List No. 011

BILL OF MORTALITY

E. Cotes

August 1665

In the summer of 1665, London residents began to drop like flies as the Great Plague swept across the city killing 68,596 people, young and old – in actual fact, that number covers only recorded deaths; the actual total is thought to be close to 100,000. At the time, weekly Bills of Mortality were circulated on which the last seven days’ death toll was reported, broken down to show causes of death. The example seen here relates to the week beginning August 15th of that year as the plague’s grip tightened, a period during which 3,880 people perished. A glossary is provided for the benefit of those who have never heard of such grimly named ailments as Kingsevil and Strangury.

Glossary:

Childbed: Mothers who died following childbirth, usually from infection

Chrisomes: Infants who died in their first month

Consumption: Those who died of tuberculosis

Dropsie: Enlargement of organs due to build-up of fluids

Flux: Dysentery

Imposthume: Abscess

Kingsevil: Lymphadenopathy of the neck

Rising of the Lights: Lung disease

Spotted fever and Purples: Meningitis

Stone: Gallstones

Strangury: Painful urination

Surfeit: Overeating

Teeth: Infants who have died during teething

Tiffick: Asthma/tuberculosis