The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-04-30
NUMBER -.
THE BETROTHED:
[ContinuedI
By MANZoAI.

IContinusdI
Not being able longer to deny the terrible
effects of the malsdy, which had now reached
the family of the physician Settsla, and was
those medical men who had been inoredulohs
wore still unwilling to acknowledge its true
cause, which would have been o tacit condem-
nation Of themselves they therefore imagined
one ntirely oonformsble to the prejudice of
the time. 1t was ut that period . prevailing
opinion in all Europe, that enchanters existed,
disbolical operators, who at this time con-
nomous poisons and witohcraft. Similar
| things had been affirmed and believed in other
| epidemios particularly at Milan, in that of
the end of the preceding year, despatch had
arrived from King Philip Nv, giving informa"
ton that four Frenchmen, suspected OF spread
ing poisons and pestilential substances, had
escaped from Madrid, aud ordering that watch
should be kept to ascertain if by chance they
had arrived at Milan.
The governor oomnu nio&ted the despatch
to the senate, and the TRIBUNAL of Health. IL
then excited no Attention; but when the
plague broke out, and was acknowledged by
all, this intelligence was remembered, and 1t
served to confirm the vague suspicion Of
Grimm al agency: two incidents con v6rtod thia
vague suspicion into conviction of . positive
and real conspiracy, Some persons who i'm.
sgined they saw on the evening Of the ds1 .S %
cathedral, carried the PARTITION o1t OF tRe
church in the night, together with great
quantity Of benches. The president Of the
senate. with four persons of his tribunal, visi-
ted the partition, the benches, and the basins
of holy water, and found nothing which CON-
frmed tho Ridiculous suspicion OF poison.
However, to satisfy the disturbed imagination
of the populace, it was decided that the pArti-
ton should be washed and purified. But the
incident became a text for copjeoture to the
people; it was affirmed, that the prisoners had
rubbed all the benches and walls of the cashe-
drsl, and even the bell ropes.
The next morning new and more strange
and significant spectacle struck the wondering
eyes of the citizens In all parts of tho city
the doors of the houses and the walls were
plastered with long streaks of whitish yellow
dirt. which appeaId to have been rubbed ON
with a sponge. Whether il was a wicked
pleasantly to excite more general and thrilling
alarm, or that it had been done from the gull
ty desiEn of increasing the public disorder
whatever was the motive, the fact 10 so we'll
Attested, that 10 cannot be 9trribu ted TO i'm
sgiuation. The city, already alarmed, was
thrown into the utmost confusion the owners
were stopped in the street on suspicion,
and conducted to priSon, where they underwent
long interroRatoriss which naturally ended Ia
proving none of these absurd and imaginary
practices aGainst them. The Tribunal of
Health published q decree, Offering y reward
to whomsoever should discover tie author or
they wrote to the governor, only 10 satisfy the
people, and calm their fears,--a weak and
dan gerous e1pedient, and calculated to con-
firm tue popular belief.
The violence of the contaKion increased
daily in short, there was hardly house that
was not infected tho number of souls in the
10 zSretto amounted to 10 0C0 and som etimcs to
10 900. The daily ortAlity, which b ad hither.
to exceeded 500, soon increased to 1900 and
1900.
We may imagine the agony of the council of
ten, on whom rested the weiShty burden Of
providing for the public necessities, and Of
what was reparable in such a disas-
ter they had to replace every day, and every
day to add to the number Of individuals
charged with public services Of all kinda. or
I eSe individuals there were three remarkable
classes the first ives that of tho moHGH
this appellAtion, of doubtful origin, was ap"
piled to those men who were devoted to the
most painful and dangerous employ mont in
times Of contARiou the taking of the dead
bodies from the houses, from the streets, and
from the lazarettO, carrying them to their
graves, and buIy iDR them ; also, bringing the
sick 70 tho laZaretto, and burning and purify
ing suspected or infected objects the second
clcss was that of the dPpdSitoTi, whose special
function was TO precede the funeral care, ring
ing bell to warn passengers to rotiTe and
the third WAS that of the ommissarieS, who
presided over both the other Glasses,
under the immediate orders Of the Tribunal
Of Health.
1t was necessary to keep the lazaretto fur
nished with medicine, surgeons, food, aud all
the requisites of an infirmGry; and IL was also
D necessary to End and prepare new hsbitstions
for new cases. Cabins Of wood and straw were
hastily constructed in the interior enclosure Of
the la8aretto then q second laEaPetto, little
beyond was erected, capable Of containing 1000
persons. Two others were ordered, bat means,
men, and courage failed, and they were never
despair and weakness had attain
ed such . point, that the most urgent and
painful wants were ppprovided for each day,
for example, children, whose mothers had
persisted Of the plague, died from neglect
The Tribunal 81 Health proposed 20 f0una an
hospital foG these innocent creatures bat