Seamus Hammond
During the Middle Ages, the bubonic plague ravaged Europe, leading to a variety of home and doctor-prescribed remedies. The universal medication for the plague was called theriac or London treacle, a compound made up of opium, scabious or dandelion juice, vinegar, garlic, herbs, and various other ingredients. In addition, people carried scented items such as posies, nosegays, and scented balls to ward off the plague. They also burned incense and fumigated their homes. The Lord Mayor of London ordered huge bonfires to be lit in the streets for three days and nights straight. Wealthy individuals employed perfumers to disinfect their homes. The friars at the Santa Maria Novella apothecary in Florence prescribed rosewater and vinegar baths to protect from infection. According to the Bible, the incense prayer, or ketoret, was also used to stop a plague that broke out in the wake of the Korah affair.
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What You'll Learn
The use of incense in prayer to combat plagues
The use of incense in prayer and worship is an ancient practice that has been employed by various religions since time immemorial. In the context of combating plagues, the practice of using incense holds a significant role, with roots in biblical times.
Ketoret, or the offering of incense, has been a traditional practice in Judaism. It is offered twice daily in the Temple, and on Yom Kippur, it is brought into the Holy of Holies. The use of ketoret as a means to combat plagues has been documented in biblical narratives. For instance, at Moses' instruction, Aaron used ketoret to stop a plague that broke out in the wake of the Korah affair (Numbers 17:11-15).
Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov (ca. 1700-1760), also known as the Besht, is another example from Jewish history. The Besht attempted to mitigate the effects of a plague through his prayers and the recitation of the ketoret passage. By his own account, his efforts were successful, as the plague did not spread to his community.
During the second Asiatic Cholera Pandemic (c. 1826-1837), Rabbi Akiva Eger of Posen directed people to recite the ketoret portion twice a day as a means to combat the plague. Even during the current coronavirus pandemic, some kabbalists have turned to these ketoret traditions.
Outside of Judaism, the use of incense in prayer and worship is prevalent in various religious traditions. In Christianity, the practice is rooted in the traditions of Judaism during the time of the Second Jewish Temple. Incense is used in worship by various Christian denominations, including Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, and Anglican churches. In Hinduism, the use of incense has been dated back to 3600 BC, and it continues to be a common practice in modern-day India and among Hindus worldwide. Incense is offered to various deities, such as Krishna and Rama, and is considered a form of purification.
In summary, the use of incense in prayer and worship is a longstanding tradition in numerous religious traditions. While the specific practice of ketoret is unique to Judaism, the concept of using incense as a means to combat plagues has been explored by various faiths throughout history.
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Scented items to fight contaminated air
During the Middle Ages, the bubonic plague ravaged Europe, and medical knowledge at the time was limited. As a result, people relied on various scented items in an attempt to fight contaminated air and prevent the spread of the plague. This practice was based on the Miasma Theory, which suggested that sickness was spread through unpleasant aromas, and that surrounding oneself with pleasant fragrances could protect against the disease.
One popular method was to carry scented items such as posies, nosegays, or bouquets made of strong-smelling flowers and herbs. These were pinned to garments or stuffed into pockets, allowing people to quickly hold them to their noses if they encountered a foul smell that might carry the plague. Scented sponges and balls were also commonly carried, with vinegar being a key component due to its strong, acute scent. People also hung little bottles of perfume on their belts and placed scented bags among their clothes.
In the home, people burned sweet-smelling herbs in fumigation torches and incense to purify the air. They also hung oranges studded with cloves around the house and scattered spices like cloves, cinnamon, and fennel over windowsills. Wealthier individuals employed perfumers to disinfect their homes, using a combination of sweet scents and harsh smells like vinegar, industrial waste, and even urine.
Additionally, specific remedies were prescribed to treat and prevent the plague. One such remedy, known as "four thieves vinegar," was said to have been invented by a gang of burglars who used it to protect themselves while stealing from infested homes. Other remedies included drinking vinegar mixed with various ingredients, such as garlic, herbs, and fruit juices.
While these scented items and remedies may not have been effective in stopping the spread of the plague, they provide insight into the beliefs and practices of the time and the desperation of those seeking protection from the deadly disease.
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The power of vinegar
Medicinal Uses
The ancient Greeks and Romans discovered vinegar's food preservation capabilities, preventing food from spoiling. This was likely discovered accidentally by leaving grape juice out for too long, causing it to ferment.
Hippocrates, the famous Greek physician, prescribed vinegar to treat wounds, coughs, and colds around 2,400 years ago. During the 1348 outbreak of the plague, the Italian physician Tommaso Del Garbo recommended washing one's hands, face, and mouth with vinegar to avoid infection.
In the Middle Ages, when the bubonic plague ravaged Europe, doctors suggested various remedies, including rubbing vinegar on boils caused by the plague. It was also recommended to drink vinegar mixed with arsenic and/or mercury, though these treatments were ineffective.
