Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-10-11
PHYSICAL PHENOMENA.
Does the Earth Grow Sick :

Prof. Tyndall startled the reading
world, not long ago, by announcing
that living germs in the atmosphere
are taken into the lungs by respira-
ton, and may occasion fatal disease
or give rise to epidemics whose cause
has hitherto been unknown. His
experiments settled the fact that
such germs exist in large numbers,
and the inference seemed inevitable
that they must often originate dis.
ease in the human system.
Students Of physical science, OBJ
serving on a larger scale, suggest
that there might DO u snbtle con-
nection between the physical
changes of the earth and the fearful
epidemics which traverse the globe,
sweeping away millions of victims.
The observations have not yet been
long or accurate enough to determine
the precise connection, but enough is
known to indicate that such a con-
nection exists. The atmosphere sur
rounding the earth is in sympathy
with forces operating beneath the
surface. Earthquakes beget temp
ests, and it seems natural that alb
normal talluric influences should
manifest themselves in organic life
Mr.. Parkin, of England, has pros
ecnted extensive inquiries in respect
to atmospheric and telluric condi-
ITEMS, preceding and accompanying
the ravages Of the black death in
past ages, and the cholera in our
country. He finds that the black
death began its fatal progress in
China in 1888, and during the next
seventeen years swept across Asia
and Europe, gathering in a terrible
harvest. Coincident with its birth
China was rocked by earthquakes,
swept by deluges, and parched by
droughts. The disturbances of the
elements, celestial and terrestrial, were
in harmony with the plague. All
were engaged IN the work of de-
struction
As the disease spread westward,
through Asia and Europe, the alb
normal phenomena outran its pro-
gress. They generally manifested
themselves before it's work began,
and heralded its advent. Whether
the disturbance of the elements
caused tho disease, or whether both
alike were the result of some I'M
known law, science cannot at pres
ent determine. 1t is enough to know
that some subtle bond of connection
exists, which may in future day be
discovered.
The same facts reveal themselves
in the history of the cholera. 1t be-
gan its ravages like the black death,
in eastern Asia, not spreading, how
ever, beyond the mountain ranges
into the uorth. A singular parallel
ism marked the progress Of the two
diseases. Breaking out in China, the
black death reached the frontiers Of
Europe, at Constantinople, in four
teen years. The cholera starting in
eastern India, reached the borders of
eastern Europe at Astrakhan in 70
years, but did not cross the frontier
for another year. They both com
pleted the circuit of Europe, one by
a southern, the other by northern
route, in four years.
The physical phenomena were
equally remarkable. Earthquake,
flood and drought went before, the
messengers of death. In all the
countries it visited, some Of all these
terrible heralds announced its com
ing. The earth was convulsed with
sickness no less than the human race.
These facts are suggestive. In this
age Of scientific knowledge and
achievements, when human genius
aspires to solve all problems and to
vanquish all obstacles. it teaches that
there is a vast realm of the unknown
which may lie beyond human pene-
tration, and there are forces opera
ting on human destiny which man
can never control. Sanitary pre-
cautions in ordinary seasons may
regulate the public health, but they
cannot ward off the extraordinary
vsitations. Within certain limits
man is master of his own destiny !;
beyond these limits he seems power
less, the victim of circumstances he
can neither understand nor control
-ProUidence Journal.