Making Plague Victims | National Geographic

TL;DR

Discover the symptoms of the plague and Nostradamus' legendary remedies in this analysis of historical texts and modern recreations.

Transcript

looks promising so the extras get to work digging the plague pit while Colin uses his green cloth to cover up the Old Hen House this will be digitally replaced later with an entire French Village to create realistic movement the boys use some old Hessian and a wind machine but what about our plague victims what should they look like Professor Cohen... Read More

Key Insights

• 😷 A 1576 medical textbook provided detailed descriptions of plague symptoms and signs, including painful swollen lymph nodes and Morley bumps that covered the body.
• 😚 Nostradamus' personal tragedy of losing his family to the plague fueled his dedication to fighting the disease.
• 🌹 Nostradamus used local herbs and flowers, such as in his rose pill, as preventative measures against the plague.
• 😒 Nostradamus became renowned for his use of local remedies and for not contracting the disease during his journeys.
• ❓ Modern experts find Nostradamus' remedies interesting from a historical perspective but do not consider him a major physician.
• 😤 The production team successfully recreated a convincing plague scene with digitally created elements and realistic makeup for the "plague victims."
• 😤 The team also utilized small fires to simulate the burning of contaminated goods.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Nostradamus respond to the death of his family due to the plague?

Nostradamus became a shaman-like figure, wandering France and treating plague victims in an attempt to heal and prevent the disease. This personal tragedy shaped his dedication to fighting the plague.

Q: How did Nostradamus create his remedies?

Nostradamus used local herbs and flowers to create his remedies, including the famous rose pill. The rose pill contained clove, a strong antiseptic oil, and orris, a perfume fixative, which he and others held in their mouths as a preventative measure against the plague.

Q: Did Nostradamus find a cure for the plague?

No, although people in the Middle Ages had faith in him as a Healer, 21st-century experts find his remedies interesting but do not consider him a major physician. However, his efforts and remedies were significant during that time.

Q: How did the production team create a convincing plague scene?

The team used green boards for the "plague victims" to easily cut them out and layer them into the digitally created pit. They also built a 16th-century French Village in 3D and added depth with a superimposed green cloth. Small fires were used to simulate the burning of contaminated goods.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The makeup artist and Neil work together to create realistic "plague victims" based on a 1576 medical textbook's description of symptoms.

• Nostradamus, a plague doctor, lost his family to the disease, ultimately leading to his crusade against it.

• Nostradamus used local herbs and flowers, including his famous rose pill, as a preventative measure against the plague.