Sanitation During the Black Death - 1767 Words

The Sanitation Problems of the Black Death The bubonic plague is a bacterial disease that is considered one of the most lethal in history. Recorded pandemics of the plague reach back to 541 A.D. and minor epidemics can still be found around the world (Plague). The plague consists of a bacterium called Yersinia pestis. This bacterium has the ability to mutate quickly and can easily destroy the immune system of the infected person, â€Å"it does this by injecting toxins into defense cells such as macrophages that are tasked with detecting bacterial infections. Once these cells are knocked out, the bacteria can multiply unhindered.† (Plague) The bubonic plague has a number of symptoms ranging from a headache to seizures. The most distinguishable†¦show more content†¦Fleas would travel from one host to another breeding and expanding to all realms of Europe (The Black Death, a Bubonic Plague of Great Dimension) Sanitation was a serious problem within Europe and the lack of proper care escalated the rodent problem e ven farther. During the pandemic of bubonic plague sanitation was at an all-time low. Cities suffered the greatest, with the disease spreading quickly. The lack of a safe system for waste disposal in these areas allowed for the disease to spread rapidly. The use of chamber pots was an example of the poor waste disposal. Chamber pots were small to medium sized bowls used for holding excretion. The contents of the chamber pots would then be tossed into the streets. Both sides of the streets were lined with trenches that would hold the human waste and other garbage; this became the perfect opportunity for disease to flourish. â€Å"Almost everyone used privies or chamber pots, which were emptied into open sewers that typically fed into streams, creeks, or adjacent rivers† (Streich). Not only was the filth repulsive in smell, but it also carried other airborne diseases which weakened the immune system thus a more catastrophic impact on the peasants. By the second year of pandemic the plague had killed an estimated 25 million (Plague) of the peasantry, nobility, and clergy. Nobody was immune to the disease. The poor sanitation became a massive issue with the lack ofShow MoreRelatedThe Sanitation Workers Strike Of 19681713 Words   |  7 Pagesused to describe The Memphis Sanitation Workers’ Strike of 1968. Reverend Albert Hibbler came up with the sign â€Å"I Am a Man† meaning I am not going to take [expletive] anymore.1However, those words (I Am a Man) come off as a little too aggressive, even slightly imposing, which is something that does not capture the essence of this strike. Because, the sanitation workers were not protesting to impose their will or were even trying to start a fight. What the sanitation workers wanted was to be recognizedRead MoreEssay on Black Death with Wings of Light1479 Words   |  6 Pagesstruck mankind, the Black Death? This song describes the main symptom of the Black Death, which is the formation of infected b lack rings on skin. The Black Death is a disease that first arrived in Europe in 1347 through a ship with rats and fleas contaminated with Yersinia pestis bacteria. This bacteria has the capability of taking one’s life within 48 hours (MedicineNet). In 1340s, the plague victimized countless numbers of people. 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From there, it was most likelyRead MoreWhy The Bathroom Is A Basic Necessity1241 Words   |  5 PagesPradesh state, two sisters were found hanging in a mango tree after they were gang raped (Hjelmgaard). The two girls, aged 14 and 15, â€Å"had gone into the fields near where they lived because there was no toilet in their home† (Hjelmgaard). The girls’ deaths could have been easily prevented if they had a toilet in their home (McCarthy). These girls were not alone. Goldberg adds that, â€Å"Every 30 minutes a woman in India is raped, and it’s often the impoverished women who relieve themselves in the open whoRead MoreThe Black Death Essay1018 Words   |  5 PagesThe Black Death took place in Europe during the fourteenth century. To the people of the time, facts about the disease were unknown until people started to notice problems that other people were having. The Black Death or â€Å"plague† that killed thousands in the fourteenth century may have evolved into a more modern version of itself. The â€Å"plague† is known as the â€Å"Yersinia pestis† bacteria, which is a rare zoonotic disease. These diseases are spread from animal to human (Newquist 239, Adamloakun M