The Black Death:
What advice given by medieval physicians to ward off the Black
Death seems to you to have been most beneficial? What was least effective,
` or even harmful?
Cody Spengel
Western Civilization
Jennifer Hamilton
In 1347, a mischief of rats infested with the Bubonic Plague embarked on twelve
Genoese merchant ships, as they traveled along their trade routes, from Eastern Asia to
Europe. The ships' arrival, at the Sicilian port, in the city of Messina, brought the "Black
Death," that would kill more than 20 million people in Europe alone.1 During this historical
period, medieval physicians, in the Middle Ages, did not understand how to treat such
infections. The concepts of bacteria and contagious diseases had not yet been recognized.
Despite their lack of knowledge, there were some doctors who did provide some helpful
advice during this dark time. However, there were some medical professionals who provided
advice, which was not only unhelpful, but in some cases potentially harmful. The differences
in approach, to the plague, are illustrated by the two separate camps of physicians. One camp
sought to understand by scientific reasoning. The other camp of doctors, which were not
helpful, rejected the scientific approach. Instead, they focused their understanding through
spiritual, or religious means.
It is important to note, during this time, physicians were widely criticized by medieval
chronicles of the Black Death, even though people naturally turned towards them for advice
and support during times of hardship and distress. These critics described doctors as
"cowards, helpless, and greedy." One such critic, musician Louis Santus, stated doctors were
refusing to visit the sick, regardless of being offered a large sum. Other critics, such as
Boccaccio, John VI Kantakouzenos, and Agnolo di Tura, claimed physicians and medicine
simply were no match for the plague. Boccaccio, theorized that many of the doctors during
this time had just recently become doctors and that the disease was either incurable, or too
new to be treated appropriately.
Abu Jafar Ibn Khatima, was a physican and a poet, from Almeria, on the coast of
southern Spain. Using science and reasoning, he described a long list of possible symptoms
111 Backman, Clifford R. The Cultures of the West: a History: Volumes 1: to 1750. New
York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2013.
for the Black Death, which included: fever, anxiety; and sweats. Additional symptoms, which
manifested on the second day, were depression and disorientation. Then, as the fever
continued to progress, the syptoms became more severe, including: cramps, coldness in the
extremities, vommiting, diverse lesions on the skin, difficulty breathing, coughing up of
blood, blackness of tongue and pestilential bubos, along with black boils in various places of
the body were all soon to follow. Abu Khatima also described, in gereat detail, how infection
could spread from a sickly person to a healthy person, who is in the same vicinity. He
therorized the disease was spread from the breathe of the sick, and the aroma from the dead.
"The sick carry their illness in their clothes and in their bedding, and especially if these have
been in contact with the bodies or if they have been breathed upon. These are facts confirmed
by science." Abu Khatima greatest contribution was his theories regarding the infection and
its transmission to others was very plausible.2 His understanding that a healthy man who is in
contact with a sick person will frequently and most likely suffer the same fate. His
observations and declarations encouraged others to take precautions to reduce the spread.
This would encourage people to practice better hygiene, cleanliness, and encouraged social
distancing from people who are infected.
Not all physicians were as wise or knowledgeable as Abu Jafar Ibn Khatima. Alfonso
de Cordoba was a plague doctor, who not necessarily harmed people with his ideas, but he
did contribute to the paranoia. Alfonso de Cordoba spread fear with his claims that food and
drink can be easily poisoned and that non-flowing water can easily be infected.2 When so
many people are struggling to understand the meaning and cause of the plague, his advice
was not beneficial to anyone and only brought on more concern.
2 22Aberth, John, and ABU JAFAR KHATIMA. The Black Death: the Great Mortality of 1348-1350: a Brief
History with Documents. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2005.
2 22Aberth, John, The Black Death: the Great Mortality of 1348-1350: a Brief History with Documents.
Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2005.
Most medieval doctors believed that a "pestilential atmosphere," caused by either
planetary conjunction, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions that occurred before the plague
were to blame. Physicians would rely on unsophisticated techniques, as they were simply out
of ideas and had tried every possible cure and prevention. Bloodletting and boil-lancing were
a few common techniques utilized, which were not only dangerous, but completely
unsanitary. Superstitious practices such as bathing in rosewater or vinegar, and burning
aromatic herbs were also used as preventive measures. Others believed that the air had
become too "stiff" and loud noises would need to be created to break it up. Birds would be
released in rooms to fly around, bells would be rung, and guns would be shot. Obviously,
these techniques and methods would serve no purpose in preventing or curing the plague, and
essentially did nothing but cause more harm to those already hurting.
Today, medical professionals understand that the Black Death is spread by a bacterium
called Yersina Pestis. They know that the plague spreads through the air, saliva, and that it
can be transmitted through a bite from a rat or flea that is infected. Both of these nuisances
were commonly found in medieval Europe and on merchant ships causing the spread from
Central Asia, to Europe, France, North Africa, and onto Rome. This terrifying event is
fathomable now, as we accept scientific explanations for such a pandemic, while during the
medieval times, medical theories were focused mostly on religion.3
The understanding of contagious diseases was not clearly known, therefore physicians
were quite dissimilar in their opinions. While religious doctors were not very helpful in their
guidance, religion itself served its own purpose. Comfort, faith, and the will to live and move
foward. Others,with no understanding, would use unsafe and unsanitary practices that further
risked people's lives. The best advice given by a medieval physican was clearly Abu Jafar
Ibn Khatima, as he described the plague in great detail and his theory of people being in
333Hajar R (2012) The air of history (part II) medicine in the Middle Ages. Heart Views
13(4):158–162
contact with one another could do one harm. He encouraged individuals to distant
themselves, to in the end, save society.
