the black death and the dancing mania-第5章
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ed to tremble it was found that mountains had been moved from their positions； and that many hamlets were left in ruins。 It is recorded that during this earthquake the wine in the casks became turbid； a statement which may be considered as furnishing proof that changes causing a decomposition of the atmosphere had taken place； but if we had no other information from which the excitement of conflicting powers of nature during these commotions might be inferred； yet scientific observations in modern times have shown that the relation of the atmosphere to the earth is changed by volcanic influences。 Why then； may we not； from this fact； draw retrospective inferences respecting those extraordinary phenomena？
Independently of this； however； we know that during this earthquake； the duration of which is stated by some to have been a week； and by others a fortnight； people experienced an unusual stupor and headache； and that many fainted away。
These destructive earthquakes extended as far as the neighbourhood of Basle； and recurred until the year 1360 throughout Germany； France； Silesia； Poland； England； and Denmark； and much further north。
Great and extraordinary meteors appeared in many places； and were regarded with superstitious horror。 A pillar of fire； which on the 20th of December； 1348； remained for an hour at sunrise over the pope's palace in Avignon； a fireball； which in August of the same year was seen at sunset over Paris； and was distinguished from similar phenomena by its longer duration； not to mention other instances mixed up with wonderful prophecies and omens； are recorded in the chronicles of that age。
The order of the seasons seemed to be inverted； rains； flood； and failures in crops were so general that few places were exempt from them； and though an historian of this century assure us that there was an abundance in the granaries and storehouses； all his contemporaries； with one voice； contradict him。 The consequences of failure in the crops were soon felt； especially in Italy and the surrounding countries； where； in this year； a rain； which continued for four months； had destroyed the seed。 In the larger cities they were compelled； in the spring of 1347； to have recourse to a distribution of bread among the poor； particularly at Florence； where they erected large bakehouses； from which； in April； ninety…four thousand loaves of bread； each of twelve ounces in weight； were daily dispensed。 It is plain； however； that humanity could only partially mitigate the general distress； not altogether obviate it。
Diseases； the invariable consequence of famine； broke out in the country as well as in cities； children died of hunger in their mother's armswant； misery； and despair were general throughout Christendom。
Such are the events which took place before the eruption of the Black Plague in Europe。 Contemporaries have explained them after their own manner； and have thus； like their posterity； under similar circumstances； given a proof that mortals possess neither senses nor intellectual powers sufficiently acute to comprehend the phenomena produced by the earth's organism； much less scientifically to understand their effects。 Superstition； selfishness in a thousand forms； the presumption of the schools； laid hold of unconnected facts。 They vainly thought to comprehend the whole in the individual； and perceived not the universal spirit which； in intimate union with the mighty powers of nature； animates the movements of all existence； and permits not any phenomenon to originate from isolated causes。 To attempt； five centuries after that age of desolation； to point out the causes of a cosmical commotion； which has never recurred to an equal extent； to indicate scientifically the influences； which called forth so terrific a poison in the bodies of men and animals； exceeds the limits of human understanding。 If we are even now unable； with all the varied resources of an extended knowledge of nature； to define that condition of the atmosphere by which pestilences are generated； still less can we pretend to reason retrospectively from the nineteenth to the fourteenth century； but if we take a general view of the occurrences； that century will give us copious information； and； as applicable to all succeeding times； of high importance。
In the progress of connected natural phenomena from east to west； that great law of nature is plainly revealed which has so often and evidently manifested itself in the earth's organism； as well as in the state of nations dependent upon it。 In the inmost depths of the globe that impulse was given in the year 1333； which in uninterrupted succession for six and twenty years shook the surface of the earth； even to the western shores of Europe。 From the very beginning the air partook of the terrestrial concussion； atmospherical waters overflowed the land； or its plants and animals perished under the scorching heat。 The insect tribe was wonderfully called into life； as if animated beings were destined to complete the destruction which astral and telluric powers had begun。 Thus did this dreadful work of nature advance from year to year； it was a progressive infection of the zones； which exerted a powerful influence both above and beneath the surface of the earth； and after having been perceptible in slighter indications； at the commencement of the terrestrial commotions in China； convulsed the whole earth。
The nature of the first plague in China is unknown。 We have no certain intelligence of the disease until it entered the western countries of Asia。 Here it showed itself as the Oriental plague； with inflammation of the lungs； in which form it probably also may have begun in China； that is to say； as a malady which spreads； more than any other； by contagiona contagion that； in ordinary pestilences； requires immediate contact； and only under favourable circumstances of rare occurrence is communicated by the mere approach to the sick。 The share which this cause had in the spreading of the plague over the whole earth was certainly very great； and the opinion that the Black Death might have been excluded from Western Europe by good regulations； similar to those which are now in use； would have all the support of modern experience； provided it could be proved that this plague had been actually imported from the East； or that the Oriental plague in general； whenever it appears in Europe； has its origin in Asia or Egypt。 Such a proof； however； can by no means be produced so as to enforce conviction； for it would involve the impossible assumption； either that there is no essential difference between the degree of civilisation of the European nations； in the most ancient and in modern times； or that detrimental circumstances； which have yielded only to the civilisation of human society and the regular cultivation of countries； could not formerly keep up the glandular plague。
The plague was； however； known in Europe before nations were united by the bonds of commerce and social intercourse； hence there is ground for supposing that it sprang up spontaneously； in consequence of the rude manner of living and the uncultivated state of the earth； influences which peculiarly favour the origin of severe diseases。 Now we need not go back to the earlier centuries； for the fourteenth itself； before it had half expired； was visited by five or six pestilences。
If； therefore； we consider the peculiar property of the plague； that in countries which it has once visited it remains for a long time in a milder form； and that the epidemic influences of 1342； when it had appeared for the last time； were particularly favourable to its unperceived continuance； till 1348； we come to the notion that in this eventful year also the germs of plague existed in Southern Europe； which might be vivified by atmospherical deteriorations； and that thus； at least in part； the Black Plague may have originated in Europe itself。 The corruption of the atmosphere came from the East； but the disease itself came not upon the wings of the wind； but was only excited and increased by the atmosphere where it had previously existed。
This source of the Black Plague was not； however； the only one； for far more powerful th
