prevention

• ordered the human excrement and other filth lying in the

  streets in the city to be removed with all speed. This is so that no

  greater cause of death may arise from such smells and horrid

  odours that are spreading the pestilence. 


  Teams of men are to clear animal dung as well. There are to be fines for throwing litter and butchers are to be punished for leaving animal remains in the street.
• you should avoid over-indulgence of food; also avoid group baths. These open the pores through which poisons may enter. Above all, avoid sexual intercourse. In cold or rainy weather you should light fires in your chamber. Armpits, blood should be let from the cardiac

  vein.
• New quarantine laws were put in place to try and stop people from moving around too much. People new to an area had to stay away

  from everyone else for 40 days to ensure they were not carrying the disease.

  Authorities also started to quarantine houses where the plague had broken out. They considered banning preaching to stop large crowds

  gathering. People with symptoms were to remain separated from the rest. they could not fully enforce these laws: rich

  people, for example, moved around quite freely and the Church continued to run as normal.
• local authorities also stopped cleaning the streets, despite King Edward’s orders

  to clean them. Some local governments believed the stench of rubbish and rotting bodies would drive off the miasma causing the plague.