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 tint to skin, etc. Later symptoms included the buboes, which could grow to the size of oranges and burst leaving a ghastly open wound, but in many cases offered slight relief. Another later symptom included blood vessels breaking causing internal bleeding. This disease could kill in a day and if it had not, than the infected person would be sure to die in the next couple of days.
             The actual origin of the plague is unknown, but was believed to be started in India or Africa. However, the first recorded epidemic that took place began in A.D. 541, spreading throughout the Mediterranean civilizations. The second epidemic took place in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, during the 1330's reaching China, India, and the Middle...