The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-04-16
THE COLD PLAGUE.
A Swift ami Fatal Disease.
CURIOUS AND DISTRESSING EFFECTS OF
THE MALADy ON those WHO RECOVER.

New Albany Qnd) Ledger, March 81
Several times within the past five or
six weeks, we have noticed through
these columns the prevalence of fatal
disease in Daviess county. At first the
disease was pronounced spotted fever,
but it is now said by physicians to bear
close resemblance, in all its symptoms,
to the disease known as cold plague. The
disease is spreading to the adjacent eoun-
ties, and i, is reported that it has broken
ont in Posey county, and that several
deaths have occurred from it at Mount
Vernon. A correspondent writes a. fol-
lows from Dayiess county: g. or the
last few weeks, Washington, Daviess
county, has been visited by terrible,
and in many instances, fatal lnalady,
known as the spotted ftver The ply
siciaIs of the place assert that there
have been but two or three cases of real
spotted fever this winter, and that the
fatal disease has but few of the symp-
toms OF real spotted fever The disease
first manitests itself by chill; and in
those cases which prove fatal, the victim
becomes iusensible in few minutes, and
is sealed for death from the very e. st in
dicatons of the disease. One thing is
certain-that the physicians have met
with but little success in treating the
malady, when in a severe form; aud in a
settlement OF Germans, not far from
Washington, nearly every case proved
fatal, Notwithstanding the best medical
skill, The old citizens Of the county
say that the disease is similar in form to
one known number of years ago in the
eighborhood of Washlngto. as the cold
plague As a general rule, Washing
ton is regarded as healthy location,
and has had tar better reputation in
this respect than Vincennes. 1t is lit
tie city about four thousand Inhabitants
on the line of the Ohio and Mississippi
Railroad, and one of the most ent-rpri-
sing places in Southern Indiana. The
epidemic IS, no doubt, one of the various
forms of disease prevalent i'll the winter
season in country subject to miasma,
and will soon pass away. We under
stand that Washington has averaged one
funeral per day for the past month, and
at present there is but little abatement
Ci sick ness
Citizens OF Washington, now in this
city, whittier they have come. to escape
the disease, inform US that one underta.
ker in Washington has supplied, on an
average, two cofins per day for the past
month, the total deaths being twelve to
fifteen per week. Every case has pro-
we'd fatal except two, and one of the per-
sons who recovered has been left in such
crooked and deformed condition by the
disease as to render life burden, while
the other, who, previous to the attack,
was lady of intelligence and rare &C.
complishmsnts, has been left almost idi-
otic. The disco sc is most fearful one
A gentleman of this city informs us that
some thirty years ago similar disease
prevailed in that section of the State,
extending from Washington to the Wa
bash, and that hundreds of people died
from it At that time it was particular.
Iy fatal at and below Mount Washing.
ton, aud between that town and Vim
cennes. .....-> .........., III