The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-11

Europe has not been so much alarmed
in years as at present, on account OF the
Eastern plague. Its --latest! appearance in
Europe was at some pointsin the Ncapoli.
tan dominions in 1916. Previously ii had
ragged as far north as Moscow in l771-2,
and as far south as MarsciIlcs l79O. It's
last visit to England was in 1865, previous
towhich it had appeared at intervals oil
from thirty to forty years. Through the
increase Of medical and sanitary knowl.
edge it gradually disappeared from Eu.
rope proper, so far as originating there
was concerned. 1t still found congcnial
soil, however, in Egypt and Turkey. In
these countries the conditions favorable to
its origin still exist. These conditions are
amarshy or alluvial soil, damp atmos.
phere, and the decomposition ofycgetable
or animal matter. Unwholesome and In
sufficient food, "a disregard Of personal
cleanliness and bad ventilation materially
assist in the spread OF the disease.
The general symptoms OF the plague are
enfeeblement OF mind aud body, SILVER
ing, headache, vomiting, high fever or pro-
fuse pcrspiration, vertigo, stupor or uncon.
ciousness, bloody cxcretions, inAammatory
enlargement Of various glands, carbuncles,
and purple spots. OF course, these vary
in different cases, no case showing all OF
the above symptoms. The duration OF the
diseases before it reaches its climax varies
from two to fourteen days. 8Iany-cases
result in speedy death without tho appear.
ance of eruptions. The most fatal variety
is the black plague, or the "blaCk death"
Of the fourteenth century, which swept
over all Europe. The chief characteristic
OF this form Of the disease is the appear.
ance Of carbuncleS with hard black bases
about an inch in diameter.
1t is this black plague that prevails in
Astrakhan. This is a province in Asiatic
Russia, northwest OF the Caspian sea. 1t
is supposed once to have been submerged
by tho sea, as nearly the whole country
now consists Of salt marshes or pools.
Tho principal rive. Is theI volsa, along
whose shores are few fertile tracts. The
people depend, however, for subsistence
not upon agriculture, but fishing in the
Nolga. From the refuse large quantities
OF isinglass are manufactured. The occu.
patton oil the inhabitants Is not conducive
to cleanliness, but since no especial poison.
Gus malaria can arise from tho salt
marshes, the conditions are hardly such
as to originate plague. Once start.
ed, however, tho conditions for its
spread arc favorable. Accounts vary
rs to the first appearance Of tho dis.
ease. There is a somewhat romantic story
that a Cossack, as n part Of his plumber,
during the Russo.Turkish ,wars brought
home shawlfor his lady.love. She wore
1.-two days, was taken with the plague
and died. The disease spread, and tue
whole district was afflicted before any
sanitary precautions were taken. The
more probable story, however, is that the
disease has lurkod in Astrakhan for two
years, The snow fall has been generally
severe in the entire northern hemisphere
this winter. Astrakhan has not been ex.
empt, and its salt.imprcgnated atmosphere
melting the snow has laden the air with
an unusual amount OF moisture, present.
ing condition favorable to tho breaking
out Of the latent disease.
The whole Of Europe salive to its dan.
ger from the plague. Notwithstanding that
the disease has existed for centuries, com
paratiyely little Is known Of any direct
remedy toriti Ono reason has,been that