This sickness was undoubtedly bubonic plague. Victims were seized with sudden fever; on the first or second day buboes, swollen glands, appeared in the groin or armpit. Many patients became deeply comatose, other developed a violent delirium in which they saw phantoms or heard voices prophesying death; sometimes the buboes broke down into gangrenous sores and the sufferer died in terrible pain. Death usually occurred on the fifth day, but could be very quick or delayed for a week or two. Physicians were unable to tell which cases were light and which severe; as there was no known remedy, they were quite useless.<\/p>\n ??????????????<\/p><\/div>\n The plague returned again and again, lasting until about the year 590. It spared no town or village, but ravaged even the most remote settlements; if a region seemed to have escaped, the plague would surely appear in due time. As in the plague of Cyprian, there was a seasonal occurrence and an outbreak might fade for a few years only to recur in the same place with equal ferocity. All ages were at risk but more men died than women. Many cities and villages were wiped out or abandoned, agriculture largely ceased, panic threw the whole empire into confusion. Entire countries never regained their precious density of population.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.decidedlygrim.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/0eeb8e83-ea00-4ba1-a129-805647ebe9d2.jpg\")
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\nNow, THIS is art!\u00a0 Love that strategically placed rat.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/a>