When Black Death threatened Milan, City leaders did this to combat it

City's response to the Black Death
City’s response to the Black Death

When the Black Death threatened Milan in the middle ages, the City leaders did the following to combat the epidemic:

a. Forbid anyone from leaving or entering the city.
b. Quarantine new people arriving in the city for 40 days.
c. Wall up the houses in which plague was discovered.
d. All of the above.

Recently, my Inns of Court group gave a presentation on the law of Quarantine. Through vignettes set on a BART train, we explored how the ancient law of quarantine is applied to our modern society. We touched on the world history of quarantine, bringing it to our present day and community. The players were Judge Joyce Cram, Ret., Commissioner Don Green, Ret., Nancy Allard, Wally Hesseltine, Kristen Howe, Rodney Marraccini, Lisa Mendes, Jennifer Sommer and myself.

Here is a sample of the interesting information we studied. For an automatic reminder of the next question and answer please subscribe to my blog on my Home Page. See “Receive Free Tips & Updates” in the lower right-hand corner.

When the Black Death threatened Milan in the middle ages, the City leaders did the following to combat the epidemic:

a. Forbid anyone from leaving or entering the city.
b. Quarantine new people arriving in the city for 40 days.
c. Wall up the houses in which plague was discovered.
d. All of the above.

Answer: c: The despot of Milan ordered the first three houses in which plague was discovered walled up with the occupants inside, enclosing the well, the sick, and the dead in a common tomb. This is a drastic example of the exercise of state police power, which apparently worked in this instance.

Putting aside Quarantine for a minute, Mediation is one of the best ways to resolve disputes. For an experienced Mediator to help negotiate a resolution to your dispute contact Ken Strongman (www.kpstrongman.com).

Ken Strongman, MediatorAbout the Author: Ken Strongman (www.kpstrongman.com) has years of experience and a growing national reputation as a mediator and arbitrator.  He has successfully resolved more than a thousand disputes in the fields of construction defects, real estate, intellectual property, and employment.  He is also a Mediator and Arbitrator for FINRA.

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