The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-05
The Doubtful Character of the Russian
Ppstilencp.

The announcement that the plague has
appeared in Europe naturally occasions
some alarm in that continent. The province
Of Astrakhan. lying northwest OF the Cas-
plan Sea. and drained chiefly by the river
Nolga is the locality of the outbreak. Tho
habits Of the population in that part OF
Russia tend to promote the progress and
fatality OF epidemic disease when once
introduced. Temperance and cleanliness
arc so little observed among the peasantry
that there IL slight ground for surprise at
the reported destruction OF whole villages
Of people by the terrible malady which has
come upon them. The circumstances attend
ing the first appearance OF the disease in
this region, however, seem TO justify some
doubt as to whether it Is really the plague.
Tho peculiar and intensely malignant
carbuncular fever, which medical men are
content to call by its common name
OF plague, appears to havo perma-
nont abiding place in Aslatic Turkey. Per-
sia, and Egypt. Since 1876 II has certainly
prevailed to some extent In the northern
provinces Of Persia. on the southern shore
Of the Caspian Sea, whence II might readily
be conveyed to the city OF Astrakhan, or
other Russian ports in the absence of
careful quarantine. But the earliest out
break Of tho existing pestilence In Russia
did not occur among persons who had
lately arrived from Persia, or who had been
exposed to contagion from that source.
The malady first appeared at the village
OF Vetianka. which is situated on the river
Volga, a considerable distance above Astra-
khan. 1t attacked detachment Of troops
who had lately returned from the Caucasus,
where similar fever prevailed at the time
they left that region. Tho story that was
telegraphcd from Europe yesterday. at
tributes the infection to II shawl which one
~ the Cossuc!l- brought home 10 hi, sweet
heart at Netlianlia; but, If this is authentic
it argues against the view that tho disease
is the plague, for the transmissibility OF
plague by means Of merchandise has been
questioned and denied by high medical au-
thority.
AT all events, the foyer was not recognized
rs the plague at first. II was confidently
declared TO be typhus. There has been n
great deal OF typhus fever among the troops
engaged on both sides OF tho recent war
and the returning soldiery might naturally
be expected to bring the seeds Of the dis
ease from Turkey and Asia Minor and the
Caucasus. On the other hand. the plague
Is not known to have been prevalent lately
in any OF these countries. Early In Deccm-
Der, however, as soon as tho outbreak at
Nctlianka was reported, the Russian au-
thorties sent medical officer to the viii
lage to make an investigation. He found
neither typhus nor plague but only inilam-
matory fever and simple continued fever.
There was nothing alarming In these affec-
tOns and the epidemic appears to have
gone on without further attention until
about the first Of January. Then IL became
known that 1i3 persons had died out OF 1876
who were attacked by the disease, and this
In a population of less than six hundred.
Tho cry Of plague was raised, and the sur
vivors fled from the district, only to spread
the pestilcnce, whatever it may be- through
out tho province and perhaps the empire.
Military measures were at once adopted
for the establishment and enforcement Of n
strict quarantine, and every effort has been
made on the part Of the Government to pre-
vent the infection from extending outside
the regions already affected. This Is all the
more difficult from the fact that the Volga is
great highway of traffic into the interior
of Russia. In the mean time the true char
actcr Of the disease remains unknown In
western Europe. Tho Lancet says the last
reports from Russia are curiOusly silent as
to the nature Of the malady, and refer to it
simply ms "the disease while corre-
spondent Of the Voice a Russian journal, pro-
nounces the scourge new one, hitherto I'M
known TO medical science and lncurable.