Medieval Medicine: the Black Death

Question 1

In what year did the Black Death reach England?

Answer 1

1348

Question 2

How was quarantine used during the Black Death?

Answer 2

New people to a town or city had to quarantine themselves for 40 days (lock themselves away)

Question 3

Give two things King Edward III suggested to improve public health during the Black Death

Answer 3

He asked the Mayor of London to have the streets cleaned

He asked for burial pits for victims to be dug away from areas where people lived

Question 4

What evidence suggested that the Black Death was sent by God?

Answer 4

No human being could stop or cure it - only God could do that

Question 5

Give THREE ways attempts to prevent the Black Death were linked to religion

Answer 5

Any from…

Church services at least once a day to pray for forgiveness

Lighting candles in churches

Fasting

Going on pilgrimage to the tombs of saints

Stopping the use of churchyards for wrestling matches

Whipping yourself in public

Question 6

Give THREE ways attempts to prevent the Black Death were linked to miasma

Answer 6

Any from:

Rakers cleared animal dung from the streets

Fines for throwing litter were increased

Butchers were punished for letting blood and animal remains dirty the streets

Carrying sweet-smelling herbs or lighting fires

Keeping the air moving - ringing bells or keeping birds to fly around the house

Question 7

Why do we know less about treatments during the Black Death than preventions?

Answer 7

There was little time for treatment - patients died quickly

Question 8

Give three examples of treatments during the Black Death

Answer 8

Putting holy charms around the necks of sufferers

Cutting open the buboes to let out pus

Putting bread around the buboes and burying the bread

Question 9

How was the Theory of Opposites used to treat the Black Death?

Answer 9

Cold foods and baths if you had a fever, and avoiding hot food like garlic and onions