Medieval Black Death Was Probably Not Bubonic Plague

Science Daily ^ | Posted 4/15/2002 | Penn State

[Utopia]

An analysis of the priests’ monthly mortality rates during the epidemic shows a 45-fold greater risk of death than during normal times, a level of mortality far higher than usually associated with bubonic plague.

This has got to be one of the most stupidest things I've read on this topic in a long, long time.
The Priests were the ones who administered the last rights. Their rate of exposure would be higher than any one else. ...

It was the Black Death that swept through Europe in 1347. It had many stages. The most virulent form was the Pneumonic Plague

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

I've got a book called "Diseases and History", a very interesting read, that suggests that the Black Death was actually two diseases working at once: the Bubonic plague, which is spread by rats, and Pneumonic Plague, which is spread by airborne droplets and was highly,highly contagious, which would correspond to the theory in this article, that "the researchers believe that the Black Death was transmitted through person-to-person contact, as are measles and smallpox.

I have read the same thing several times throughout the years, and I agree with you.

I wonder how much these guys and guyettes are being paid for their "research."

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Actually, both bubonic and pneumonic are the same organism, y. pestis. In the case of pneumonic, the patient has bubonic and some respiratory disease simultaneously, causing the cough droplets to be infected with y. pestis as well. The deadliest and most scary form of the disease is actually septicaemic plague. In that form, it infects the blood stream and few or no 'buboes' form. This was the form it took in patients who went to sleep healthy and never woke up.,/p>

Thank you for the additional information. I had also read that, but my memory needed some jogging. Thanks again for the reminder.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Those are some fast moving rats. What is the land speed velocity of an African rat?

Ask Speedy Gonzlez. Oh, I forget, he is a mouse. Sorry Speedy.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

It is no longer socially acceptable to call this plague the "Black Death." That obsolete term has been superseded by "Great Society Death."

How about the "Whitie Death?" That should be acceptable because it affected mostly white Europeans.

[Scully]

And using the new "motherlist". Thanks!

[trevorjohnson]

It was second-hand smoking that killed'em

[BMCDA]

Of course ;)
Regards

[null and void]

More like:

The preventitives:

Ring around the Rosie = praying the Rosary
Pocket full of posie = the pomander filled with aromatic herbs to ward off the "bad air" thought to cause disease

And when the best Religion and Science had to offer failed:

Atchoo, atchoo we all fall down = Pneumonic plague you cough, you sneeze, you die.

So quickly the Priest doesn't have time to get to you for Last Rites.

This caused the Church to allow people to say "God Bless You", something up until then only a Priest could do, so one wouldn't die without some kind of blessing...

[fire and forget]

Thanks for the ping! Interesting topic. I put little faith in the findings of academicians like these beyond the small consideration that they're better informed on these matters than myself. That often doesn't mean much. I'll reserve judgment until my betters in this field exhaust their review and commentary on it. Can't think a site where I'd be more comfortable sifting through knowledge and opinions for the answers than right here :)

[JudyB1938]

Thanks!

[SunkenCiv]

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Thanks . Note: this topic is from April 15, 2002. Blast from the Past. Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.