PART IV: The Plague

The malady manifested itself in the following manner: a small swelling grew behind the ear which rapidly suppurated (discharged pus). There was a bubo (swelling of lymph node) under the arm and death followed very quickly. One noticed also the presence of a tumor which caused a serious mortality. They were occupied with this for a time; then they spat blood and the population was terrified by the multitude of the dead. The maximum of survival after the spitting of blood was fifty hours....

There was no help from anywhere; if someone brought to another a remedy useful to himself, this became poison to the other patient. Some, by treating others, became infected with the disease. It caused great destruction and many homes were deserted by their inhabitants. Domestic animals died together with their masters. Most terrible was the discouragement. Whenever people felt sick there was no hope left for recovery, but by turning to despair, adding to their prostration and severely aggravating their sickness, they died at once…. [The disease]…as sent by God to restore chastity. Many of the sick turned to better things in their minds, by being chastened, not only those who died, but also those who overcame the disease. They abstained from all vice during that time and they lived virtuously; many divided their property among the poor, even before they were attacked by the disease.

Unlike what had been seen in the east, where bleeding from the nose is the fatal prognostic, here there appeared certain tumours in the groin or under the armpits, some as big as a small apple, others as an egg; and afterwards purple spots in most parts of the body; in some cases large and but few in number, in others smaller and more numerous – both sorts the usual messengers of death. To cure of this malady, neither medical knowledge nor the power of drugs was of any effect…