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Introduction
The purpose of my interactive timeline exhibit is to explore society's perceptions of the Black Death in the 17th century and use articles to display information, emotions, and thoughts of people at that time. In addition, I also sought to see what preventative measures people used in the 17th century due to it being a different time period, hence different outlook on medicine and illness compared to the modern age. -
Introduction Part II
Research Question: how the bubonic plague influenced the overall perception of death by people in the 17th century and how have they combated against it?
The interactive timeline will both displays physical objects from and related to the 17th century as well as explain the emotions and thoughts of the people in the 17th century related to death and ailment. The artifacts represent the knowledge people had during the Bubonic plague as well as their beliefs about the illness at the time. -
Introduction Part III
Due to lack of technology at the time, a lot of assumptions on the Bubonic plague were based on what physicians and doctors knew at the time. A lot of common practices were used and this timeline is aimed at answering why and what beliefs people had at this time. It also displays the different types of objects used during the Black Death in attempts to combat against the disease. These artifacts were made to either physically fight against the plague or by warning others to limit the spread. -
Bibliography: Introduction and Historical Context Part. I
History Channel. "A Brief History of Bloodletting." Accessed May 3, 2022. https://www.history.com/news/a-brief-history-of-bloodletting#:~:text=Considered%20one%20of%20medicine's%20oldest,overabundance%20of%20blood%2C%20or%20plethora. Cleveland Clinic. "Bubonic Plague." Last Modified June 17, 2021. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21590-bubonic-plague#:~:text=Bubonic%20plague%20is%20an%20infection,animals%20that%20may%20be%20infected. -
Basic Information on the Bubonic Plague
The bubonic plague is caused by a bacterium, Yersinia pestis or Y. pestis and spread mostly to humans by infected fleas that were moved around by rats infected with these fleas. Common symptoms range from fevers and swollen lymph nodes (buboes) to the death of tissue (gangrene), mostly on fingers, toes, and the nose. The symptoms associated resulted in the popular names, the nodes resulted in "the bubonic plague" while the gangrene produced the well-known name of "the Black Death". -
Bibliography: Introduction and Historical Context Part. II
History Channel. 2010. "Black Death." Last Updated July 6, 2020. https://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages/black-death Science for the Public. 2020. http://www.scienceforthepublic.org/they-didnt-believe-it/germs-and-disease -
Bubonic Plague of the 17th Century
There have been multiple instances of the bubonic plague throughout history, this timeline is focusing on the plague of 17th Century, more commonly known as the "Black Death". It is believed to have killed from 45-60% of the European population. Prior to the development of antibiotics, the death rate is estimated to be around 66% with some studies suggesting even higher rates in some plague epidemic areas. This also pulls into the medical knowledge spread at the time and societal beliefs. -
Artifact 1: Narrative of a Plague Doctor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0iHnnEFUAk
This video is based on true real-life events seen through the perspective of a plague doctor in Europe during the spread of the Bubonic plague. The video was made in October of 2021 to inform the general public about what physicians at the time likely experienced in every day life. It depicts the thoughts and beliefs of personal and medical knowledge at the time. In addition, it also depicts some of the other methods used to "cure" patients. -
Artifact 1: Narrative of a Plague Doctor Part II
This artifact was made based on true life journal entries from doctors from the 17th century. It displays what a daily life of a plague doctor may experience every day in France regarding the plague and the cautionary measures taken to avoid catching the disease themselves. They also briefly describe medical processes that were believed to rid victims of the Bubonic plague. Overall this was a very educational video meant to briefly introduce some main ideas of the plague to new audiences. -
Artifact 2: Plague panel
This propaganda poster was made by an unknown artist with oil pant that was nailed onto the walls of different buildings in the city of Augsburg, Germany where the plague is suspected to have spread to and meant to warn citizens of the oncoming plague. Often hung on house doors with infected victims living inside. It is estimated to be made from around 1607-1636 and the panel shows the image of death crowned with triumphant laurels which emphasized the idea of the death taking over the living. -
Artifact 3: Charles Delorme Book