Vinegar was also an ingredient in a medieval universal remedy for the plague called "theriac" or "London treacle." This concoction included a complex mixture of ingredients, often with significant amounts of opium, fruit preserved in vinegar, and various herbs and spices mixed with honey and wine. Patients were instructed to dilute this mixture in vinegar and drink it several times a week.
Cleaning Uses
Vinegar is an excellent, inexpensive, and eco-friendly cleaning agent. Its antiseptic properties make it ideal for cleaning kitchen appliances, microwaves, and other surfaces. It can be used to unclog pipes, remove soap scum, and eliminate unpleasant odors. When combined with baking soda, it forms a powerful cleaning paste that can be used to scrub away tough dirt and grease buildup.
Culinary Uses
In addition to its medicinal and cleaning properties, vinegar has been used in cooking for centuries. It is commonly used to flavour and preserve food. Different types of vinegar, such as balsamic, apple cider, and malt vinegar, add unique flavours to dishes.
Apple cider vinegar, in particular, has gained popularity for its potential health benefits, including weight loss and various medicinal properties.
Other Uses
Beyond these applications, vinegar has been utilised in beauty treatments and as a natural weed killer.
The versatility of vinegar makes it a powerful and essential item in many households.
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Home remedies for the plague
During the Middle Ages, the universal recommended medication for the plague was called theriac or London treacle. Theriac was a medicinal compound made up of a complex mixture of ingredients, with some recipes containing 80 or more ingredients. Most recipes included significant amounts of opium, honey, wine, vinegar, and various herbs, leaves, and minerals. Other ingredients included figs, walnuts, fruit preserved in vinegar, rue, sorrel, sour pomegranate, citrus fruit and juice, aloes, rhubarb, absinth juice, myrrh, saffron, black pepper, cumin, cinnamon, ginger, bayberry, balsam, and hellebore.
- Rubbing onions, garlic, herbs, or a chopped-up snake on boils
- Applying leeches to buboes
- Fumigation with sweet-smelling herbs
- Carrying sweet-smelling flowers or perfumes
- Carrying a sponge soaked in vinegar
- Hanging oranges studded with cloves around the house
- Using mint or pennyroyal to discourage fleas
- Rubbing a mixture of treacle, various herbs, leaves, viper flesh, and opium on the body
It is important to note that these remedies were based on the beliefs and knowledge of the time and may not have been effective in treating or preventing the plague. Some of these practices, such as flagellation, could even worsen the disease by opening wounds and spreading infection.
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The role of physicians during the plague
During the plague epidemics of the Middle Ages, not much was known about the nature and spread of the disease. As a result, physicians who treated victims of the plague played a variety of roles, some of which were outside the realm of medical treatment.
Firstly, due to the high risk of contracting the disease, many established doctors fled their practices, resulting in a shortage of physicians. This meant that those who remained or were hired specifically to treat plague patients often lacked experience or medical training. Some plague doctors were recent medical trainees, while others had no medical qualifications at all. As a result, their treatment methods were often ineffective or harmful, such as recommending the use of amulets, swallowing beazor stones, or drinking potions made with unicorn horn.
The primary role of these physicians was to provide medical care to infected patients, regardless of their income or social standing. They were often hired and contracted by cities or towns to treat specifically those with the plague, as general doctors were at increased risk of exposure. Their duties included treating patients, recording death tolls and infection numbers, performing autopsies, and providing advice to patients about their conduct before death.
Plague doctors also became known for their distinctive costumes, designed to protect them from the disease. The iconic beaked mask, for example, was stuffed with herbs and spices to purify the air they breathed, as it was believed that good smells would cancel out the disease. The costume also included a long waxed coat or gown, gloves, boots, a hat, and a wand or staff to examine patients without touching them.
In addition to their medical duties, plague doctors also had administrative roles. They were responsible for witnessing wills, keeping journals and casebooks, and helping to develop treatments or preventive measures based on their observations.
Overall, the role of physicians during the plague was challenging and dangerous, often requiring them to put themselves at great personal risk. They played a crucial part in providing care and treatment, recording important data, and offering comfort and advice to those affected by the disease.
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Frequently asked questions
The Miasma Theory of contagious disease held that sickness spread through unpleasant aromas. According to the theory, a whiff of 'bad air' could kill, and the right fragrance might save your life.
Incense was one of many aromatic substances that people carried with them or burned in their homes to prevent the plague. Other examples include rosemary, tansy, lavender, carnation, and feverfew.
Aside from incense, people also relied on amulets, magic ribbons, and special prayers. Wealthy people employed perfumers to disinfect their homes, and doctors recommended treatments such as applying leeches to the buboes, sitting in a sewer, and taking a bath in urine.
