The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-11-09


From the Richmond Dispatch.
Curious Facts Connected with the N0r-
folk PeStiience.
There are some curious facts connected with
the progress OF the late terrible visitation at
Norfolk and Portsmouth, which seem 10 confirm
the theory OF DR.. Mott that this fever is of a
travelling character and moves from South to
North 1t commenced in Rio Janeiro reached
New Orleans in 1853, where its Iavages were
terrible in 1884 it scourgpd Savannah: it
reached Portsmouth in 1855. Tn all previous
ylsaions OF yellow fever, Norfolk was first al
tackled, and from thence the disease was trans
mitted TO Portsmouth, which lies south of Nor
folk, and It's whole march from the beginning
was northward. It's progress through the whole
period was always greater in north and north
easterly direction, than west and northwest
Thus it crossed the water TO Norfolk, mile
distant from Portsmouth, whilst it did not reach
the L. S. Naval Hospital, which lies nearly
west of Norfolk and northwest Of Portsmouth.
for two months. When it did appear there,
there We're very few cases, and those generally
manageable. Old Point is in the due north line
OF It's track, and it will BE- remembered that
late period ofthe season there were one or two
this theory be true, that Richmond lies nearly
due west from Norfolk, and that We are conse-
quently not in the track Of the ppstiepce
very intelligent gentleman, who adopts the
idea that the plague is caused by animalcuIe,
mentions statement which he has heard, that
soon after the interment of corpse iu vault
adjoining church, IN England, the communion
was administered IN the church, and nearly all
a. EaL..
and some died, The wine merchant from
whom the vine had been procured was arrested
on charge Of poisoning. While the subject
was IN agitation. some persons, on entering the
church, saw by the rays Of the sun, streaming
through partly opened window shutter, mill
ions OF anlmaicuR floating about in the light.
These anmalcuIR seemed 10 have an affinity for
fluids, especially for wine, some of which was
placed in the church, and ii was soon filled with
animalculR, and upon a test being applied, the
wine was iound TO br poisoned The animal
cule We're afterwards proved to have emanated
from the above ground vault where the dead
body bad recently been buried.
Our informant also refers TO the curious ap-
pearance OF The plague fly. II is fact, estab-
iIshed beyond contradicting, that after the
plague had eliminated at Portsmouth, the Gu
rioas fly appeared. Il was between the size OF
lnousqueto and ordinary fly, and changed It's
color from red to yellow. Where did the
plague-hies come from They seem TO have
escaped the observation Of natural historians
Our friend suggests they may be the animalculR,
generated by the dead bodies, in a certain stage
OF their being.
In this connection, singular fact is stated
by an eminent Judge of this State, who seems
TO sustain the theory of DR., Mott and of our
Portsmouth friend. 1t is that the great pest 10
the agricEltuust, the Joint Worm, travels from
south to north, always in certain line, and
never exceeding certain breadth. So uniform
are lis movements that if be only knows when
II has reached the North Carolina line, or any
given point whatever, south OF his residence, he
can estimate with considerable exactness the
time when it shall reach bis own plantation.
We are not prepared to advocate any partic-
uar theory on the subject, but the facts stated
seem to US worthy of the consideration Of men
of science.
An UNFORTUNATE HABlT.-Some persons
are in the habit of dwelling upon and greatly
magniying every little injury they receive at
the hands OF others. They thus render them
selves very disagIeeable to those into whose
Vdis my dlV IoHtthudii1 pouring AhVlt IOih-
plants and at the same time greatly injure
themselves in the estimation OF such, whilst
they are contributing very much TO their own
personal misery. How much better would it be
were such persons to bury their little troubles,
or at least TO keep them entirely out of sight
1t is 10 be presumed that they do not sufficiently
reflect upon the true nature of their conduct,
else they would certainly be more careful to
avoid it than they are. Jameson forcibly ex-
poses the great folly Of such conduct by the
following Illustration.
ga man strikes NE with a sword and inhlcts
wound. Suppose, instead of binding uPtht
wound, | am showing il to everybody, and
after it baS been bound up am taking off the
bandage continually and examining the depth
OF the wound, and make it Tester till my lint
becomes greatly inhamed and my general health
is materially affected is there person in The
world who would not cali me fool Now
such a fool is he who, by dwelling upon ut
tie injuries, or insults, or pFovocations, causes
them TO agitate or inname his mind. How
much better were it 10 put bandage over th'
wound and never look al il again.-.G. X. Mess