One of the most well-known factors contributed towards the black death is the plague doctor outfit worn by physicians at the time. It is widely regarded that Charles Delorme invented this in Paris, France in the 17th century. Throughout his life, he was the chief physician to three separate kings and invented the outfit based on ideas of preventing the polluted air from infecting the wearer. All of this was detailed in his book, along with the materials and diagrams of the costumes. -
Artifact 3: Charles Delorme Book Part II
https://www.livescience.com/plague-doctors.html
The original book was difficult to find thus some websites such as the one listed above provide some context on the what he wrote in his book. This includes some information his written description on his invention of the plague doctor costume as well as his thought process and some of the theories common during that time that influenced why he designed it the way he did. The main theory popular at this time was the Miasma theory. -
History of Bloodletting
Bloodletting is thought to have originated in ancient Egypt and is defined as the surgical removal of blood to "cure illness or disease". Although first invented in ancient Egypt, it was a very popular remedy employed in the 17th century as it was thought to draw out the illness in patients, who at this time were likely suffering from the Black Death. While those more fortune often used leeches, those less affluent used knifes, such as lancets to dispose of the "bad blood". -
Article 4: 17th Century Scarificator Part II
This scarificator in particular is a wealthier version due to the gems and overall regal look and was more likely owned by aristrocrats or royalty. More common scarificators used by commoners at the time consisted of a larger single blade that would inflict more damage and lead to scarring. Not much other information is known or found on this particular artifact. -
Article 4: 17th Century Scarificator
Scarificators are instruments used to make superficial cuts in the skin, known to be a bloodletting tool. They were often made with brass and steel. These instruments were also wide-spread and used by people of all different wealth backgrounds. This specific example was made in Europe from 1601 to 1700 and contains 13 cased lancets inside. There would be a switch on the instrument that would release these 13 cased lancets at once which would cut the intended individual. -
Miasma
The miasma theory was a well known and widely accepted theory in the 17th century. It is believed that disease was created or carried by foul air (miasma), which at the time was believable as it was easy to connect this with sickness, polluted water, and rotting organic materials. In order to combat this, the usage of strong herbs as it was believed these herbs would "purify" the miasma spread by the disease. This theory was so wide spread it influenced the design of the plague doctor costume. -
Artifact 5: Watercolor Art
This art piece titled "A Physician Wearing a 17th Century Plague Preventive" was made in 1910 and based on the costumes worn by doctors during the outbreak of the 17th century plague. The artist is unknown and the piece was likely made to show the outfits worn during the Black Death to a large audience. The outfit is almost identical to the original design made by Charles Delorme. The "beak" was actually designed with the idea that medicinal herbs would purify the tainted air, hence the length. -
Artifact 5: Watercolor Art Part. II
The costume itself was mostly made of a long overclothing garment called the Moroccan which covered from the neck down to the ankle. In addition, the wearer would also have gloves, boots, and a hat which was made from waxed leather. The most recognizable part in modern day is the mask which was actually not influenced by a bird's anatomy. The entire costume was actually highly influenced by the miasma theory hence why the Moroccan was so long as it was believed to prevent miasma from entering. -
Modern Day Practices
In comparison to the 17th century, the 21st century has employed a lot more research and developed more effective measures to go against diseases. If one catches the bubonic plague, Y. pestis, in modern day the main treatment is antibiotics which are very effective. In addition, a vaccine has even been made of Y. pestis, however it is not available in the US, and only given to individuals who are at risk of high exposure to the plague. -
Bibliography: Artifacts Pt. 1
Unknown. "A physician wearing a 17th century plague preventive." Artstor. Accessed April 21, 2020. https://library.artstor.org/#/asset/24835193;prevRouteTS=1650517809129 Unknown. "Scarificator with Thirteen Lancets, European, 17th Century." Accessed March 24, 2020. https://library.artstor.org/#/public/26322542 -
Bibliography: Artifacts Pt. 2
Unknown. "Plague Panel from Early 17th Century Augsburg with a Skull and Crossbones with Leaf Crown." Accessed April 21, 2020. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1607-35_Pesttafel_Augsburg_anagoria.JPG Live Science. "Plague doctors: Separating medical myths from facts." May 19, 2020. https://www.livescience.com/plague-doctors.html -
Bibliography: Artifacts Part. III
Art UT. May 2020. "Charles Delorme: French physician and inventor of the 'plague prevention costume'." https://artuk.org/discover/stories/charles-delorme-french-physician-and-inventor-of-the-plague-prevention-costume
