The Placer herald., 1858-01-16
Plaques.

The plaques of middle ages were of so
destructive character, that in recent times
they have been regarded as approaching to
the fabulous. 1t was only when the cholera
had become frequent visitor to our shores,
that the attention of scientific men was di-
rected to the subject and it was then admit
ted-for it could not be denied-that there
were certain unknown agents of mortality,
of the most destructive power, which it be-
came urgent to endeavor to counteract
and prevent.
The most notorious plague of former times
was the "Black Death" and from all that
we can learn as to its symptoms, it bore a
considerable resemblance to the modern chol-
era. The disease was supposed to have COM
menced in the kingdom of Cathay, to the
north of China in the year 1888. and spread
IN a westerly direction across Asia, to Con-
stantinope, where it broke out in l347. In
the following year it ravaged France, Spain
and Italy, and then it appeared in Great
Britain, where it remained for some time.
AS the habits of the people of all countries
were much less cleanl ly than at the present
day, and as the regulation of towns were still
less favorable to publication and health, the
disease was of an excessively malignant and
fatal character. 1t is computed to have de-
stroyed not less than 25,OOO,OOO people in
Europe, or about one-fourth of its then pop
ulation. Stowe, the old chronicler, says of it:
"a pestilence entering the island, which be-
gan first in Dorsetshire, then proceeded into
Devonshre, Somersetshire, Gloucestershire,
and Oxfordshire, and at length came to Lon
4 md oil Eno
the people, that scarce the tenth of all sorts
were left alive; and he church-yards were
not sufficient to receive the dead, but men
were forced to choose out certain fields for
burials."
The field used in London for this purpose,
was the space Of ground now used as a play
ground and garden by the boys of the Char
er-Uouse, under whose feet lie buried some
$4,000 old London citizens, stricken down
by the plague. But the total number of
sufferers by the disease in London, was lOO,-
900; so that the Black Death almost depop-
ulated the city. A murrain also seized the
fell by thousands; the crops lay rotting in the
fields for want Of laborers to gather them in;
great sufferings followed the disease, and it
was many years before England recovered
from the calamities of l349.
There was one remarkable result of this
plague worthy of notice, the evidences of
which still survive. Whoever has inquired
into the history Of the magnificent cd Goth
ic alhedrals yet standing throughout Eng
land, or considered the immense wealth and
labor necessary to rear these piles, can scarce
ly fail to have been struck with wonder at
the depth of and the energetic efforts Of the
people, by no means wealthy, by whom they
were erected. But the wonder ceases when
we think of the panic, fear and awe struck
into the minds of men by the Great Plauge
The universal despair and depression of spir
it which it produced, in many cases assumed
religious form; and the wealthy abandoned
their treasures, and gave their villages and
estates to the churches and monesteries by
way of securing forgiveness for their sins and
propiating Divine wrath. Hence the origin
of these splendid Gothic structures, most of
which were commenced in the fourteenth
century, shortly after the occurrence of the
Black Death, though many were not finish
ished until the succeeding century.
About the same time there sprang up
great zeal for penance, fasting and self-intlic-
ton of punishment, with view to arrest
Heavens anger. The Brothers of the Cross
or Flagellants, sprang into Importance, and
soon included MOBILES, princes, and men be-
longing to every class of the people. They
marched in public procession through the
towns, and scourged themselves with knotted
cords, amid the singing of psalms and loud
supplications for the arresting Of the plague.
Amongst the other superstitions and fears Of
the time, was one entertained respecting The
Jews, who were supposed to be the authors
of the calamity. The effects of the disease so
much resembled those of poison, that the
popular idea in most places attributed them
to the poisoning of the food and water which
they ate and drank. Down even to recent
period this popular notion has been found
prevalent as, for instence, in Russia and Po-
land. But at that remote age the Jews
were general objects of horror, on account
of the religious prejudices excited against
them; and they were the the first to feel the
effects of the popular Indignation. Noble
and mean bound themselves together in So
ceties for the avowed purpose Of extrpating
the Jews, who were everywhere pursued, and
tnen WneH caplurcu were Salil OT DuIhI LIE
whole of the Jews in Basle we're cooped ur
in wooden house, which was then set fire
to and every individual perished. At Spires
they themselves assembled in their own hab
itations, which they set fire to, and thus con
sumed themselves and their families. AT
Strasburg, 1900 Jews were burnt in theil
own ground, where a large scaffolt
had been erected; those who embraced Chris
tianity were spared. When not burnt, the
Jews were banished; but this was even {
worse fate, for, wandering about the country
they fell into the hands of the infuriated
peasants, and were by them tortured, an(
prosecuted by fire and sword.
The Sweating Sickness was another viru