Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-11-13
Epidemics,


One unvarying character of epidemies is
that they are all fevers. The Black Death of
the fourteenth century, an aggravated form of
the Oriental or BubO plague, was fever, de-
irving its name from effusions of black blood
forming spots on the arms, face, and neck
The Oriental plague, still in existence in Egypt
and eastern Europe, and the sweating sickness
of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, were
both feyerS aud even the cholera of the pre-
sent day, in the last or perfect stages of its
developments, is fever. All the ordinary
epidemcs such as typhus, scarlet fever, mea-
les, and smallpox, are recognized fever.
EpidemicS are generally preceded by 2 signs
One is the Influenza The plague cholera &c
have all been heraded 10y this disease. The
first attack of cholera in England was prece-
ded by an outbreak of influenza, which rcsem-
bled in the minutest particular that which nsh-
cred in the mortal sweating sickness Of 1915 :;
and the cholera of lS4S was preceded by the
influenza of lS47.
Epidemics are periodical. The first appear
ance of the sweating sickness was in 1856
1t spread over England for year. then dis
appeared After lapse Of twenty years it
broke out again, went over all its former haunts,
and after six months died away In eleven
years it came again, and again died away in
six months A fourth time it returned after
sleep of eleven years, continued six months,
then disappeared It's fifth and last visitation
was after period of twenty-three years. 1t
raged-as it had ragged before-in six months,
as usual, disappeared and since then, this
1851, it has never been known in any country
whatsoever The oriental plague breaks out
in the East every ten years ; the fever epdem-
les Of London occur every ten or twelve years;
the Irish typhus cpdemics have been decennial
visitations for the last numbered and fifty years.
Epidemic cholera remained with us fifteen
months, On its first visitation. After sixteen
years it broke out again, for exactly fifteen
months as before Again--ths time after an
absence of only five years-it came for seven
teen months coming earlier and leaving ear
er than it had done before According to
this rule we may expect it again, after even a
shorter absence.
Epdemics are rapid in their effects Death
generally occurs after few hours seldom, if
the disease can be protracted. The great OBJ
ject of all modern treatment of cholera, for in
stance is to gain time for if the disease does
not kill at once, the patient will oftener recO
yer than die after a prolonged attack. 1t is
tue SiOCh; ldlACi liHu tiic tAllduotOu W biCL
destroys.
Lastly, epidemics are alike in cause Over
CrOwding, filth, eXhaatiouS from foul sewers,
rivers bitches, canals, etc, putreScent animal
or vegetable matter, impure drinking water,
unwholeSome meat decaycd vegetables, uGsound
grain-theSe are some of the prediSpoSing per
Sonal causes of epidemcs, which make all those
living under such conditions more likely to be
attacked than those in healthier circumstances
But of all prediSpo>ing causes foul air ranks as
chief The condensed air of a crowded room
gives deposit which if allowed to remain for
a few days, forms solid, thick, glutenous mass,
having a strong odor Of animal matter. If eX-
amined by the microscope it seems TO undergo
remarkable change First of all, it is con
yerted into Il vegetable growth and this is fol-
lowed by the production of multtudeS of ami
macul;e-a decisive proof that it must contain
organic matter, otherwise it could not noursh
organic beings This was the result arrived
at by Dr. Angus Smith, in his beautiful eX-
pcriments Oh the air and water of towns, where
in he showed that the lungs and skin gave ont
organic matter, which is in itself deadly poi
sou, producing headache, sickness, or epidemic,
according to its strength. Why, if few drops
Of the liquid matter, obtained by the conden-
sation of the air of foul locality, introduced
into the vein of Il dog, can produce death with
usual phenomena of typhuS fever, what meal
culablr evil must it not produce on those hu-
man beings who breathe it again and again,
rendered foulcr and less capable Of sustaining
life with each breath drawn.