Plague

Cody Roberts PD-8

The Plague “The Plague” struck England over a thirty year period from 1560 to 1590 (Olsen 543). It was a very wicked disease that devastated the country. Most of the people who got it had a 50% chance of living. The plague started in the rural areas of the country. However, it soon spread to urban areas. The disease was spread by infected fleas. These fleas traveled on the bodies of rats that ran throughout the city. People became ill when an infected flea bit them. The sickness spread more quickly in the summertime because of the heat and because people had poor hygiene. Once you were infected, your chances of survival were not that good. If you lasted for 5 to 7 days, though, you had a 99% chance of surviving (Oken543).

People were forbidden to travel from one city to another because there was a fear that they would spread the disease. Anyone who traveled from London to Windsor was to be hung (Website). During the 16th century, if you got the plague, the side effects where the following: sores on your arms and legs, back pain, and high fever. Affected persons would often cough up blood. People would also develop large sores in their armpit and groin areas. These sores were very painful. In 1563, there was an outbreak of the plague. Many people left the city of London. Even the Queen left because she was afraid she would get the illness and might spread it to her family. People were forbidden to travel from one city to another because there was a fear that they would spread the disease. Anyone who traveled from London to Windsor was to be hung (Website).



During the 16th century, if you got the plague, the side effects where the following: sores on your arms and legs, back pain, and high fever. Affected persons would often cough up blood. People would also develop large sores in their armpit and groin areas. These sores were very painful. In 1563, there was an outbreak of the plague. Many people left the city of London. Even the Queen left because she was afraid she would get the illness and might spread it to her family.When a person had the plague, a nurse would visit their home to check on them. This visiting nurse would arrive during the evening hours. If the nurse believed that the patient was near death, she would often steal their belongings. The nurse earned the nickname the “Night Crow” for this outlandish behavior. During this time, a doctor would often visit the sick person. He would wear a black cape, a hat, and a beak-like covering on his nose. The doctor would put herbs in the “beak”. They believed that the herbs would prevent the doctor from getting the disease. The plague was a horrible disease. There were no medicines that would cure it. The side effects were painful and the outcome half of the time was that the patient died. The people lived in fear of getting this disease. Families often lost many loved ones. Many people died. This thirty year period was a dark and cruel time to live in.

Works Cited A *, A* A *. //Victims of the Black Death//. 2008/2010. a *, A *. //a *//. Web. 19 Apr. 2010. //Black Death or the Bubonic Plague?// N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2010. Olsen, Kirstin, ed. //All Things Shakespeare//. Vol. 2. Westport: Greenwood, 2002. Print. Singman, Jeffrey L. //Daily Life in Elizabethan England//. Westport: Greenwood, 1995. Print.