After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal — Episode Summary

Episode Title: Black Death: 5 Strangest Cures
Release Date: March 24, 2025
Hosts: Anthony Delaney and Maddy Pelling
Knowledge Cutoff: October 2023

Introduction

In this intriguing episode of After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal, historians Anthony Delaney and Maddy Pelling delve into the shadowed past of the Black Death, unraveling some of the most bizarre and desperate attempts humanity made to combat one of history's deadliest pandemics. Through a countdown format, the hosts explore five of the strangest cures used during the 14th century, blending historical insights with their characteristic humor and candid interactions.

Setting the Scene: The Black Death

The episode opens with vivid descriptions of the devastation wrought by the Black Death in 1348, painting a grim picture of a city ravaged by the unseen pestilence. Anthony narrates the harrowing conditions, emphasizing the widespread fear and isolation experienced by the afflicted:

Anthony Delaney [00:27]: “Bodies lie where they fall, some abandoned in doorways. The stench of death, of sickness and pungent medicines pollutes the whole of the atmosphere.”

This dramatic introduction sets the tone for a deep dive into how people in the 14th century attempted to understand and combat the plague.

Countdown of the 5 Strangest Black Death Cures

Number 5: Fighting the Miasma

Timestamp: [15:37]

The first cure on the list involves combating the "miasma theory," the belief that diseases were caused by corrupted air. To purify their environment, people burned various substances:

Anthony Delaney: “Wormwood was popular, which is, by the way, a key ingredient in absinthe today.”

They also used strong-scented fabrics soaked in vinegar to cover their mouths, an early form of respiratory protection.

Number 4: Flagellation

Timestamp: [29:10]

Flagellation was a widespread religious and social practice where individuals would whip themselves to atone for humanity's sins, hoping to appease divine wrath and halt the plague's advance.

Maddy Pelling: “It's a way to rid that village's sins in order that the sicknesses are going away.”

The hosts discuss the paradox of such self-harm during a time when people were desperate for relief, highlighting the misguided attempts to find solace and cure through extreme measures.

Number 3: Medieval Medicine (Theriac)

Timestamp: [31:00]

Medieval medicine categorized remedies into purgatives, cordials, and antidotes. The most notorious was theriac, a compound with up to 80 ingredients, including snake venom and opium.

Maddy Pelling: “If you ingest them... it's going to have some kind of a reaction or symptoms, right?”

While some ingredients like opium provided pain relief, the overall concoction was largely ineffective and often dangerous, acting more as a placebo than a cure.

Number 2: Use of a Live Chicken's Arse

Timestamp: [40:15]

Perhaps the most bizarre cure involved applying a live chicken's posterior to the afflicted bubo (swollen lymph node). Documented by a 1348 Catalan author, this method was believed to draw out the "poison" from the buboes.

Anthony Delaney: “It's like a reverse egg. So the first account we have of using this method is from 1348, from a Catalan author.”

The hosts express repulsion and disbelief at this practice, underscoring the lengths to which people would go in their fight against the plague.

Number 1: Human Feces

Timestamp: [43:57]

Topping the list is the most horrifying of all cures: the application of human excrement. Dr. Gentile da Foligno, a renowned Italian physician, reportedly used a mixture of herbs and his own feces to treat plague sufferers.

Maddy Pelling: “You're covered in your own poo as well...”

This grotesque remedy highlights the desperation and lack of understanding during the pandemic, leading to further complications and infections.

Busting Myths: The Plague Doctor Mask

Timestamp: [23:13] – [26:15]

The episode transitions to debunking the popular image of the plague doctor. Contrary to common belief, the iconic beaked mask did not originate in the 14th century but emerged in the 17th century. The hosts examine a 1656 depiction of a plague doctor, revealing the anachronism.

Maddy Pelling: “They have got what look to me be a bird-like mask with a big beak that protrudes from under the brim of the hat.”

Anthony confirms the myth, clarifying that while doctors did use aromatic substances to ward off the plague, the stylized mask is a later invention.

Anthony Delaney [25:22]: “There is no evidence for these masks having existed during the 14th century.”

Humorous Interludes and ASMR Segment

Interspersed with serious historical discussion, Anthony and Maddy inject humor into the episode. This includes light-hearted banter about feeling sick from describing gruesome cures and an ASMR segment where Maddy sprays a modern vinegar concoction to mimic medieval remedies, eliciting comical reactions from both hosts.

Anthony Delaney [17:30]: “I'm gonna have to go check in just a second.”

Maddy Pelling [19:26]: “I'm genuinely crying. As one might expect, it is vinegary.”

These moments provide levity amidst the dark subject matter, engaging listeners with the hosts' chemistry and playful interactions.

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with Anthony and Maddy reflecting on the absurdity and desperation of medieval plague cures. They emphasize the importance of understanding historical context to appreciate how far medical science has come.

Maddy Pelling: “We are here to try these things so that you don't have to.”

Anthony Delaney: “So you don't have to.”

Their final remarks serve as a humorous yet poignant reminder of the evolution of medical knowledge and the dire measures humans have taken in the face of pandemics.

Notable Quotes

• Anthony Delaney [07:09]: “The humoral theory...blood, phlegm, black bile.”

• Maddy Pelling [15:26]: “Maddy Pelling, A Life of Cold and Dry.”

• Anthony Delaney [16:41]: “Sperm whale vomit... made me feel sick again.”

• Maddy Pelling [37:55]: “If you were in the medieval period, do you know what? They seem sensible.”

• Anthony Delaney [43:57]: “You're covered in your own poo as well.”

Final Thoughts

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal successfully blends historical scholarship with engaging storytelling and humor. By exploring the most peculiar and ineffective Black Death cures, Anthony and Maddy shed light on the human condition during one of history's darkest periods, offering listeners both education and entertainment.

For more episodes exploring the shadiest corners of history, visit History Hit and subscribe for early access and ad-free listening.