To start with, the Black Death had no name. People called it the ‘Pestilence' or the,'Great Mortality,' It has three forms –
BUBONIC PLAGUE-
(Most common type.) Large lymph nodes or buboes (black swellings about the size of an egg or an apple) erupt in the armpits and groin oozing blood and pus. Boils cover the body and black blotches appear on the skin from all the internal bleeding. There is sudden fever, restlessness, confusion and severe pain. Death within five days.
PNEUMONIC PLAGUE-
Infection spreads to lungs causing pneumonia. Coughing expels millions of contagious bacteria. Sharp chest pains. Continuous fever. Heavy sweating. Spitting up of blood. Death within three days or less.
SEPTICAEMIC PLAGUE-
Infection in bloodstream. Least common form of disease. Most fatal. Sudden severe illness. Chills, fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, delirium. No time for other symptoms to develop. Death within a few hours to two days. This is how people at the time described the plague. Such descriptions are called contemporary accounts. "The victims died almost immediately. They would swell beneath their armpits and in their groins and fall over dead while talking.” Before the end "death is seen seated on the face." It seemed as if one sick person "could infect the whole world.” “Woe is me of the shilling on the armpit! It is seething, terrible ... a head that gives pain and causes a loud cry... a painful angry knob... Great is it seething like a burning cinder.”
Kia Ora Kaedun, This is good blogging for the week so far. In this post you seem really interested in the details of the different rat and flea epidemics. I like that you have added first-hand accounts / descriptions of victims. They sound like they are in great pain. Next time you could add a few drawings or an early woodcut from the period. Take care of your Hauora and stay safe!
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