How did people confront the infectious diseases that were prevalent in the Edo period?

New coronavirus that is currently rampant all over the world Due to the influence of Tokyo Olympics starting from July 2020 It has become an unprecedented situation called postponement. Due to the outbreak of this unknown virus, there was a shortage of masks, and even in Japan, we refrained from economic activities and closed schools from March.

Historically, humankind has often fought against these pandemics.

Even in the Edo period, smallpox, measles, and cholera Infectious diseases such as are prevalent. How did people in this era, when medical care was not as developed as it is today, deal with infectious diseases?

Types of epidemic diseases

Speaking of infectious diseases in the Edo period, smallpox (smallpox), measles, influenza, cholera, plague However, in this era when the existence of pathogens such as viruses and fungi was unknown, infectious diseases transmitted from person to person were thought to be the work of demons and youkai.

As a result, there were many people who were obsessed with folk remedies. On the other hand, people called doctors were searching for effective treatments by actually repeating treatments while unraveling medical books.

This is the same as the healthcare professionals who face the current coronavirus-infected people on a daily basis.

Children's natural enemy, smallpox (smallpox)

A common illness in history is [ smallpox ] And [ Smallpox ] Is an infectious disease called. In 1955 [ Declaration of eradication of smallpox from the earth ] Is issued, and it is a past infectious disease that human beings could only overcome. Until then, it was one of the deadliest infectious diseases in the world.

A brief overview ...

• Infectious disease transmitted by droplets or contact (strongly contagious)
• Incubation period is about 12 days
• Starting with fever and headache, the rash spreads throughout the body
• The rash becomes a blister, a pustule, and then a scab
• If you heat up, it will heal, but "scarring" may remain or you may lose your eyesight.
• Vaccination is the only preventive measure, and prior to the invention of vaccination, a significant mortality rate

The first historical source of smallpox in Japan is [ Nihon Shoki ] Then, in the Nara period, [ a rash occurred, resulting in severe pain and death . 】It has been described as. [ Tenpei pandemic in the Nara period ] Then, 25% of the total population of Japan died due to this outbreak of smallpox. It is said that it was done.

During the Edo period, it became a pandemic in Hokkaido, and Ainu population decline . It is also said to be one of the causes.

As written in the summary section, pockmark * on the face It is said to be a definite illness because it remains, and especially for small children, it could not only affect the future but also be fatal. Until the establishment of a method for preventing smallpox by vaccination at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate, the only way to fight smallpox was isolation, and other than that, it was God's request. * After the smallpox healed, small dents resembling lumps and acne scars remained on the skin.

If you have smallpox, ask God

1798 I wrote about how to care for smallpox and measles. ] Is now on sale. There, "Smallpox demon" is a pseudo-god of smallpox. " Don't get smallpox ... " Aka-e using red with amulet power. People endured the fear of smallpox by decorating a picture called "" and wearing a red color.

As part of that, Zhong Kui Was also worshiped as a smallpox repellent.

Zhong Kui was worshiped as having the power to prevent smallpox. So, it is a god of folklore that is handed down in Chinese folklore. In Japan, on May 5th, at the Dragon Boat Festival, a nobori and a doll depicting Zhong Kui were displayed.

Measles as feared as smallpox

The disease caused by infection with the measles virus is measles . So, it was 998 that was confirmed in the history of Japan. It is said that it was the first pandemic.

Measles, which has been a pandemic in the Edo period, is a life-threatening disease smallpox . More mortality infections It is said that the cause of death of the fifth shogun, Tsunayoshi, may also be measles.

• Very infectious
• Almost 100% of people who do not have immunity get infected (it does not get infected if immunized)
• Contact infection, droplet infection, as well as airborne infection, cannot be prevented by mask or hand washing
• After symptoms such as fever and cough, a small rash all over the body with high fever
• Vaccination is the only preventive measure

Currently MR vaccine However, not all people are vaccinated, and the vaccination rate for a certain age group is as low as 20%. increase. However, the fee is a little high, but it is safe to get vaccinated with chitin.

However, this was during the Edo period when vaccines and preventive measures were not established, so once a measles epidemic occurred, many people were infected and often lost their lives. 13 outbreaks of measles throughout the Edo period There is 1862 In the pandemic of cholera In response to the double punch, more than 200,000 people died in Edo alone.

Similarly for measles, " Measles lightening method A book called "Measles" has been released, and various spells to alleviate measles are written.

As one of them, the holly leaves stabbed in the gate on the night of Setsubun are decocted and given to a child who is not infected with measles. , Write a magical song on the leaves of Ilex latifolia and let it flow into the river Folk remedies such as lightening without fail became popular.