The Great Plague

Question 1

which year was the Great Plague

Answer 1

1665

Question 2

people beliefs about the causes of the Great Plague were mostly the same to the Black Death, but what was different (give 3)

Answer 2

• far fewer people believe it was caused by an imbalance in the 4 Humours
• people knew that disease could be passed from person to person

Question 3

what beliefs about the causes were similar to the Black Death (give 3)

Answer 3

• miasma was by far the most commonly believed cause
• unusual alignment of planets
• God controlled everything and sent the plague as a punishment for sin

Question 4

why do we not know a lot about the treatments given to plague victims

Answer 4

those with disease were quarantined - not many records / methods

Question 5

what were the new treatment methods that had an impact (give 2)

Answer 5

• theory of **transference* - methods: strapping a live chicken to a bubo, or lancing bubo with chicken feather
• sweat out disease - patients wrapped up in thick blankets + put by a fire

Question 6

what was the most dramatic different in prevention between 1667 and 1348

Answer 6

far greater government action
- greater reaction from local councils, who were ordered by King Charles II to strop plague spreading

Question 7

give 6 methods of prevention ordered

Answer 7

• days of fasting + public prayers ordered
• public meetings, fairs + large funerals banned
• theatres closed
• streets + alleyways swept and cleaned
• barrels of tar burned in streets to drive away miasma
• cats and dogs killed if seen

Question 8

how many dogs and cats were killed and why

Answer 8

Dogs - 40,000
Cats - 200,000
thought they were spreading disease

Question 9

what method of prevention was done to infected households

Answer 9

• household boarded into home for 40 days or taken to pest houses if member was infected
• red cross painted on door