains of Central Asia travelling along the silk road onto Crimea by 1343. From here merchant ships carried rats that contained infected fleas throughout the Mediterranean Basin and onto Europe. From Europe these ships made there way to Weymouth, Dorset, England with the infected fleas living on the backs of the rats. Once the ships docked they was unloaded and the rats fled onto land and unleashing the Black Death to the population of England in June 1348.
Reaching London
By Autumn of 1348 the Plague reached London the Capital city of England. Life in London at this time was not a pleasant one, problems with narrow streets, overcrowding and poor sanitation resulted in the city being very smelly. The river Thames was a polluted mess along with the cesspits in the city resulted in constant contamination. As the plague begun to claim many lives King Edward III complained to the town council in an effort to have the streets cleaned up but the council responded that they could do nothing as all of the street cleaners had died of the plague.
How quickly did the plague spread.
It is believed that the Black Death spread at a rate of between one to eight miles a day with a world wide total of 25 million deaths between 1347 – 1351
What actions was taken to stop the spread of the Plague
It is believed that the Plague ended with the implementation of quarantining the infected people. When a home was discovered to have a person infected the home was sealed shut will all family members condemning all to certain death. A large red cross was painted on the door to the home along the words ‘Lord have mercy upon us’ to warn others that here the Plague was present.
Removal of the Dead
During the night men with carts would walk the streets of London crying out ‘Bring out your dead’, family members would bring out the people that had died in their homes and lay them onto the backs of the carts. These carts collected the dead and transported them to Plague pits.
Plague Pits
Due to the high numbers of dead normal burring services was abandoned and Plague pits were introduced, England knew that even though the victims of the Plague had died they could still it on. Huge pits were dug where Plague victims bodies was buried. Earth was placed on top, the next night more bodies was placed into the pit making another layer of dead bodies.
Victims
The Black Death was around from 1348 – 1665 returning every 20 to 30 years and claimed over 100 million lives world wide. The Great Fire of London is said to have helped killing off the Plague due to the Rats and fleas burning.
So now we know a little about the Black Death and the Great Plague of London but what was the Black Death
What was the Black Death
The Black Death and Great Plague of London was a bubonic plague, caused by rats or fleas infected with Yersinia pestis bacteria. The fleas would bite people and pass on the bacteria, this bacteria was highly contagious and could be passed from person to person whoever they came into contact with, once infected the bacteria would multiply within the person and the first sign would show as fever. From the first sign of infection with out treatment (No treatment was available at this time) about two thirdsof the victims died within three to four days, the rest last for about two weeks until they met their painful end.
Symptoms
- Day one - Painful swellings called buboes in either armpits or groin about the size of chicken eggs
- Day Two - Fever with extreme flu like weakness and being sick
- Day Three - Bleeding under the skin would leave dark patches
- Day Four - Terrible pain from spasms due to the nervous system being attacked
- Day Five - The buboes would sometimes burst oozing out black liquid resulting in a painful death
Is the Plague Still Around Today
Yes the Plague is still present which infects and without treatment kills people today but the good news is there is now a cure.
In 2015 the Food and Drug Administration approved ciprofloxacin to treat people which has been used to successfully stop the infection.
Nursery Rhyme Ring Around the Rosie
I am sure you have all heard or even been taught the nursery rhyme ‘Ring around the rosie’ but did you know that this rhyme is believed to be about the Plague and can be broken down as follows
Nursery Rhyme
Ring around the Rosie
A Pocketful of Posies
A-Tishoo, A-Tishoo
We All Fall Down
Meaning
Ring around the rosie – relates to the rash.
A pocketful of Posies – Posies was herbs that people would carry around to mask the smell of sickness.
A-Tishoo, A-Tishoo – Plague victims would sneeze in the final stages of the Plague.
We All Fall Down – Being the final stage where people would finally die of the Plague.