What Was the Black Death?

Now way back in thirteen forty eight when the Black Death struck the south of England the people at the time had no idea what it was or how it was spread. Many believed it was a punishment sent by God for the sinful way they lived their lives. We know now of course, that the Black death as they called it included two kinds of pestilence, the first I will describe is the bubonic plague, which was spread by fleas. The victims would suddenly feel very cold and tired. Very quickly painful swellings called buboes would appear in their armpits, neck and groin and small blisters would also develop all over their body. A high temperature and headaches followed this, why you could linger in this condition for several days before dying. The other form of the Black Death is the pneumonic plague, this attacks the victim’s lungs causing difficulty in breathing, you then cough up blood. Those infected with the pneumonic plague died more rapidly than those with the bubonic plague. This pneumonic plague is spread by people breathing or coughing germs onto another person. So please hand over mouth when you sneeze, well you never know.