Strangest Hygiene Practices From The Middle Ages

Strangest Hygiene Practices From The Middle Ages

Shannon Quinn - December 6, 2020

Strangest Hygiene Practices From The Middle Ages
Image of people suffering from the Black Death. Credit: The Toggenburg Bible

28. People Exposed to Black Dead Stayed in Quarantine For 40 Days

Nowadays, people are up in arms about having to wait 2 weeks in quarantine. We get so stir-crazy, that we can’t handle it. However, this was no match for the precautions people took during The Black Death during the 14th Century. This disease formed sores called “buboes” all over the victim’s body, along with aches, fever, and exhaustion. It poisoned the bloodstream, and eventually led to their death. At first, travelers arriving in port had to wait on their ships for a 30-day isolation period. They later realized the incubation period was longer, so they raised it to 40. The word “quarantine” comes from the term 40 days.

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