Great Plague in London

Great Plague

• The plague returned to England throughout the 17th century

• The Great Plague was the last major epidemic of the plague to hit England

• Happened in 1665

Ideas about Cause: Astrology

• An unusual alignment of the planets

Ideas about Cause: Punishment from God

• Punishment to cleanse man of his sins

Ideas about Cause: Miasma

• Bad air caused by foul smelling rubbish

Ideas about Cause

• An imbalance of the 4 humours

• Person to person by touch

Prevention and Treatment: Religious

• Prayers were recited

• Plague victims were quarantined for 28 days and their door was painted with a cross alongside the words ‘Lord have mercy upon us’

Prevention and Treatment: Miasma

• People were encouraged to wear a pomander to drive away the bad air

• Fasting took place and some changed their diet to have lots of garlic

• Plague doctors treating their patients wearing a bird like mask (birds were believed to attract disease away) with sweet smelling herbs inside to ward off miasma

• Smoking tobacco to ward of miasma

Prevention and Treatment: Local Authorities

• Banned public meetings, funerals and fairs

• Closed theatres

• Swept the streets clean

• Burned barrels of tar and sweet smelling herbs to ward off miasma

• Killed cats and dogs

• Appointed searchers to monitor the spread and clear victims bodies from towns