In Florence and the rest of its territories, hospitals were
immediately set up to allow for the isolation of patients during
the epidemic of 1630. The city’s two hospitals were San
Francesco and San Miniato. In addition to a lack of hygiene, the
hospitals also had dire shortages of food, water and clothing.
The few clothes that were available were often burned to avoid
spreading infection. Yet, those who were admitted to these
special hospitals could consider themselves lucky. The disease
was not immediately conquered, yet, those who were treated in
these facilities often had a better chance of surviving then
those who were not admitted. Donato Bisogni, who managed the two
Florentine structures, sent a note to the Health Minister
confirming the number of deaths that took place up until
December 20, 1630. He recorded the presence of 2,503 men and
3,383 women which made a total of 5,860 patients. Of these—2,886
had died, while 2,220 were in convalescence. The rest had been
discharged. Florentine hospitals respo