{"id":7444,"date":"2020-05-01T09:21:58","date_gmt":"2020-05-01T08:21:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=7444"},"modified":"2020-05-03T15:11:03","modified_gmt":"2020-05-03T14:11:03","slug":"weve-been-here-before","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wenvoe.org.uk\/?p=7444","title":{"rendered":"Pandemics – We\u2019ve Been Here Before"},"content":{"rendered":"

WE\u2019VE BEEN HERE BEFORE\u2026..<\/strong><\/span>
\nFOLLOWED THE RULES\u2026\u2026\u2026AND SURVIVED!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

FASCINATING EVIDENCE OF THE GREAT PLAGUE<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

During the outbreak of bubonic plague in London in the summer of 1665, people were just as keen to know casualty figures as we are today. <\/strong>By mid July over a thousand deaths a week were reported on handbills that were stuck up in public places to warn people that the plague was growing. The bill of mortality below, covering a week in September, recorded 7,165 plague victims. Just as interesting are the other causes listed as well. Several illustrate the high infant mortality at the time; 18 chrisomes<\/em>, or infants who died in the first month of life; 121 teeth<\/em>, or infants who died when still teething. Fifteen people died from worms or parasites in the body. 42 women died in childbed, which was a bacterial infection after giving birth. 101 people succumbed to spotted fever (probably typhus). Rising of the lights was probably illness characterized by a hoarse cough or difficulty breathing so could have been asthma or pneumonia. Some of the other causes of death were strange indeed!<\/p>\n

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In spite of being over 350 years ago, the authorities reacted to the Great Plague of 1665-6 in ways remarkably similar to the measures in place to deal with the coronavirus today. Even back then they realised that isolation and lockdown were key policies.<\/p>\n

The Great Plague affected many parts of the country but London was particularly badly hit with 68,596 deaths recorded \u2013 about 15% of the population. DNA from victims found during the building of London\u2019s Crossrail, tell us it was a form of bubonic plague. Charles II and his courtiers left in July for Hampton Court and then Oxford. Many other people who could, including most doctors, lawyers and merchants, fled the city. As now, Parliament and other public institutions were suspended.<\/p>\n

The Government published by Royal Command \u2018RULES AND ORDERS\u2019 to be enforced by all Justices of the Peace and other officials aimed at stopping the spread of the disease.<\/p>\n