EpiMedDat
The Open Data Collection for Historical Epidemics and Medieval Diseases

1348-04-08-Perugia

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Date startStart date of the disease. 1348-04-08 Monday +
Date endEnd date of the disease. +
SeasonSeason (spring, summer, fall or winter)
Date otherOther mentioned dates.
PlacePlace(s), city or location of the disease. Perugia
RegionHistorical region(s)
CountryCurrent country
RiverMentioned river(s)
Natural eventMentioned natural event(s)
PersonMentioned persons(s)
GroupGroup(s) of people mentioned
VictimIndication of victims +
AnimalMentioned animal(s)
DiseaseMentioned disease(s) Plague
Epidemic waveAssociated epidemic wave Black Death
Social responseSocial response that happened in reaction to the disease Medicine, Poison, Procession, Religion
LanguageLanguage of the original text Italian
KeywordFurther keyword(s) Medicine, Poison, Procession
FactGridIDIdentifier of an item in FactGrid database Q1871766
last edited 11. 03. 2026 by Martin Bauch.

Outbreak of the Black Death in Perugia; description of contempory medical responses and cultural coping mechanisms

Text originalOriginal text

Adi 8 d'aprile cominciò in Perugia la moria grande, che a chi veniva male non vivea più che due giorni. Cominciò questa mortalità in Toscana , et spezialmente a Pisa. Fo questa mortalità generale quasi che per tutto il mondo. Si facevano grandissime processioni , discipline et orazioni. Fecero qui da noi alcuni medici notomia : trovarono che vicino al cuore nasceva una biscica piena di veneno: facevano sanguenare per la vena del cuore, et si facevano fuochi grandi, et si cibava chi potesse di cose buone et delicate : non bastavano i cimiteri et le sepolture per li corpi morti. Ognuno usava triaca, et chi non poteva usasse la scabbiosa o marobio o erbella , et embuono et asenso o ruta , santonico, et sopratutto si costuma sempre di portare erbe odorifere , et ordinarono un succo con molte cose aromatiche da portar sempre al naso.

Text translationEnglish translation of the text

On the 8th day of April the great mortality began in Perugia, and whoever fell ill did not live more than two days. This mortality had begun in Tuscany, and especially in Pisa. This mortality was almost universal throughout the whole world. Very great processions, acts of penance, and prayers were carried out. Some physicians here among us performed dissections and found that near the heart there arose a swelling filled with poison. They practiced bloodletting from the vein of the heart, and great fires were made. Those who were able ate good and delicate foods.The cemeteries and burial places were not sufficient for the dead bodies. Everyone used Theriac, and those who could not obtain it used scabiosa, horehound, or agrimony, as well as incense or rue, santonica, and above all it became customary always to carry fragrant herbs. They also prepared a juice made from many aromatic substances to keep constantly at the nose.

References

  1. ^  Anonymus : Brevi Annali della città di Perugia dal 1194 al 1352. (= Archivio storico italiano ). 1850 , pp. 55-68
  2. ^ ChatGPT 5.2 

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