The Bubonic Plague

WHAT'S THE BUBONIC PLAGUE?

The flu caused by the Yersinia Pestis bacteria is called plague.  Black Death is the name given to the plague epidemic that struck Europe in the Middle Ages. The other two famous pandemics occurred in the 6th century, known as the Justinian plague and, in the 19th century, called the third epidemic. In most cases, the Yersinia pestis bacteria is transmitted to humans when bitten by a flea that had previously been fed on the blood of an infected rodent, tales such as rats, squirrels, prairie dogs, or rabbits.

THE HISTORY

·      The second great plague pandemic occurred in the second half of the Middle Ages, in the 14th century, having been called black plague.

·      The black plague originated in China and reached Europe through the ports of Italy, France and Spain in the years 1347 and 1348. In just 4 years the bacteria spread throughout Europe, from England to Russia through Scandinavia, Greece and Turkey.

·      In some regions, up to 75% of the population has been decimated, causing social chaos and economic collapse in some countries. The death toll was so great that the few survivors were unable to enter those who had died. Across Europe, an estimated 25 to 75 million people died from the disease, which represents 1/3 of the entire population at that time.

 

THE DOCTORS

These doctors were not traditionally trained professionals like other experienced doctors or surgeons, and in many cases were second-rate doctors who were not established successes in the profession or young doctors who were trying to make their way.

Plague doctors treated patients according to their agreement and were known as "black plague" municipal or community doctors, while "general practitioners" were separate doctors and were in the same European city or town at the same time. France and the Netherlands black plague doctors often have no formal training as doctors and were known as "empiricists." In one case, one of these doctors had been a fruit vendor before dedicating himself to medicine. 

The bacterium invades the lymphatic circulation and is directed to the closest lymph node network, causing the appearance of palpable nodes in this region. In 48 to 72 hours the typical sign of bubonic plague appears, which is bubo, a painful tumor caused by swelling of a lymph node. The bubo can reach up to 10 cm in diameter and presents an oval shape, with distension, redness and brightness of the skin around it.