bubonic plague
During the late 1340's and early 1350's, approximately one third to one half of the population of Europe was wiped out by the Bubonic Plague, otherwise known as the "Black Death". During this time people were armed with little to no understanding of why or how the plague was happening, let alone how to control it. The time period of unanswerable questions that surrounded this disease allowed for the immense destruction that occurred in just a few short years. The Bubonic Plague is caused by the bacillus Yersinia Pestis, which is contracted to humans by the fleas of rodents. This bacillus works its way into the lymphatic system where it travels to the lymph nodes. In the lymph nodes a combat between the lymphatic system and the bacilli takes place. The bacilli excrete toxins, the body sends immune-system cells, and the node swells with the dead of both armies and coagulated blood (Farrell 88-89). The most characteristic symptoms of the plague are large, painful nodes, known as buboes, which grew in the groins, armpits, and necks of the infected persons. The early symptoms of the Plague consisted of a high fever, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, chills, fatigue, delirium, headaches, purple
However, the first recorded epidemic that took place began in A. Even though the Plague was such a horrific thing, in the long run, it may have helped a great deal in the prominent foundation of Europe that still stands today. An expectant quiet settled over the city, broken only by the rattling of the wagons on their rounds to pick up the dead, (Farrell 79). Food prices rose greatly, trade was disrupted, numerous leaders in church and government perished, and intelligent persons fostered an obsessive cult about death (Kohn 26). They inflicted various punishments on themselves in an attempt to atone for the world's sins-and end the disease. The plague also brought the Hundred Years' War to a holt, but that was later reinitiated in 1355. Although it had to be the hard way, at least we learned from it, just as we have from all other natural disasters. People believed that a quarantine, which means "40 days" in Italian, was long enough to make sure that the ships were free of the disease. They also fumigated letters and washed money with vinegar. There was also a group that was formed in Germany, known as the Brotherhood of the Flagellants. One story in specific gives a quite conclusive example of how the plague arrived into Europe. The medical knowledge of man had in many ways, caused more harm than repair. So many problems came from this plague, but surprisingly enough some good things did come from this morbid disease too. Yet, at the end of the plague things gradually turned out for the better. People rarely braved the streets and if they did it was at the break of dawn and they had flowers or perfumes stuck to their noses.
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