The Indiana State sentinel., 1879-02-12
4 Scourge That Has Repeatedly Dss-
olatea the Globe.
Terrible Ravagez in the Infected Dis
tricts Of Russia.
Il fruitful but Fearful Subject of His
tory and Romance.
baltimore Herald. /

Following the great war waged between
Russia and Turkey, we have in the Morning
Herald of to-day accounts of the terrible
scourge which the defeated Moslem seems to
have inflicted upon his Moscovite conqueror.
It first broke out on the shores of the Cas-
plan, and thence ascended the Volga into the
heart of the Russian empire, and at last ac
counts was within a few miles of Moscow.
The mortality has been very great. Hardly
any of the persons attacked survived. Nine
ty five per cent, according TO the official re-
ports, die. A physician sent by the Gov
eminent to the infected localities says that
in the village of Vietlisnka, which had
population of ], 700, there is not now living
being. Four hundred corpses strew the
streets, while the rest o: the inhabitants
have fed. carrying the infection wherever
they go. at Prischibe, of $50 inhabitants,
$50 died in two weeks. The worst is, says
this physician, that the malady spreads with
startling rapidlty, and appears simultane-
ously at points eight or ten miles apart. In
four days il advanced in the direction of
EnotaIeysk, more than 80 yersts.
The Russian physicians report the follow
ing as the characteristics of the prevailing
plague. A swelling of the size of hens
egg appears under the groin. This is accom-
panied with a general indisposition and
violent headaches. From these signs of the
disease to its complete development only
few hours elapse. Immediately afterwards
ensue severe internal pains, copious yosit-
ings and soon after black spots break out on
the body, mostly on the breast, the fore arm
no hanr Tn fo-r,
more the patient dies. Generally the dis
ease carries off its victim in 10 hours after its
first appearance, but it often proves fatal
within iour hours after its first symptoms.
So fearful has been its ravages, that when
prevailing TO a great degree it inspires such
horror that the nearest relatives at once aban-
don their relatives when stricken down with
it. Epidemic in Orien ntal countries, it has a
number of times in former ages become epi-
demic and desoiated Europe. 1t mas been
the subject OF history and romance, and two
of the most celebrated writers of Europe,
Boccacio and Defoe, have made it tributary
to their productions. 1t has for some time
haunted the ipsalubfious regions around the
Caspian sea. Resht, at Its southwest angie,
in the midst of marshy country, has fre-
auently within recent times been desolated
by the plague. In 1882 half the original popu-
lation OF &C. 900 persons fell victims to the pes
thence in the course of a few weeks. The
saws: ssResht for awhile became charnei
house, city of the dead; no living creature
was to be seen in it, and those who had been
abandoned by their friends when stricken
by the disease, died of sheer want. When
the people returned to their homes, the
disease had spent itself, and the popu-
lation was reduced to 5000 Inhabitants" )"
In 1877 the plague again ragged at Resht-
The plague is the oldest of the epidemics
that from time to time scourge the human
race. 1t goes back to the remotest antiquity;
1017 B. c., if tdestroyed 10000 persons ia Pal
estine in three days. In 452 90, 3. G., nearly
half the population of Rome perished from
the plague. In 366, B. C, 10000 persons died
daily of il at Rome. In 126, b. c., it swept
away 800, 600 per=ons in Numidia and 200. 900
IN Carthage. In $50 265, B. G., the plague
spread throughout the world. In l005, a ID ,
isappeared in various parts OF tbs globe anG
carried of half of Its inhabi ants In 1913 8,
A. D., $4,000 died of plsgue in London in one
week; Venice lost 100, 900 of its inhabitants,
and Lubbock 10000. and 100000 perished in
Spain. In 1852 the plague carried off 900 00o
people IN China, so 600 at Paris. sc. 600 at Mar
thirds OF its inhabitants and Ireland was
nearly depopulsted.
During the fifteenth and sixteenth centu-
ries it was equally destructive. In 1499
10000 persons died of it in London, and so,
600 in Milan In 1856. 100000 persisted BY
the plague in Russia; in 1910, 200, 900 il
CopstanJinope. In 1862 it caused NOR
tality OF 100000 inhabitants in the Neapol
itan territories. In 1856 the great plague
described by Defoe carried off g., ,596 person
in London, and swept over all England. LII
1876. it destroyed 100 900 people at GranC
Cairo. In 1772 the plague was extremel.
fatal, carrying off 133 299 persons in Moscow
and $4,000 at Bassorah. In 1892 Egypt los
800 600 persons by the plague. In 1872. 16O,
600 persons perisned from it at Constantine
~.fT in
fected , 900 villages in Roumania, and kille'
$4,000 of the Russian army of Invasion befor
it had recrossee the Balkans. Atyariou
times it has appeared with more or less vic
lence since 1885, in different parts OF Arab
and Persia.
We have selected only a few of the NOR
prominent epochs in which this malignan
disease has ravaged the earth. Ancient an
modern history abound in instances of ii
rapid and irresistible progress, and the desc
lating fury of its visitations. 1t doubles
prevailed ia the Turkish army during th
late war, and its terribly contagious characte
caused it to spread among the. Russian force
the seeds of it having been transpianted
any kind of communication. As long
this terrible disease has been known,
seems singular that it has set at detian'
medical skill and all the precautions to a
rest IFS march.
The Russian Government IS well as Othe
of Europe have organized the most acti'
measures to prevent its spread. As W
stated in the morning Herald of yesterda
the Russian minister of the interior W
empowered to burn Weslianka and 9th
Villages where it was necessary, and
remove the inhabitants within the quaratil
district Unless this disease is met al
stifed in the infected localities the qua
atine system is not sufficient Of itself to stt
the progress of the malady. II infect
fugitives are stopped by the soldiers of t
military corden these in their turn wi
nave every prospect of being attack
and of becoming fresh centers from viii
the disease may be distributed. In pap
read by Mr.. n. Radcliffe before the socie
of Medical Officers of Health. in London
few years ago, he pointed out that Arai
an&Persia were now in close and consta
communication with Russia by land, a
with the Mediterrsrean ports by sea, a
that an epidemic or plague originating