The Black Death

A detailed Summary of The Black Death

The Black Death was one of the most severe plagues in its time. I am going to talk about the Black Death, which is also known as The Black Plague and The Bubonic Plague. The main area I will cover is What the affects of the Black Plague was and how is spread.

The presenting symptoms of the Black Death are shivering, vomiting, headaches, giddiness, an intolerance to light, pain in the back and limbs, and a white coating on the tongue. A fever of between 103 and 106 occurs immediately. Within 24 hours coughing starts, then becomes spitting up blood. The plague is an acute disease, meaning it normally doesn't last a long time. Also, if you recover from having it you will be immune to it for the rest of your life.

The Black Death is caused by the infectious agent Yersinia Pestis, also known as Pasteurella Pestis. Yersinia Pestis is a bacteria. There are two types of bacteria cells, gram-negative and gram-positive. Yersinia Pestis is gram-negative. This makes antibiotics less effective on the plague because gram-negative bacteria have a lipopolysaccharide layer over their walls that add extra protection.

The lymphatic system is the system most greatly affected by the Black Death. Plague victims are noto

Procopius of Caesarea is credited as the first scientist to give a detailed description of the bubonic plague in 541 AD. Unfortunately, ideas about the causes were filled with false beliefs and superstitions until the late 1800's. Both Alexandre Yersin and Kitasato Shibasabaroo discovered the bacillus Pasteurella pestis in their work in 1894. Pasteurella pestis is the larger group of bacteria that Yersinia pestis, the infectious agent, is part of. A. W. Bacot then thought of the idea that fleas from infected rats were the carriers of the plague and infected people while trying to draw blood from a bite. Small grayish spots along with tiny bites helped P. L. Simond prove that fleas were the carriers in 1897.

In the Middle Ages, people weren't sure how the plague was being spread so quickly. Now we know that fleas spread the plague. The bacterium, called Yersinia Pestis, makes its way to the upper digestive tract of the flea where it breeds and multiplies. When the flea finds a new host and drinks the blood, it regurgitates the bacteria into the host, thus infecting the host.

The third major outbreak started in Manchuria in 1890. This plague made its way to San Francisco in 1900. Many Asian-American citizens were blamed for the plague in the U.S. and were discriminated against because of it. Houses were burned down if plague victims were thought to live there. Actions such as this were reminders of the Great Plague of London in 1665. Less than 20 percent of the population was killed by the Bubonic Plague, but the whole city was burned to the ground in order to stop the outbreak. This was an extreme measure, but it worked. During the 1980's, plague cases in the U.S. averaged 18 per year.

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Approximate Word count = 1167
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History