The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-01-30
The Astrakhan Plague.


trict of Astrakhan is the "black
DEATH" which for ages has had its
home in Egypt, Syria, Greece, Turkey
to which countries it is now chiefly linn
tied. The people in the first infected
districts are dying, the reports state,
like flies. So rapidly has the disease
spread that fully ten per cent in the
newly-infected districts have perished.
Not one dares touch the dead, and they
lie unburied in the streets.
In the commencement Of the disease
there is a feeling of WEAKNESS and
fatigue, shivering, nausea, and sickness,
confusion of ideas, giddiness, and pain
in the loins. These are quickly followed
by increased stupor and delirium, by
pallor and flushing of the face, and q
feeling of intense binding or constric-
ton about the heart. Darling pains
are felt in the groins, armpits and other
parts of the body. The lymrl attic
glands become enlarged, and carbun-
cles appear. The tongue becomes dry
and brown, and the gums, teeth and
lips are covered with dark fur, while
the bowels. which are at first consti-
pated, become relaxed. The will loses
its control over the muscles. About
the second or third day livid spots and
stripes appear upon the skin. In fatal
cases-and most are fatal-the pulse
gradually sinks, the surface becomes
cold and clammy, blood oozes from the
mucuous surfaces, and there is either
coma or delirium. The victim usually
fingers five or six days, and may pass
| away without o struggle or in convul-
sions. 1t is said that infected persons
might visit every country in Europe be-
fore the symptoms were recognized, and
in this way endanger the whole world.
The plague may be spontaneously en-
gendered by endemic or epidemic influ-
ences; it may originate from local
causes, and may be propogated by pc
culiar contagion. Temperature seems
to exert a very great influence over it.
In tropical climates it is not known, and
it does not long Withstand the cold OF
Northern climates. Its particular har-
vest time in Europe is late in the sum-
mer and early in the fall, especially in
| September. Like the germs of yellow
| fever, it has thus far evaded the exam
| inations of chemists and microscopists.
As soon as absorbed it alters the COM
position of the blood and the condi-
ton of the tissues. There is no uni
versal cure for it. In occasional in
stances fresh air may be of benefit.
Cleanliness is generally a preventive,
and it is due to this and superior ven-
tilation that foreigners in the Levant
are comparatively exempt.
In 1883, so Chinese historians tell us.
there were great convulsions in nature,
and earthquakes and floods, which were
followed by drouths and famines. Hills
and lakes disappeared, and the gases
rising from the earth, and decaying
vegetation and animals rendered the
air excessively impure. Following these
convulsions came the Great Plague, and
before it entered Europe Is, 900, 900 peo-
pie in China, and 5000, 900 people in
Western Asia and Northern Africa had
died.
1t appeared in Russia. near where it
now prevails, in 134S. Constantinople
was attacked, and from there it spread
over all Turkey. The disease was
carried to Italy, and from thence
to France. England, Germany, AMI
the Low Countries. From England
it was conveyed to Sweden, and passed
over the Baltic Sea into Northern Rus
sia. In only three years it covered the
whole of Europe. Half the population
of Italy died of it. Fifteen Continental
cities lost 800, 900 inhabitants, London.
100, 900. and in Europe $4,000, 900 peo-
pie perished.
The terrible disease was attributed
by the superstitious to the Jews, who
were accused of poisoning the wells so
that the water would breed pestilence.
Entire colonies of Jews were massacred,
and thousands were so terrified that
they took their own lives. The disease
was extensively spread by numerous
bands of religious zealots, who visited
town after town, torturing their bodies
in the vain hope of expiating the sins
of the people. These Flagellants, as
they were called, comprised both men
and women, who went about nearly
naked, and each one wore a red cross
upon the breast. The church reaped
q rich harvest, for many of its fright
ened subjects gave to 1t their all. The