Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-10-18
The Cholera.

of arms if necessary. When the hour strikes,
that time will come.
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The Cholera.
Ever since early Spring, we have been reading
of the fearful :avagcs of Cholera ip Egypt, Tur-
key, and along the shores of tho Mediterranean
Sea. And now, on the arrival of every steamer
from Europe, we are informed that this fell and
mercilsss destroyer Of the human family is rapid
ly progressing Westward. It is already raging
in Italy, in the South of France, and in the East
Of Spain. Considering this fact, and in view of
the immense mad constant intercourse between
Europe and America, who can cay that thia dread
plague may not very soon make its appearance
on our shores9 And should it do so, it would not
he for the FIRST time in 1881 and 1882 II prevailed
to large extent, and was attended with terrible
mortality, in Canada and the Northern States.
Not however, with the devastating malignity
which has always characterized it in tho old
countries This malady had reached Ancsna, m
important city Of Italy, in July last. A traveller
may easily reach Paris from Aucona in two days.
Or from Marseillcs and Toulon, where it i. sweep
ing of hundreds daily, traveller may reach
Paris in ono day; on the following day he may
be in London in eleven days more ho may be in
New York and in two dsys more ne may be
walking the streets Of Charleston, S. C. We may
we'll soy of the Cholera then in Europe, "Thou
art so far, and yet so .aarp
At intervals of from thirty to Fifty years, the
old world has been ravaged by the cholera ever
since the earliest ages. In the year A. D. 542,
during the reign of Justinisn, Emperor Ofthe By
zantine Empire, it.broks out and prevailed for c
calamitous period Of lfty-two years. Such was
the universal corruption of tho airthat tho pesti-
lenco was notuheeked or alleyiated by any differ:
euce Of the seasons. In time it's Hyst malignity
was sbated and dispersod, but the disease alter
ly languished and revived and it was not till the
end Of ffty-two years that mankind recovered
their health or the air resumed Its pure and salu
brious quality. No facts have boom preserved to
sustain IN account, or even q conjecture, of the
number, that pershed in this extraordinary nor
tality. We only And that during three months,
Eve, and at length ten thousand, persons dad
each day At Constantinople; that many cities Of
tho East left vacant and that in several dis
triets of Italy, the harvest and vintage withercd
on the ground. The triple scourge Of war, pesti-
lepce and famine afflicted the SUBJECTS Of Justini-
an; and his reign is disgraeed by visible de-
crease of the human species, which has never
been repaired in some of the fairest countries Of
eur globe.
sOsp anch
in the cities on the Mediterranean cosst and
making such rapid strides Westward, is believed
by some to have been brought from Asia by Ma
hometan pilgrims returning from Mecca and
Medina in Arabia. But far greater number Of
people believe the cause of the mortality is to be
found in the cattle di.tenper which rased in
Egypt last year. In the course of few months,
during the fall Of 1864 there dsd in that country,
oight hundred thousand oxen, and as many sheep,
goats, oamels, and other animals. Three-fourths
Of these dead bodies we're thrown into the Milo,
whose water ia the only drink for man or beast
in Egypt. And at the sa,no time that this mod
--n plague commenced its ravsges in Anccna,
Italy, apestilcnco was raging among the cattle
of that country. And at this very day, suoh
pestilencc is raging among the cattle in certain
parts Of Russia.
Some idea may be formed Of the destructive
ness and maignity Of the cholera now existing
on the Mediterranean, when ne record tho fact
that, on the .28th June last nine hundred human
beings died in Alexandria, Egypt. It tapproache,
like ON infuriated storm the oak built man; it
falls with equal violence upon the innocent child;
it stops not ut the sentinel guarded palace; it
walks boldly into the Senate chambers ofempire'.
Wise men of every ago agree that great plaques
are xptte follow great wars, rhero vast number
of animals of different kinds have been slaugh-
tered and improperly buried or, as is often tho
case, not buried at all.
Having informed ourselves concerning tho chol
era or plague in the old countries, let US apply
attention to our own laws. Let us ask ourselves
if we have no danger to fear from plague. We
was, and still Is, the wonder Of nations. Ia that
war IN innumerable host Of men and beasts we're
killed; aud Thousands upon thousands of them
to this day remain rotting but few inches under
gro nd-at least not 50 deep but that the gases
arising from the dscomposed bodies and way
through tho thin. crust Of earth, and then sprend
into the drifting, dir above. We have been told
again and again that after heavy rains, ono
might, in walking over battle field, sec the limbs
protruding above the aIsfaee, in decaJed con-
dition. Next year may toll the sad result. Du-
ring this war there has beon enough bleod shed
upon the Republic OF America to make long,
wide, and deep river. This blood was not buried.
Soldiers do not bury blood taat they leave as
an indelbls mark of thoir victory OF defeat.
Blood, being the very o.ssnco of animal life,
whom forced from its coils, moets with tho samo
chan gea as does the body from whence It came
it rots, and its odors mingle With the pare air,
contaminatiug it as it drifts from place to place.
This goyeruneus cannot bo too vigorous thon In
its esdoavers TO arrest tbb Host fearful Of all bu-