The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-06-26
Return Of tho "BInck DEATH,

Cd. The London Chronicle for the Sth of June
has strange account of a mysterious and
deadly disease which, it is asserted, has brok-
en- ont in Ireland, and has already increased
the death rate in Dublin. The symptoms of
this malady are, first. bilious vomiting and
nurging. succeeded by acute pain in the head
and partial delirium, then purple eruption,
appearing first upon the breast and shoulders,
and spreading thence over the whole body;
then debility; collapse accompanied by paraly-
sis. and sometimes dislocation of the spine;
and then death. The cases are classified into
three varieties according to severity. The du-
ration of the first variety of cases which have
occurred since March, 1866, has averaged eigh-
teen hours from the first indisposition until
the fatal instant. The duration of the second
variety has averaged from three to five days;
and that of the third variety, which is the
only one in which recovery has taken place
has reached many days and even weeks. The
investigations show that the disease is of very
~ contagious character. AS to its nature and
y causes medical opinion is divided. Some con-
slider il to belong to the family of blood pois-
ons. of which In Great Britain typhus and
typhoid fevers have hitherto been the CHEZ
20 specimens; and they refer as proofs to the pur
nile eruption and the rapid development. 9th
ers consider that it is a new form OF cerebro
spinal malady. The common impression, how
u ever. where this disease RACES Identities 1t will
tbedreadfll "Black Death, the king ofplagues
VI which ravaged all Europe in the fourteenth
century, and which it is feared has again rous
ad from its lair in the far East and is creeping
slowly westward. The first case occurred as
far back as March, 1866 and is thus described
An annrentice to a surgeon in Dublin had
&. b faIt unweI and remained indoors during the
day. taking his meals, however, as usual. lie
had a bad night, and complained OF headacht
u IN the morning, and his master then remarked
some spots upon his breast DIR. Stokes, an
Eminent Dublin physician, was Immediately
sent for, and saw the patient at Ii A. M. He
found him perfectly collected and IN apparent
# " ordinary strength; but the LETT arm ana lett
a breast were covered thickly with large purple
matches of the deepest hue. Both medical
men recognised that they were IN presence OF
certainly such as neither of them had ever wit
messed before. When DIR. Stokes returned
81 two hours later, a great change hau taken
nlace. The patient was as self-possessed az
q before, but the left arm and breast were now
5. completely black. AT half past one the young
man was sitting up in bed, discussing his state
with his master; and az he complained OF great
thirst. the latter went from the bedside to the
window to mix cooling draught, but upon
!. turning round almost instantly he saw, TO ms
horror that collapse had set ill., and by q p. H.
within little more than twenty-iour hours OF
the first sign Of indisposition, within eight OF
ten hours of the appearance of any formidable
symptoms and within half an hour OF being III
I:,t assesson Of all his faculties and 2fa, faie
mag NIL,