GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF BUBONIC PLAGUE 99 



specific diseases, were associated with the plague and contributed to 

 the general mortalil;}". 



During the middle ages epidemics continued to occur, but the ac- 

 counts of the nature of the prevailing " pest" are usuall}^ confused 

 and unsatisfactor}', and it was not until nearly the middle of the 

 fourteenth century that the horrible epidemic knoAvn as the " black 

 death " devastated Europe and caused the death of more than 

 25,000.000 of its inhabitants. There has been considerable difference 

 of opinion among the best authorities as to whether the "black death '' 

 of tiie fourteenth century was identical with bubonic plague. It pre- 

 sented some features which seem to distinguish it from subsequent 

 epidemics, and it had its origin from a different quarter of the globe. 

 While bubonic plague has usually invaded Europe from Egypt, the 

 "black death" is believed to have originated in Northern China. It is 

 not known exactly when or where this epidemic had its origin, but it 

 is known to have reached the Crimea in 1346 and Constantinople the 

 following year. The same year it was conveyed by ships to several 

 sea})orts of Italy, both on the Mediterranean and the Adriatic, and 

 also to ^Marseilles, on the French coast. In 1348 it extended to the 

 interior of these countries and to Sjiain; also to England, Holland, 

 and the Scandinavian Peninsula. The following year it completed 

 the invasion of Europe. 



The disease first appeared in London in November, 1348, and it 

 continued to prevail in various parts of England for a period of eight 

 or nine years. In 1352 the epidemic prevailed in the city of Oxford 

 to such an extent that this city lost two-thirds of its academical pop- 

 ulation. The plague again invaded England in 1361 and 1368. As 

 a result of these devastating e))idemics in England, as well as in other 

 parts of iMirope, large i)arts of the country remained for a time un- 

 cultivated, and owing to the lack of laliorers there was a great increase 

 in wages. 



The following graphic account of the ravages of this pestilence is 

 by a writer of the period : 



" Wild jilaceK were nought for shelter; some went into sliiiis and anchored 

 themselveHafur off oil the waters, ])nt the angel that was pouring the vial had a 

 foot on the sea as well as on the dry land. No place was so wild that the 

 plague did not visit, none so secret tliat the quick-sighted pestilence did not 

 <liscover, none could fly that it did not overtake. For a time all commerce was 

 in collins and shrouds, hut even that ended. Shrift there was none ; churches 

 and c'hapelH were open, hut neither priests nor penitents entered — all went to the 

 charneMiouse. The se.xton and the physician were cast into the same deep 



