“BLACK DEATH" RAVAGES

Evening Star, Issue 21628, 25 January 1934, Page 11

“BLACK DEATH" RAVAGES

DEADLIEST EPIDEMIC The great plague known as ' the “ Black Death ’ ’ was the dealiest epidemic ever experienced. It is believed to have been an aggravated outburst of the Oriental plague which, from the earliest records of history, has periodically appeared in Asia and Northern Africa. There was a visitation of the plague in Europe in 1342. The “ Black Death,” in terrible virulence, appeared in 1348-9. It also came in milder form in 1361-2, and again in 1369. The prevalence and severity of the pestilence during the fourteenth century are ascribed to the disturbed conditions of the elements just previously. - For a number of years Asia and Europe suffered from mighty earthquakes, furious tornadoes, violent floods, and clouds of locusts darkening the air and poisoning it with their corrupting bodies. Whether these natural disturbances were the cause of the plague is not known, but writers on the subject regard the connection as both probable and possible. The disease was brought from the Orient to Constantinople, and early in 1347 appeared in Sicily and several coast towns of Italy. After a brief pause, the pestilence broke out at Avignon m - January, 1348; advanced thence to Southern France, Spain, and Northern Italy. Passing through France and visiting, but not yet ravaging, Germany, it made ita way to England, cutting down its first vietirns at Dorset in August, 1348.. Thence it travelled slowly, reaching London early m the winter. Soon it embraced the entir# kingdom, penetrating to every rural ham. let, so that England became a mere pesthouse. .. .. The chief symptoms of the disease are described as ‘‘spitting, and in some cases actual vomiting of blood, the breaking out of inflammatory boils in parte or over the whole body, and the appearance upon the skin of the dark blotches which suggested the most startling name of the malady. Soma of the victims died almost at the first attack, some in twelve hours, some in two days, almost all within the first three days.” ' The utter powerlessness of medical skil against the disease was owing partly to the physicians’ ignorance of its nature, and largely to the effect of the spirit or terror which hung like a pall over men« minds. After months had passed, the prac. tice of opening the hard boils was adopted, with very good effect. Many lives wera thus saved. The havoc wrought by the disease in England was terrible. It is said that 100,000 persons died in London, nearly 60.000 in Norwich, and proportionate numbers in other cities. The figures seem incredible, but a writer who spent much time in the investigation of records asserted that at least half of the population, or about 2,500,000 souls in England alone, perished in the outbreak.