The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-09-20
THE PLAGUE.

ted That this mighty reaper gatherec III MS
''harvest home" twenty-five millions ofpeo.
pie one fourth'of the then population of Eu-
rope. The disease first appeared in the king
dom of Calhay to the norlh OF China in the
year 1893. In 1894 it visited France and
England, aud subsequently Scotland, Nor
way, Russia and Poland. II dashed in a.
mong the Poles with wolfsh appetite and
seemed disposed TO anticipate the Russians
in making morse of its nationality. Three
fourhs of the entire population were de-
voured by the hurgy monstss. or the Rus
SLAMS and Norwegians two-thirds were de-
siroyed. The disease is described by Hecker
as specie Of Oriental plague, exhibiting it.
self in infamn, atory boils and lumors of the
glands, accompanied with burning thirst /;
sometimes, also, with inflammation Of the
lungs an expectoralion of blood in other
cases with vomitings of blood and fuxes OF
the bowels, terminating like malignant chol-
era, with discoloration of The skin, and
black spots indicating putrid decomposition,
from which il was called in the north of
Europe, the Black Death.' The attacks were
usually fatal within two or three days Of the
first symptoms appearing, but in many cases
were even more sudden, some fall as if struck
by lightning In some countries, dogs, cats,
fowls, and other animals were affected by
the disease and died in great numbers. In
England it was followed by fatal munain
among cattle, occasioning great advance
in the price of food.
Upon The heels of this black night of Nor
tality, there came polking into Europe the
Dancing Mania or Tarantism, as 1t was call
ed in Italy, where it was attributed 10 the
bite Of the ground spider--the tarantula.--
The disease, it is said, showing itself in vic.
lent involuntary movements in the muscles
of The legs, the physicians of the times con-
cieved the idea that if the patients were en-
couraged TO dance until they fell exhausted,
reaction would commence and cure re-
suit This singular prescription was SO much
relied on, that music was every where pro-
vded, and airs composed 10 harmonise with
the peculariles of The dance; but these pub
lie exhibitions seem to have had the effect
of propagaing the epidemic.
In a short time-naturally enough, 10 be
sure-al Germany was in motion. The ma
tion en- masse took to dancing until the faith.
erland became a vast bali room, and the
anti-chamber TO the "valley of deaih."-
There circles were formed in The churches,
public buildings and in the streets. Joined
hand in hand and appearing 10 have lost all
control over themselves, they continued
dancing regardless of the by.standers, for
hours together in wild delirum until they
fell TO the ground exhausted The dancing
mania, however appeared 10 run lis course
more readily in Germany than in other
places. 1t prevailed in Italy as late as the
seventeenth century.
We have historical accounts of two other
singular epidemics, the biting mania and the
mewing mania, the former begun, it is said,
with nun, in German nunnery: who show
ed a great propensity to bite her companions,
which spread 10 many other nunner.es. The
mewlng mania was also nunnery disease
the victims of this disease would spend sew
eral hours of the day in Initiating the new
ing of cat. Both of these epdemics occur
red in The fifteenth century, when nervous
diseases appear to have been unusually prev
alent in Europe.
The "sweating sickness" another terrible
epidemic, made its appearance in England
in l54l; it produced fatality nearly as great
as that of the Black Death. The disease de-
vaslated England five times within six years,
and then entirely disappeared. The disease
was violent inhamatory fever, that suffused
the whole body with a fplid prespiration.-
lis attacks was followed Immediately by
complete prostr alton, anil arriving al crisis
in a few hours. 1t seldom spared it's victims
scarcely one in hundred escaped with
life. 1t was remarkable, that robust and Wig
orous men were generally singled out as the
favorile target for the arrows of this deadly
archer, whilst children and the aged almos
universally escaped.
Plaques have existed in nearly all ages
and can hardly be said 10 be extincl--ever
at this day. The great plague OF London in
| 1865, carried off nearly 5000 inhabitants o.
that city 1t commenced with shigering
nausea and headache, followed by total pros
,raton or delirium, and sometimes psrox
ysms of frenzy. Ifthe patient survived tbess
TILL the third day, buboes commonly appear
ed, aud when these could be made 10 suppu
rate, there was hope Of recovery. The plague
of the guls,' which, is mentioned in able o
London casualties of 1859 and 1860, ano
which proved awfully fatal ia 1910 and l6ss
is supposed 10 have been the cholera in 1T
malignant form. The minute description
given of this disease by DR.. Hecker, identif,
il with the epidemic cholera of this period
and seem to explode The theory that before
the year 1917, the cholera was altosethe
unknown either in India or Europe.