The Great Plague of London: When Leeching and Poses Didn't Quite Cut It
Ah, the Great Plague of London. A time when folks dropped like flies faster than you could say "social distancing" (which, of course, wasn't a thing back then). Those were the not-so-good old days of 1665, when the bubonic plague waltzed into town and decided to stay for a not-so-fun house party. But fear not, dear reader, for we're here to delve into the, ahem, "medical" interventions of the time. Spoiler alert: they were about as effective as a chocolate teapot curing a hangover.
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| What Was An Effective Medical Measures Taken To Counter The Effect Of The Plague In London |
The Cure is Worse Than the Disease (Literally)
Let's just say medical science in the 17th century wasn't exactly on par with modern-day antibiotics. The prevailing theory? Bad air, or miasma, was the culprit. So, what did these intrepid plague doctors do to combat this invisible enemy?
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- Bloodletting: Because, you know, what better way to fight a mysterious illness than by draining your bodily fluids? Leeching parties anyone?
- Potions and Powders: These concoctions were more likely to contain snake venom or crushed unicorn horns than anything remotely helpful.
- Sweet Smells: Apparently, bad smells attracted the plague, so folks burned all sorts of fragrant things, filling the air with a choking haze that probably did more harm than good.
Basically, the "treatments" of the time were about as useful as a chocolate fireguard.
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The Not-So-Bright Ideas Department
Social distancing wasn't a concept back then, so people resorted to some, shall we say, interesting methods to avoid the plague:
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- Wearing Posies: Think shoving a bunch of flowers under your nose would keep the plague at bay? Neither did it work for the Londoners.
- Fleeing the City: The wealthy hightailed it out of London, hoping the plague wouldn't follow them to their country estates. Spoiler alert: it did.
- Isolating the Sick (Sort Of): They did try quarantining the sick, but enforcement was lax, and let's face it, who wants to stay cooped up with a bunch of plague-ridden folks?
So, what actually helped? Honestly, not much. The plague eventually ran its course, probably due to a combination of factors like cold weather killing off fleas and, sadly, a lot of Londoners simply dying.
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FAQ: How to (Not Really) Avoid the Plague (17th Century Style)
- How to diagnose the plague? Easy! Look for swollen lymph nodes (buboes) the size of walnuts and a healthy dose of fever and chills.
- How to treat the plague? Leech therapy is all the rage! Don't forget your daily dose of questionable potions and a big ol' bouquet of flowers.
- How to prevent the plague? Burn some incense! The stronger the smell, the better. Bonus points for adding some crushed unicorn horn to the mix (if you can find any).
- How to isolate the sick? Lock them in their houses and hope for the best! Just don't forget to leave them some questionable food and questionable medicine.
- How to stop the plague completely? Honestly, your best bet is to pray and maybe stock up on essential oils. Just kidding (mostly).
Remember, this is all for historical amusement only! Please consult a real doctor if you ever experience any plague-like symptoms.
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