Cures for the Black Death

Cures tested included:

• Bleeding
• Holding a live hen against lymph nodes in the groin or armpit
• Encouraging these lymph nodes, or buboes, to burst and then covering them with various concoctions
• Creating a poultice of butter, garlic and onion to be placed on the lymph nodes
• Drinking their own urine, or the urine of others
• Drinking mixtures containing ingredients such as roasting egg shells
• Burning spices that were thought to clean the air
• Washing in vinegar or petals
• Using herbs or flowers

Medieval England was centered around religion and the church, so many of those inflicted with the disease would visit a priest rather than a doctor. To some, the Black Death was considered a punishment for their sins, and this encouraged them to resort to prayer in an attempt to cure the plague.

Strong religious beliefs also led to many people targeting and killing Jews, who were believed to have poisoned Christians. This began with the torture of a few individuals, but the desire to save themselves led to false confessions. As the plague progressed, thousands of Jews were hunted and burnt.

Towards the end of the two year period, some more sensible methods of dealing with the disease appeared, including the introduction of quarantine procedures and the cleaning of the streets.

However, these more sensible cures were certainly not widespread, and the plague eventually ended without intervention. It is believed that those who survived were simply immune from the sickness.

See also: The Black Death