Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-12-07
LETTERS OF 4 TRAVELLER.
L!MA. Oct 18th. 1872.
NJ MEIR vi.


ErlToE STANnED: During the last few
weeks a great change has been wrought
i'll regard to The sanitary condition Of
Peru. and particularly the seaport
towns. l refer to the smallpox, which
one month ago was not only considered
arrested in its progress. but az nearly
eradcated as is ever the case i'll this
country. But it seems that the loath-
some disease has only lulled for awhile
in its filthy novels, to commence again
with stronger threats it's deadly march
and fell ravages upon its unfortunate
victims. At present there are nearly
one hundred cases in the Lazaretta and
the number is gradually increasing.
In Callao parties are seen walking about
the city affected with it, and the num-
Der of cases in private dwellings,, to
say nothing of the death kennels about
and around the city, it is impossible to
estimate. Surely it has assumed an
epidemic form, and taken the people
unawares and unprepared to battle
against it. We have, therefore, an un-
pleasant prospect, and the number of
its victims and extent of its ravages no
one can tell. Besides this, the number
of patients in hospitals along the line
of the railroads, suffering from fevcrs
and other diseases which seem to be
native to the county, are greatly on the
increase. There is one which l believe
is known in no other part of the world
only on portion of the c. l.. and ..
II. II. line. 1t is known as Neragas,
(bloody warts), and its pains are OF an
acute rheumatic nature. Persons
who have experienced both rheumantic
and veraga pains, allege that the form
er is in no way to be compared with
the latter, and Icannot doubt their ver-
acity since l have known some few tor
tured to death by pure pain of veragas.
After suffering from the pains, the
warts, or veragas, make their appear
ance on the surface of the patient with
out regard to locality. They are from
the size of pin-head to one and half
inches in length. l have seen them
protuding from the ears, growing from
the forehead like SO many horns, and
suspending from the eyelids in tieshy
bugles One l remember particularly,
chose for it's locality the end of mans
nose Being fertile spot, the veraga
grew to an extraordinary length, and
fully illustrated the maxim to me that
an inch OH the end of mans nose
makes it prominent organ.
Light shocks OF earthquakes are fire.
quent. On the morning of the 18th
inst, was the heaviest that has been ex-
pcrienced for some years. Its strength
seemed to center towards the mountains,
consequently no damage was done.
Since the egress of the late President,
the finances of the country have been
found to be greatly in arrears. am
told that it is invariably the case, and
that each high official makes it point
to grasp the gold, if not the golden OPP
portunity. To meet the deficiency, his
Excellency the President, has proposed
to try large additional duties on all
imported articles. The proposition is
now under discussion, and no doubt
will be favorably received since the
Government can devise no other means
to relieve itself from the difficulties
which it has not created. BY the pro-
position, no imports whatever are to be
duty free. Ten per cent. IS to be
charged on all articles which are now
free from duty and five per cent. addi-
tional on the value of the article, to be
charged on all imports on which there
is now duty There is also under
discussion law, or proposition, for the
taxing of exports. The two propos-
itions, which now occupy the time
of the Legislative body, will probably
pass and become the law for ut least
during the present administration.
Lumber market not brisk only med
ium. Oregon pine which of course
comes from Puget Sound-plained,
tongue and groved, S45 per thousand
rough, S3S per thousand, Callao
prices.
If do not swallow an earthquake,
or kill the smallpox or veragas, you
will hear from me again shortly.
Yours Truly, PERUVIAN.