Government was a beacon of clarity during another pandemic in 1349. Politicians being no different than now, had much to say about the crisis. Science, although in its infancy, had its own versions of Dr. Fauci types who also added to the mix because it was in everyone’s best interests to save lives. Motives were certainly for the greater good, because without commoners, the elite would have no one to work the fields, cook their meals or build those big fancy castles.
The Black Plague, unlike Covid-19, didn’t start in China. It spread from the eastern Mediterranean but “Med Virus” didn’t have the same ring as “China Virus” and the world wasn’t yet focused on narratives. Nonetheless for over three years, Europe suffered greatly as the unnamed pandemic spread rampantly throughout the continent—as if life in the Dark Ages wasn’t tough enough.
Like today, people searched for causes and struggled with antidotes. There were even conspiracy theories, like it started from foods brought by immigrants or it was a heavenly curse and in one city Jews were threatened. Obviously, a grim reality had taken its toll on humanity. Let’s face it, three years was a long time to wear a facemask—or in those days—wrap a dirty rag around your head.
Ironically, in the six months preceding March of 1349 an interesting thing happened. The death rate from the plague began to dramatically level off. Immunities started taking hold and things were finally looking better. Still, those in power debated about how to show best practices, especially since the medieval justice system gave jurisdiction to a lot of noblemen and one could quickly lose their job and their head, for looking too feeble.
After boundless political opinions were swirled, the collective governments and academic wise men of the day decided that the cause of the Black Plague was fleas and government intended to act. With that, a ruling went out to the villages, towns and McCastles in the land to kill all the dogs, thus in theory finishing the plague forever.
Across all of Europe the slaughter of dogs went on day and night for months until not a tail wagged or bark was heard. For the moment it appeared the better late than never politicians saved the day. But like most forceful ideas driven by seemingly legitimate action to influence the conduct of others, there was a flaw.
Yes, the cause of the plague was indeed fleas, but not dog fleas. It originated from fleas on rats. During the 14th century the most effective way to keep the rat population in check was through the natural exterminator, dogs!
Thus, by authorities ordering the killing of dogs, they had unwittingly allowed the rat problem to flourish. The unintended consequence—A new and more vicious Black Plague arose that lasted for another three years. When it was all over, one out of three people in the world had died and the phrase “bring out your dead” became a dark part of our history.
Kevin J Palmer
Writer-Rebel-Producer-Poet
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https://www.smainstitute.com/journalism.html
http://reawakeninganamericandream.com
Author and Journalist Kevin Palmer – SMA Institute
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