This is the first detailed and systematic presentation in Russian of the history of a mysterious natural phenomenon, called “plague” since ancient times. The book contains many everyday and historical details that accompanied the plague epidemics, and by including official documents and illustrative material, the authors tried to create for the reader some effect of presence both in the epidemics themselves and in the disputes that were then going on between scientists. The publication is intended for a wide circle readers and especially high school students, medical students and young researchers who have not yet determined the scope of their scientific interests. It will also be useful for infectious disease doctors, epidemiologists, scientists, Emergency Situations Ministry specialists and health care managers whose tasks include countering epidemic diseases and acts of bioterrorism. The first book covers events that occurred before the discovery of the plague causative agent in 1894.