Pesthouse

A pesthouse was a specialized medical facility used primarily during times of infectious disease outbreaks, such as plague or smallpox. Its main purpose was to isolate and care for infected individuals away from the general population to prevent the spread of illness. Often located outside city limits, pesthouses provided quarantine and treatment, helping control contagious diseases before modern medicine and sanitation practices. The term reflects the historical approach to managing infectious diseases through segregation and dedicated care facilities.