The People's Health: Early modern era- Responses to the plague by the national government. Flashcards
what were governments attitude to prevent the plagues spread?
proactive.
what was outlined in the 1518 Henry VIII isolation policy?
infected houses should be clearly identified by bundles of straw hung from the window for 40 days.
anyone leaving the house carried a white stick to show infected status.
how did the local governments respond?
mayors shut up infected houses.
introduced pesthouses.
↳building outside city walls to quarantine victims.
what was outlined in Elizabeth I’s 1578 plague orders?
17 national orders enforced by JPs sent to all towns via the printing press.
parishes to appoint views or searchers and report on how the infection was spreading.
aldermen collected money to support the sick.
infected houses watched by watchmen.
↳ had to be completely shut up for up to 6 weeks regardless of if anyone inside was healthy.
streets had to be cleaned and cleared of dogs, cats and pigeons.
barrels of tar had to be burnt in the streets to clear smells.
churches had to say special prayers.
bedding and clothing of plague victims had to be burnt.
what was outlined in James I’s 1604 plague orders?
extended financial help available to sick families.
introduced harsh punishments for anyone found breaking the policy for isolation.
↳ eg: a plague victim found out of their house mingling to others risked being hanged.
