the Great Plague

• the three types of plague in London of 1665 were:

  • bubonic plague - spread by fleas, causes buboes in lymph nodes
  • pneumonic plague - attacked lungs, airborne
  • septicdemic plague - bacteria enters blood
• the believed causes of the Great Plague was:

  • astrology
  • passed from person to person
  • God and religion
  • miasma
• continuity in causes of Plague:

  • astrology - unusual aligments of certain planets, comet spotted
  • punishment from God - mankind was wicked and the Plague was sent to clean up sin
  • miasma - rubbish in cities caused bad vapour
• continuity in treatment of Plague:

  • physicians advised wrapping in thick cloth and laying by fire to sweat disease out
  • recipes for herbal remedies
• continuity in prevention of Plague:

  • physicians advised prayer and repetance
  • quaratine was suggested
• change in causes of Plague:

  • by 1665, some believed that disease spread from person to person
  • people who believed in miasma believed disease could be passed when caught
• change in treatment of Plague:

  • transference - e.g lancing buboes with feathers from live chicken to draw out poison
  • quack doctors - no qualifications, mixed remedies and sold them as cures for money
• change in prevention of Plague:

  • physicians advised carrying perfume for miasma, varied diets (e.g eating garlic and sage)
  • plague doctors wore masks with herbs to ward off miasma
  • apothecaries adviced plague water, herbs, smoking tobacco to ward off miasma, becoming infected with syphilis
  • goverments acted through slaughtering tens of thousands of dogs and cats, promoting quaratining for 28 days, closing public events, declaring fasting