The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-12-22
THE TENNESSEE EPIDEMIC.

A DEADLY AND MYSTERIOUS oIsEAsE-rHE
DIsPOPULATIoN OF THE VILLAGE OF ALEX
ANDRIA.
The Nashville correspondent of the New
York Herald writes thus of the ravages of a
strange epidemic in that state: The Herald
has already published a dispatch relative to
the prevalence of an epidemic now raging
at Alexandria, DE Kalb county. Alexan-
dria is situated in a wild, mountainous
country, which is usually considered
one of the most salubrious por.
tions of the state. The inhabi-
tants, in general, are hale, hearty and
healthy, and heretofore no grim-yisaged
epidemic has ever disturbed the peaceful Sc
renity of their quiet locality. No locomo-
tive comes laundering near the borders of
Alexandria, and no electric current connects
the sequestered village with the outer world.
Slow ox-tesms plod their weary way
through the lonely street, and the tri- weekly
stage brings in all the passengers, takes in
all the meager mail, and brings back the
same TO the almost equally isolated
village OF Lebanon. Under these
circumstances it is not to be
wondered the epidemic that has
been rapidly increasing in violence
should create sad havoc in the vicinity be-
fore their nearest neighboring METROPOLIS
Nashville, should even obtain the slightest
information in regard to it. It was thought
have been abating, and telegraphed you
to to that effect; but later advices from the
place prove that it has not yet run its course
but is, if anything, worse than it
was at first. From being confined
exclusively to Alexandria the epi-
deInic has spread to the surrounding coun-
try. II seems to be travelling eastwardly,
and has already made its appearance at Lib
erty, another little mountain village a few
miles distant. The entire population in that
portion OF tho country are filed with con-
sternation and do not know what to do
to escape the terrible malady. Young and
old are alike afflicted, there being many
children down with it and some have al
ready died. Local physicians are baffled as
to the true nature ofthe affiiction and can
not determine what produces it, nor do they
know how to cure it or stay its progress.
1T RESEMBLES CHOLERA
in that it attacks the stomach and bowels.
and produces i'm most instances a speedy
death. Some persons have fallen victims
from sheer neglect to take notice of their
condition, thinking it nothing moro than a
common diarrhea. They arc taken, "doc-
tor themselves for week, when finally
they send for physician, who arrives too
late to save them from a prema-
ture death. In several instances whole
families have been stricken down
with the disease, leaving, perhaps, only
the youngest and most helpless, VINO would
be unable to render any assistance to the
afflicted members. For two weeks the dis
ease, which was az first considered trivial.
has been increasing and augmenting in
severity ana fatality until it reached epi-
demic proportions. Since the first out
breaking twelve or more persons have died,
while large number are alarmingly i'll.
Physicians have exhausted their skill
6n062VOrlnO sr,f hn
origin of the visitation It was at
first supposed that some poisonous su hstance
was contained in the water, but as it has not
confined itself to any one locality, that sup
position is no longer deemed plausible.
Another reason assigned is that this is the