Mass Killers of the 19th Century

3Usually people in this time blamed the disease on poor diet, poor air quality, witches, and fairies. 1Medical doctors began to better understand TB in the 19th century, however, linking TB of the lungs, scrofula, and skin lesions to the same disease became tough do too not having the right technology. 2In 1882 Robert Koch isolated and identified the TB bacillus. 1“One in seven of all human beings dies from tuberculosis”. (Robert Koch, Nobel Laureate, 1905.)

Bioterrorism and Plague Plague, also known as Yesirnia pestis, has wreaked havoc since the first documented outbreak in the 6th century, along with changing the course of history. Although bubonic plague is the most common form of plague, pneumonic plague is the more fatal form of the bacteria. It is the only form that has been successfully aerosolized by man and has the potential of taking down a mass of people in days. If used as a bioweapon, it would cause major damage. This paper is designed to inform you of the history, the facts, and the precautions needed to prevent a bioterrorist attack.

The nursery rhyme “ Ring Around The Rosy” is more than a popular song little children sing while holding hands, walking around in a circle and then falling down. The nursery rhyme refers to the Black Death, one of the worst plagues of all time (Schladweller). Known as infectious diseases that spread quickly and kill countless people, plagues have had a tremendous affect on people around the world since the beginning of time. The Black Death, also known as the bubonic plague, is a contagious bacterial infection that has killed millions of people. With the bubonic plague brutally killing one fourth of Europe in the 14th century and devastating China in the 18th century (Link), it is noted in history books as the worst plague of all times.

There were three stages of the Black Death. The first stage included symptoms which were often flu-like in ... ... middle of paper ... ...es. The Plague killed off entire family lines, and resulted in the loss of many great and important people. However, the end of the Black Death signaled a new beginning that seemingly may have paved the way towards an "intellectual revolution" (Cantor 25). Despite many evident details that the Black Death was beneficial to man kind, it is still undeniably one of the deadliest and most destructive epidemics in history.

The black death spread very quickly, if you were infected and coughed on somebody else that person will know that he/she will be dying or dead by the end of week("Plague”). This why the black death was the worst disease in human history because it spread so quickly and it killed millions of people in a matter of years. In the middle ages the idea that people had for the black death was because of religious beliefs. They believed that god sent this diseases as punishment for the sins that they committed, but also to test their faith and strength("medical beliefs." ).

The rarest form of the Black Death was the septicemic plague. The death rate was close to one hundred percent. The symptoms were high fever, and skin turning deep shades of purple, due to respiratory failure. Victims usually died the first day the symptoms appeared. The disease was spread through an infectious fever caused by the Yersinia pestis, passed on by the rat flea.

The Plague The rats did it! Rats, almost single handedly, killed off about a third of the European population throughout the 14th and 15th centuries. Its effects on western civilization still lasts today, but for the people who lived during the plagues wish indeed that they did not. Society was depressed, the economy was struggling, food was scarce, and all of Europe was in battle. Who would want to live in these dramatic conditions?

According to the Common Infectious Diseases Worldwide, Tuberculosis, Malaria, and AIDS are approximately half of all deaths caused by infectious diseases each year. Tuberculosis is becoming this global threat for the world and that has a lot to do with the social inequality it has on some people. Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that cause tuberculosis on March 24, 1882. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that can effect a lot of peoples body part but mostly affects the lungs. As Medical News Today posted in 2012, 1.3 million people died from tuberculosis because it is contagious nature, therefore, making tuberculosis a major concern for the world.

The swollen nodes are called buboes, which is what gives the bubonic plague its name. Buboes are mostly seen... ... middle of paper ... ...getting sick. The superstitious among them bought all kinds of charms and spells to protect themselves. Some believed that sounds could drive the disease away; they rang church bells or fired cannons. With the exceptions of hands and feet, bathing was considered to be dangerous because it opened the pores and made it easier for the disease to get into the body.

Tuberculosis My hypothesis on Tuberculosis is that it is a very deadly disease that causes a persons lungs to fill with blood. This can harm the body by making the body suffocate itself when the lungs fill with blood. Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that no one ever wants to encounter. This infection is very dreadful and can lead to death. Tuberculosis has been around for a very long time it used to be called “consumption” because the infection would consume who ever had the disease.