Bubonic Plague Journal Entries

Historical Record # 78985-

Journal Of: Dr. Ellington

Historical Period: 1300's

Pages: 5 entries out of 650

Location Recovered: Under an old store house during construction work on a port of Venice.

June 3, 1347

Today, I was assigned my first sinner, God help his poor soul, just on the outskirts of the Adriatic Sea port. As I entered the room, a stench filled my nose, so that I couldn't breathe. I finally found the poor child, lying in a myriad of blankets and people. I watched my steps, as not to disturb the bodies of the deceased. The child looked longingly at me, as if I guaranteed him any freedoms from this illness which he is believed to have caught. I talked to him for a few minutes, & learned that his name is Michael. He had a cough, and said he was always hot. Fear overcame me, and I asked him to raise his arms. They were there, those dreaded lumps that we all fear. I have only been in this trade for a few months, but the cases so far end up bleak. I was angry at his parents, and told them to pray hard for their 6 year old son's death was coming. It is just a matter of days.

June 4, 1347

There are two more cases today. I talked to the local priest about each family. To each of course his own unnamed sins. I cannot think of any reason why such a horrid disease would infect so many, if there be not a reason. A six year old child of innocence knows not right from wrong, therefore God is not angry at him, but perhaps his parents have committed a treason upon God and therefore God's punishment is the taking of their son, and perhaps soon after their own lives. As for the other two, both are Jewish. The only reason for this I can see if that they do not believe in the holy Jesus Christ and therefore are now condemned to suffer in Hell for their Hellish acts. God does not give this to those undeserving. He gives this illness to the weak of faith.

June 5, 1347

I went and checked in on the boy. It has been a day since I saw him last. His fever has not gone away, and his finger tips and nose are black. He has many gaping sore on his body and he whimpers at any movement. His underarm was swollen to a massively large size and it seemed to engulf his shoulder. Purple and black spots lined his inner thighs and arms. And small amounts of dried blood lay under his nose, and on the surrounding blankets. He was coughing blood, and crying so hard his eyes were red as well. His own vomit surrounds him. My first patient is dying. And there is no hope for him now, because this pestilence has spread. All he can do is bear the pain to his death. His mother, I noticed has begun to cough and sweat as well. As predicted, she indeed will be next and receive punishment for her wrongdoings in life, so maybe in her repentance she can receive eternal life with her son.

June 6, 1347

Today a man told me of a way of protection from the disease. I didn't feel that I needed it, since I have done nothing horrible enough to deserve it, but I thought I could offer aid to those who wished to believe there was some protection. The man handing me a handful of Posies and told me to hold him and keep them on meÐ'--for it would keep the disease away. Children have been chanting about it for sometime now, dancing in streets as if they had no worries. Singing "Ring A Ring of Roses! A Pocket full of Posies! Ashoo! Ashoo! We all fall down!" Some even dared to venture to the pastures which I have tried