Ring around the rosy
A pocketful of posies
Ashes, Ashes
We all fall down
The historical period of this beloved children’s nursery rhyme dates back to the Bubonic or Black Death plague of London in 1665 and possibly even before the first outbreak of the plague which hit England in the 1300's. The death rate was over 60% and the plague was only halted by the Great Fire of London in 1666, which killed the rats which carried the disease which was transmitting via water sources. The symptoms of the plague included a rosy red rash in the shape of a ring on the skin. Pockets and pouches were filled with sweet smelling herbs (or posies) were carried due to the belief that the disease was transmitted by bad smells.
In June 1528, Agnes Tylney, Duchess of Norfolk (1477 - 1545), and godmother to Princess Elizabeth wrote to Cardinal Wolsey with advice on curing those who fell ill. She recommended treacle (uncrystallized syrup that remains after sugar is refined), “water imperial”, and setwell (also known as Valerian) for the stomach and advised that those who fell victim to the disease to fast for sixteen hours and stay in bed for twenty-four hours. As precautions, she suggested isolating sufferers for an entire week and putting vinegar, wormwood, rosewater, and crumbs of brown bread on linen and sniffing it but warned that this mixture must not touch the face. Cardinal Wolsey, an advisor to Henry VIII, is said to have been in the habit of carrying an orange skin, wrapped around a vinegar-soaked sponge. At the Tudor court, the aromatic orange was replaced by the pouncet box, which held a sponge soaked in aromatic vinegar and was usually worn hung from the waist with a silk cord or gold chain somewhat bitter flavor.
By the 1600s, the Elizabethan plague doctors dressed in a protective garment, which had been created Dr. Charles de l’Orme (France, 1584-1678), a physician for several French kings and the Medici family. The garment was coated in wax with gloves, boots and hat and a dark leather hood and mask held onto the face with leather bands and gathered tightly at the neck. Eyeholes cut into hood were fitted with glass domes. The curved beak was designed to hold fragrant compounds to avoid contracting the disease through breathing the same air as the victim. In some French versions of the costume, compounds were set to smolder within the beak, in the hopes that the smoke would add an extra layer of protection. A wooden stick completed the look, which the plague doctor used to lift the clothing and bed sheets of infected patients to get a better look without actually making skin-to-skin contact.
During the Middles Ages, medicines were made from herbs, spices, and resins and were applied in drinks, pills, washes, baths, rubs, poultices, purges and ointments. Typical medicines included:
Vinegar was used to kill diseases and fight infections, to cleanse wounds and aid healing.
To treat respiratory and lung issues - Angelica, Cinnamon, Clove, Comfrey, Elecampane, Eucalyptus, Horehound, Hyssop, Licorice, Marjoram.
To cleanse and disinfect the body, Lavender, Lemon, Rosemary.
As a fumigant during and after an illness. Conifers, Lavender, Marjoram, Rosemary, Thyme.
As an insect repellant, Lavender, Mint, and Rue.
To treat stomach and digestive issues, Elecampane, Marjoram, Mint, Wormwood.
To treat parasites and worms, Garlic, Rue, Thyme, Wormwood.
To treat head aches and pain, Bay, Lavender, Rose, and Sage.
To treat aching joints, Hemlock and Henbane.
To treat fever, Coriander.
To treat wounds and as a "cure-all", Angelica, Bellflower, Garlic, Meadowsweet, Mint, Rue, Sage.
In the United States, Matthew Carey, (1760–1839), documents in his article ”The Yellow Fever Epidemic in Philadelphia in 1793”, “Those who ventured abroad, had handkerchiefs or sponges, impregnated with vinegar or camphor, at their noses, or smelling-bottles full of thieves’ vinegar. Others carried pieces of tarred rope in their hands or pockets, or camphor bags tied around their necks.” Furthermore, it is said that Thomas Jefferson had a version that consisted of vinegar spiked with lavender, rosemary, sage, wormwood, rue, mint, garlic.
Sources:
http://www.doctorsreview.com/history/doctors-black-death/
http://www.william-shakespeare.info/bubonic-black-plague
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