For hundreds of years before Germ Theory was discovered, people were trying to find an explanation for the plagues and pestilence that followed them. As millions succumbed to the Black Plague, leprosy, rabies, and tuberculosis, there was no rhyme or reason for the death and destruction. They didn’t understand bacteria, viruses or parasites. Even through the 1800s, people thought that disease was caused by the wrath of some vengeful god, or a curse from an evil foe. Not only that, but they believed that the people who contracted these diseases were possessed of some demon. They turned into vampires or werewolves. You can reach me on the website at www.causeofdeath100secs.net or you can email me at Jackie@causeofdeath100secs.net. My Link Tree can be found at: https://linktr.ee/CauseofDeathpod Show Notes for Demons and Disease: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/AJPH.11.10.908 https://www.getty.edu/news/meet-the-mesopotamian-demons/ https://www.academia.edu/34656971/Demons_and_Illness_from_Antiquity_to_the_Early_Modern_Period https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/belief-in-evil-spirits-evolved-as-way-to-control-disease-outbreaks-study-1.4665164?cache= https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350895109_Demons_and_Disease https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1525/9780520928770-007/pdf https://www.history.com/news/how-infectious-diseases-spread-myth-superstition-theories https://greekreporter.com/2021/02/21/apollo-vs-agamemnon-the-plague-in-ancient-greece-was-divine-wrath/ https://www.history.com/news/mysterious-illnesses-mass-hysteria https://www.harvestbiblechurch.net/content.cfm?page_content=blogs_include.cfm&friendly_name=leprosy-a-picture-of-sin https://www.britannica.com/science/history-of-medicine/Japan https://dc.cod.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1657&context=essai https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000068634 https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1507&context=jams https://owlcation.com/humanities/plague-gods-demons https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1999/07/12/the-demon-in-the-freezer https://www.passporthealthusa.com/2018/03/japans-history-with-the-smallpox-demon/ https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/belief-in-evil-spirits-evolved-as-way-to-control-disease-outbreaks-study-1.4665164?cache= My undying thanks to all who participated in this episode: DJ from Mythical True Crime (my partner who has to deal with vampires) CJ from Beyond the Rainbow (my fellow scholar who has to deal with the King) Courtney from A Nefarious Nightmare (my mom who convinces me that my husband is a schmuck) Jessica from Diving into Unsolved History (the nurse at my doctor’s office who tries to schedule a “procedure”) My dear friend, Claire, who always bails me out (my friend who is so calm about werewolves) And a special appearance by Chris Chacon of the Voice of Choice (the Pale Rider) Darkcast Network – Promo by Yours Truly Podcast Promos: Wicked Week Diving Into Unsolved History Technically a Conversation Music: Time Off by Damma Beatz Let Me Melt in Your Arms by Nocturnal Spirits You can reach me on: Instagram: @CauseofDeathpod FB: @COD100Secs Twitter: @CauseofDeath10 TikTok: @causeofdeath100secs Please don’t forget to rate and review on any of the platforms found here: www.causeofdeath100secs.net You can support Cause of Death here: Subscribe on Apple Subscriptions Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/JackieMoranty Ko-Fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/causeofdeathluckycharmsunplugg Merch can be found at: https://www.teepublic.com/user/causeofdeathluckycharmsunplugged Please share this podcast with everyone you know. Cause of Death is a proud member of the Darkcast Network. Find us at @darkcastnetwork on Twitter and @DarkcastNetwork on Facebook. I am also a proud member of the Ossa Collective Network. Cause of Death can be found on all major podcast platforms. Tags: #CauseofDeath100secs #CauseofDeath #100SecondstoMidnight #demonsanddisease #superstition #culturalbeliefs @MythicalTruCrime @rainbowcrimes @anefariouspod