Just spitballing, but I would imagine that even doctors of the time, knowing that the plague is a thing that spreads, might select an easily identifiable symptom to try and collect samples from those places to spread. If they had known about how germ theory works they would have understood why the process described in OP would have killed the bacteria they were trying to spread. Though IIRC they did have some very rudimentary understanding of epidemiology, at least in that there were contagious illnesses that were spread through contact with an ill person.
Germ theory of disease, Wikipedia:
"Basic forms of germ theory were proposed by Girolamo Fracastoro in 1546, and expanded upon by Marcus von Plenciz in 1762. However, such views were held in disdain in Europe, where Galen's miasma theory remained dominant among scientists and doctors. "
On that page, check out the "development" section, covers what I was talking about with the rudimentary understanding of contagious illnesses. Keyword rudimentary.
Just spitballing, but I would imagine that even doctors of the time, knowing that the plague is a thing that spreads, might select an easily identifiable symptom to try and collect samples from those places to spread. If they had known about how germ theory works they would have understood why the process described in OP would have killed the bacteria they were trying to spread. Though IIRC they did have some very rudimentary understanding of epidemiology, at least in that there were contagious illnesses that were spread through contact with an ill person.
Germ theory of disease, Wikipedia: "Basic forms of germ theory were proposed by Girolamo Fracastoro in 1546, and expanded upon by Marcus von Plenciz in 1762. However, such views were held in disdain in Europe, where Galen's miasma theory remained dominant among scientists and doctors. "
On that page, check out the "development" section, covers what I was talking about with the rudimentary understanding of contagious illnesses. Keyword rudimentary.