Dysentery is an infectious disease of the intestines. The germs are spread by contaminated food and water supplies. Symptoms are diarrhoea, fever and pains in the stomach. The disease is common when sanitary conditions are bad and when the weather is warm. An outbreak of dysentery in 1473 between 15 and 20 per cent of the population of those towns and villages that were hit by disease. Dysentery can now be successfully treated with antibiotics.