Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-08-08
Nj | S C e l. l. A N Y.
Plague Scenes at Copst.sntInopie

After waiting little while in large, dirty ante
room, during which time there a scullling and
running up and down of priests and Deacons, who
were surprised and perhaps little alarmed at visit
from so numerous a company OF gentlemen belong
ing to the British embassy, we Were introduced into
a large square room furnished with dvan under
the windows and down two sides of The chamber
This dlvan was covered with rough sacking of
grey goats har-a stuff which is said not to be
susceptible of the plague; and people sitting on it,
or on the bare boards are not considered to be- COM
prOmiSed'-a word Oflearful import when that aw-
ful pestilence is raging in this neglected city,
When any person is compromised, he is obliged to
separate from all society, and to place himself in
strict quarantine for forty days, at the end of which
period, if the fright and anxiety have not brought
on the plague, he is received again by his acquant-
ances. Dealers in oil, and persons who have an
open issue ON their bodies, considered secure
from the plague as far they themselves are con-
cerned but as their clothes will convey The infec-
ton, they as dangerous others to their neigh
bors,
There was an old Armenian, who, whether he
considered himself invunerable, or whether power
ty and misfortune made him reckless, do not know
but he Sc, up as plague doctor, and visited and
touched those who stricken with pestilence
Whenever he came down the street every one would
start aside and give him three or four yards space
at least. Sometimes he had men who walked be-
fore him and cried to the people to get out of the
way. As the old man moved on, in his long, dark
robes, stunned with such horror by all the mind
was awfully impressed with the fearful nature of
the disease for if The Prince of Darkness himself
had made his appearance in the face of day. no one
could have shown greater alarm at his approach
than they did when the men cried out that the Ar
menian plague doctor was coming down the street.
One popularity of the disease is the Discrimination
which is always shown by those who are plagne-
stricken to confess that they so, TO own
that they ill. They invariably conceal il as long
as possible; and even when burning with fever and
in agony of pain, they will pretend that they are
well, and try to walk about But this attempt at
deception continues for very short PERIOD for they
soon become either delirouS insensble, and gen
erably are unable TO move. There is a look about
the eye and expression of anxiety and horror in
the face of one who has got the plague, which is
not to be mistaken or forgotten by thUse who have
once seen them. One day at Galata, nearly ran
against who sitting the ground on
! hand bier, upon which some Turks were about 10
carry him away and the look Of the unfortunate
mans face haunted me for days. The expression
| Of hopeless despair and agony indeed but toe
applicable to his case they were carrying him Il
the plague hospital, from whence never heard o.
| any one returning. II would have been far more
| merciful to have shot him at once.
There are many curious superstitions aud cir
cumstances connected with the plague. One is
that when the destroying angel enters into houst
howl before the door and the Greeks firmly beliey
that the dogs can the evil spirit of the plague
although it is invisible TO human eyes Some PEG
pie, however, said to have seen the plague, il
appearance being that Of an old woman, tall thin
and ghasty, and dressed sometimes in black, some
times in white she stalks along the streets-glide
through the doors of the habitaons of the condemn
ed-and walks once round the door of her victim
, who is from that moment death smiten II is ais
asserted that, when three small spots make the
appearance upon the knee, the patient is doomed
he has got the plague, and his fate is sealed. The
are called the pllOts--the pilots and harbipgers
death. Some, however, have recovered after hes
spots have shown themselves.
had at this time lodging in house at PER-
which occupied when any thing brought me
= Cotistantinope from Therapia On one occasion
was sitting with gentleman whose filial piety d
him much honor, for he had attended his fah
through the horrors of this Illness aud lie had dl,