The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-01-09
sickness atthe We st.

Sic kness at the west.
The past season in The Western Country
in that portion lying N. w. OF the Ohio River
more OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES been one of severe
trial to the Inhabitants. Sickness has prevail
ed to great eXtent-even worse than las
yeur--and the crops, in many places, have
rotted on the ground for want of well men &c
gather them. In the Home Missionary fol-
January, we find reports from the Missiona-
ries west, from which we take the following
extracts:
From Missionary in Ohio.
have but little else to say except "our
leanness, our leanness." The autumnal fe-
vers commenced early, and sections hitherto
healthy have been visited alike with the gen
eral malady. Chis-and fever has been the
most prevalent form of disease. # has not
been very fatal, but very obstinate-relapses
from the slightest causes to the third, fourth
and fifth time, being very frequent Thus,
general debility of both mind and body is
produced; and the effect upon religious effort
is palsying and discouragiug. Our congre-
cations are small, our Sabbath schools almost
broken up, while more private means ofgrace
equally suffer; and what is most to be depor-
ed, the judgments ofGod do not seem TO lead
the people TO learn righteousness We, how
ever, hope that some feel that it is time to u
wake out ofsleep, and to Gull upon God, that
we perish not.
From a Missionary in Wisconsin.
The third quarter ofmy missionary year
expired on the first day of October last, but
sickness has prevented an earlier report. We
bny hnI frnp IN 81. in q, Iu
for more than two months past. have been
attacked four times, and my wife has been
attacked the same number of times with the
bilious renting fever, or ague and fever.
These nre the diseases that are so prevalent
in the West this year. III exert myselfa lit
tie the ngue returns. Only three ofour sew
en- children have escaped sickness this fall,
and not one that has been sick can yet he call
ed we'll
The same diseases have prevailed in all the
region. | know Of no families who have
been free from sickness, except few who
occupy high, dry prairie locations. Others,
however, similarly located, have been sick.
STILL few deaths have occurred in our town,
and most Of those who have died maniiestly
lost their lives by neglecting TO employ ply
iscinn till it was too late. The disease in
llrs region has generally been ola compare
lively mild character. In some cases, how
ever, both the ague and RENTING fever chang
ed to the continued, orcommun bilious fever,
aud in some Instances it became typhoid ia
its character.
Through the mercy of God our family are
all spared, and none of the members ofour
church have been called to mourn the
loss Of near friends. Sickness has been so IL
UNIVERSAL that many suffered for want ofatten-
ton. | attended the funeral ofthe mother of
eight children. The eldest daughter girl
sixteen years old, lay in the room senseless,
and died the next day, and neither the hus-
band nor any ofthe children except the eldest
son, were able 10 go quarter ofa mile to the
grave. Several in this region have been bur-
led without II prayer, because no minister or
suitable person could he obtained 10 discharge
the duty, and in some cases scarcely enough
attended the burial to inter the dead in a chris
laR manner.
From another.
My own poor health the past season, the
sickness ofmy family, (my wife now lies sick
of bilious fever,) and the numerous duties
pressing upon me, has left me neither time
nor strength TO write. Since the settlement of
this region ofcountry no season has been as
Sickly as the present. 1t has been universal,
scarcely any portion of the country has es-
capped. Some whole settlements have been
almost entirely Frustrated, so that it was i'm
possible 10 procure attendants for the sick and
dying. Whole families have been found ~
ing sick unattended. A female member of
my church who had removed with her hus-
band about year since, about twenty miles
distant, has been called to pass through most
Distressing trials and sufferings. Their dwell
ling was some two or three miles from neigh
ha. Il
! ly after the wife was taken with the fever.
She continued, however, to attend upon the
husband, administering TO his necessities as
long us she was uhle TO leave her bed. At
length she was Frustrated upon the same bed
with her sick and dying husband, unaLle to
administer comfort or consolation, and mnat-
tended. During the night her husband died
Here she remained in this condition until
some time the next day, when neighbor
came to her relief, removed the dead body
of her husband and provided for her necessi-
ties. Others have lain several days at time
without attendance. -Four aid five from
family, ia some instances, have been carried
to the the grave in a few days. Prairie du
Chem has probably suffered more severely
than any other place in Wisconsin. Scarce
y family has escaped the ravages ofdisease
and death.
From a Missionary.
Scarcely family within the bounds of
my congregation could be found in which
there was no sickness, and some entire fam
lies have been PROSTATE at the same time.
There must have been very much suffering
in consequence of Il lack of attendants. One
case will mention. A family came from
New York last sprug, and settled about four
miles from the village. Near two months
since was called to attend the funeral ofthe
wife and mother--il was Sunday. Having
arrived at the house, found the corpse of
the departed in one corner Of the room. The
husband helpless on sick bed in another