Black death (1348-1349)

• The black death

  Overview:

  in 1348, the black death spread throughout britain, killing about a third of england's population. it affected both the rich and poor, both those in towns and in the countryside. the main symptoms were buboes in the armpit or groin, chest pains, and a fever. when the black death was caught, people died within days. it was spread through coughs and sneezes or rat flea bites (black rats were carried overseas by ships, so ships were quarantined for 40 days before landing).
• The black death

  Treatment:

  the black death spread rapidly so there wasn't much time for treatment. however, confessions of sins, smelling sweet herbs or strong herbs, bloodletting, and purging were the most commonly used.
• The black death

  Prevention:

  the local authorities took action to prevent the spread of the black death: quarantine laws that stated that new people had to stay away from others for 40 days and houses where an outbreak had occurred would have a mark on the door, cleaning streets stopped since it was believed that the smells from waste would drive away bad air, large events (like religious processions) were banned, and huge burial sites were created for the dead.