The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-08-09

1--WE copy the following from the Congrega
tIouai journal, to which paper it was communica.
ted by Ira Goodall Esq Several cases of the same
disease have occurred in neghborngiy towns north
OF us and It has proved exceeding fatal in parts Of
this state during the past winter and spring at Bur
lington and Mddlebury, especially:
UNUSUAL SICKNESS 81 MORTALITY AT
BATH
We have Too ked New England as the land
ct health and Of freedom from raging epidemics
and have supposed when Thought of the West
and South, that although nature had pourad out
her richer blessings there in great profilsiou. .
when we considered her native fertility nut
poisoned chaiioe in her cup, have loved New
England, and chung 10 her fond mother and
looked on her rough surface, her frownng hills
and mountaI rs, her broken plains, her changing
climate, and even her niPpng sum mer frosts, with
something like affection, because considered il
the land of health, of law, of order, and OF quiet
life.
But during the five months past we have been
thaught IN large sections of her beloved land that
fatal maadIes may rise and sweep through our vii
lagos and over our farms, and bring sickness and
death into our families; that eur CO i'd climate our
rapid streams, usually pur e atmosphere, NAV
be loaded with miasma and pestience.
The valley OF Amonoosuc river and the slopes
forming its basis, have and still are visited by an
epidemic called putrud throat attended with
high inflammation aud foyer, and often ending IN
erysiPelas and death. No age nor condition of life
has been spared; old and young, rich and poor,
strong and feeble, temperate and incorporate have
fallen victims by hundreds to its fierce attacks.
Some have fingered for weeks, until the powers
of life were shaken from the CITADEL: some dropped
at a stroke: some have complained day or two,
and sunk into their last sleep: and soma have par
TALLY recovered, but left feeble: others have risen
from It more robust than ever. 1t has been most
fatal 10 mothers just after being confined-ts usual
course is TO attack the glands, swell and inhame
the throat, and produce assesses stranguIaIion.
But IN the case of young mothers the seat of Ita
power was in the abdomen. The tendency of all
diseases has been Infiame and ulcerate, and run
the life out IN putrd collection of natter even
injuries take that type, and erysipelas In and
often strikes to the head, producing arrangements
and death.
To show the dreadful nature of this viruient
epidemic, will instance Bath, town of small
territory, usually healthy, and for 80 years
past free of all raging, mortal epidemics; contain
ing about 1000 Inhabitants of all those years. and
its average mner of deaths has been from 10 to
20 yearly. In less than five months past we have
lost 80 or SO of our Inhabitants. The first death
shining victim; Mrs. Johnson wife of our
Councillor, OF our amiable and beloved
neighbours was rising from her confinement as all
supposed 10 her usual health when erysipeias
seized its victim, and the young fond mother, the
endeared wife in two days lay shrouded in her cot
fn-o Their followed in quick succession, until il
seemed almost faai to become a mother. 1t spread
over the town, except the west side soping the
Connecticut, which has comparatively escaped
Almost the whole town, except he mountain ridge
dividing the waters flowing into the rivers Cons
nectiCut and Amouoosuc, is cultivated; and as we
rise from the valley of the Amonoosuc, and gain
the summit of some of the highest swells, the eye
rests lovely scene-the neat farms spreading
over the hills the white farm houses, the spacious
fields and lawns, the well-trimmed orchards, and
the deep valleys and winding rivers flowing
through the verdant meadows Jail look like the abode
of health, and life and beauty. But hera the cpl
demic has swept its fatal it has entered all
our houses, and many are borne away to the last
resting place of mortals here below. We have
lost 10 or 20 mothers, fathers, 81 % children;
two young persons unmarried, aud one bachelor
advanced in life.
Had the mortality attended the people of
the city of New York, and the same proportion of
THEN population laid dead have laid un.
buried in our houses at once, it would have been
100 corpses moment iu the city, and
their deaths for five months would have been over
$4,000. The city would have been considered
doomed universal death. The inhabitants
would have fed from its poisonous miasma and
sought refuge where they could. But we look
over our smiling fields, and the flowers bloom
round us-spe look verdant Trans and busy
villages and the breath of heaven seems blowing
over us and call it all chance--the mere rolling
e I.c- IL.
blanks than usual.
Some of worthy and active heads of
famiIies are torn suddenly away by this relentless
destroyer, and many of our houses desolate,
Here the mother is missng-her place is empty,
and her little children weep that they can see her
no There the strong man. the once happy
father, is gone to his long home, and in anoth
er the blooming child is mssug,its pratte is heard
no family has lost the mothori and three
out of five children, and the broken hearted father
is bending over the sick bed of one of the two