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1665 Height of the Great Plague of London as 7,165 people die throughout the previous week

September 26, 2021

1665 Height of the Great Plague of London as 7,165 people die throughout the previous week

After the black death tragedy of 1348, London never imagined it could experience a worse plague again. On September 26, 1665, the Great Plague of London hit its population hard, causing 68,596 deaths. Some researchers argue that the actual number was over 100,000. Other areas bordering London were also affected.

The peak of the Great Plague

The week of 19-26 September 1665 was the epidemic’s peak, recording up to 7,165 deaths from the Great Plague. Because the poor had no means to flee, they were forced to stay in their houses marked with a cross symbol. The houses were locked for 40 days. No one was allowed to travel by ship. These actions caused London to appear deserted during the day. Dogs, cats and other domesticated animals were killed, and anyone who held on to them was punished accordingly.

How the Great Plague came into London

The Great Plague was believed to be the aftermath of the civil war and religious rifts among Londoners. Some people blamed it on the order of the planets and the appearance of a comet in December 1664. Doctors assessed the mode of transmission and came up with herbal remedies to combat the plague. Londoners skeptical about researchers’ sentiments saw it better to put charms and amulets to keep it at bay.

People affected by the plague exhibited symptoms like fever, painful swellings in the groin, neck and armpits, vomiting, bloody coughs and muscle cramps. These symptoms could worsen, leading to death. However, those who were asymptomatic in the first few days survived.

3 Comments

  1. Dana

    The description of your story is inaccurate. It does NOT say how the plague started or ended or even what caused it. I will have to ask Google. My Spam checker is correct when it puts your emails in Spam.

    Reply
  2. Sharon Brown

    And never said who Michael Jordan’s biggest sponsor was. Is it so hard to answer an advertised question?

    Reply
  3. Frank Foran

    The Plague was caused by bites from the flees on the rats which unfortunately were quite plentiful in London and elsewhere, Sanitation was pretty much nowhere to be found. When I went into the Army back in 1969, one of the vaccination shots we got was for the bubonic plague, so I guess our government thought it still might represent a threat.

    Reply

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