What were the different types of plagues in the Black Death?
The plague, Black Death, God’s Revenge, or whatever name you choose was the great killer of the Middle Ages. The number of deaths is unknown, only estimated, and that estimation is three million. Compared to Hitler’s Holocaust and its 6 million murdered Jews, three sounds negligible. However, the population was much lower in medieval times and 3 million was a devastating blow to society.
Bubonic was transmitted primarily through fleas. It caused swellings in the lymph glands; the neck, underarms, and groin areas were the most common areas. Opening the buboes to drain was not a common treatment; prayer was. The few who survived had a natural immunity.
Pneumonic wasn’t a silent killer. One of its symptoms was a cough. I believe the custom of saying “Bless you.”, “God bless you” in the appropriate language began then and is still used today without people knowing the history behind it. A Pope (Gregory?) suggested that the blessing be used by the faithful in the hopes they would then be protected from the illness. The droplets sprayed
carried the seeds of death to the unsuspecting. That’s why people are taught to cover the cough or sneeze in their hand, a kleenex, a handkerchief if anyone still carries them. I still have my Mom’s given her by a grateful postal patron. They have fragile lace tatted around the edges. In medieval times people used the long sleeves on their outfits, on the tablecloth, the long hoods worn by the men
—- anything that had handy — or they sprayed the neighborhood.
Septicemic is the most horrific. It involves a brain-boiling fever, abdominal pain,
and leakage of blood from the nose, mouth, or rectum.
This disease is still active in parts of the world — including my New Mexico.
Pinterest pictures