Effects of the Black death

Spread The Black Death started in central Asia and very quickly spread into Europe and other countries The Black Death entered Europe through Messina, Italy on a boat with infected humans and rats. The bacteria Yersinia Pestis which caused the Black Death spread through fleas that bit rats infected with the disease. These fleas went on to bite humans and other animals. One strain of The Black Death was also partly airborne so anyone who came in contact with someone who was infected would often die. These methods of spreading made the Plague very contagious. The plague was  able to travel on boats and carriages because of the rats and fleas which spread it could easily travel in suitcases and baggage. This resulted in the plague spreading all along the trade routes, killing tradesmen and towns people which were one the route.  

Cause The Black Death was believed to have been caused by many things, none of which are correct Many Christians believed it was God punishing them for their sins and wrongdoings. A group called the Flagellants even went as far as whipping themselves in hope it would relieve them of their wrong deeds. Others believed that what they were living was such hell that it was the end of the world. A lot of people believed that the Jews had poisoned the water and as a result there were mass burnings and many massacres of them. Some thought that the plague had something to do with sanitation which was partly true and the closest people came to knowing what caused it. 

Symptoms The symptoms of the Black Death were awful and painful There were two main types of Black Deaths in the middle ages. The first was the Bubonic plague and the symptoms of it involved black bumps forming in the groin and underarms that oozed puss and blood, severe vomiting and very high fevers. Victims of the Bubonic plague usually died within 2-6 days. The other kind of plague was called the pneumonic plague and was much more severe. The symptoms of it included severe vomiting and very high fevers. Victims usually died within one day of falling ill. 

Treatments There were many treatments of the plague and all had absolutely no assistance in providing comfort or a cure for patients. Drinking gold was supposed cure the Black Death. Some People would place leeches on the bumps to suck out the poison, blood and puss and others used toads on the bumps and when they exploded the patient was supposed to have been cured. Smelling pretty things like perfumes, flowers and smelling salts was supposed to counteract the bad smells. This is evident in the line from the song Ring a ring a roses which states ‘a pocket full of posies’ implying that people went around with posies in their pockets to try and keep themselves safe from the disease. Smelling horrible things like faeces was also thought to drive one bad smell away with another horrible one.  

Spread

Cause

Symptoms

Treatments