Glossary of Key Terms
Bubonic Plague: A severe bacterial infection transmitted by fleas and body lice, characterized by swollen lymph nodes (buboes).
The Great Plague: The major epidemic of Bubonic Plague that swept through London in 1665-1666.
Eyam: A village in Derbyshire famous for its self-imposed quarantine during the Great Plague to prevent further spread of the disease.
Shutting up: A system used in London during the Great Plague where families with a suspected case were locked inside their homes.
Diarist: A person who writes a diary. Samuel Pepys and Daniel Defoe are mentioned as chroniclers of the Great Plague.
Harrow Alley: A specific back alley slum in London described by Defoe as a place where the plague ran rampant due to poor conditions.
Dead carts: Carts used to collect the bodies of plague victims for burial during the Great Plague.
Parish Registers: Records kept by churches, in this case, burial registers that documented deaths, including those from the plague.
Bubo: A swollen, inflamed lymph node in the armpit or groin, characteristic of bubonic plague.
Cauterizing Irons: Medical tools heated and used to burn tissue, employed during the plague to treat buboes.
Lime washing: Whitewashing houses with lime, a practice used during the plague that was found to be effective in killing bacteria.
Fuming: A disinfection method involving burning a mixture of substances like saltpeter, amber, brimstone, and juniper to create smoke intended to decontaminate houses.
Ectoparasites: Parasites, such as fleas and lice, that live on the outside of the host's body.
Quarantine: A period of isolation to prevent the spread of disease. Used effectively in Oxford during the Great Plague and notably by the villagers of Eyam.
The Great Fire: A major fire in London in September 1666, often mistakenly believed to have ended the Great Plague.
