The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-17
MARCH OF THE PLAGUE.

AsrRAKHAN Observation-Disclosures
OF OFFICIAL REPoRrs-DEATH OF A COR
REsroNDENT-THE AUsTno-oERMAN coMMIs-
SION.
ST. PETERSBURG. Jan. 81 Q5), 1879.
We are very much relieved indeed at the thought
Of the initiative taken by Austria and Germany in the
siIair of the plague. The Ministry OF the Interior
has involved itself in such web of inextricable mis-
representation that it. too. may sincerely welcome
the International Medical Commission which Is to
come and take Of the burden and responsibility
from its unhappy shoulders. The truth is that the
endemic was known to exist about Novem-
Der 90 1873. some OF tho Cossack set
Elements of the Astrakhan government and
the frs, measures for preventing it from spreading
were taken only about the 3lst of December At the
same time the public informed of the energetic
steps which tho government was to take in the mat
ter Detailed reports began to be issued daily from
the Director of the Ministry OF the Interior concern
Ing the names of the infected places the number OF
sick people and many other particulars. Everybody
praised the before unheard of manner in which the
government submitted their whole proceedings tothe
Judgment of the nation. There was however, much
uneasincss account of the large number OF deaths
it being tina. every person died when once taken
ILL., but on the whole the official reports were be
lieved and Russian society able to take as it
seemed pretty accurate view of the state of fittings
After the extraordinary State Council assembled.
January T. 1879 for the serious discussion of the re-
ported epidemic, medical aid sent tc the suffer-
ing districts and urgent directions issued to all
the authorities of the infected localities to supply
the public through the mediation of the Ministry'of
the Interior with the most detailed reports concern
ing the cause of the malady. The Emperor was
known TO have taken the matter much to heart and
energetic measures said to have been taken for
onfTo IF all injected
places The frost also in and the public was al
lowed to breathe little more freely
JOURNALISTIC ENTERPRISE.
But optimistic hopes not allowed to last long,
On January 10 the Goios published telegram an
nouncing that the plague had spread to Tzaritzin.
town Of the government of Saratow. The effect Of
that telegram perfectly stunning after all the
consolatory communications of the Ministry. Next
day there appeared denial Of the statement signed
by Mr. Makon the Director Of the Ministry of the
Interior, who informed the public that the plague
had been stopped at distance Of 100 versts from
tho district of Tzartzin and that the whole govern
ment of Saratow quite safe. But the
faith of the public. once shaken, never wholly
returned again; the more so as the governments
reports all at once declared the epidemic eradicated.
Many deaths in the affected districts were acknowl
edged but all Of them were said to be from typhus
and fever. But the people who were taken ill never
recovered, and their illness never lasted more than
two three days. Such being the case. was it I'M
natural suspect the veracty of the official reports9
The local papers were not allowed, AZ usual to print
infected districts but Mr. Kraiewsky. the proprietor
of the Gotos, who was much offended at the manner
in which the Ministry denied the telegram from
Tzaritzn published by that paper. decided to inves-
tigate the matter to its base and to do his duty by
the public, who looked to the Goios for as much
truth as is allowed to be spoken la our country.
JAWS DEATH
So the Go'os sent a correspondent to the place OF
the plague to lind out how great indeed was the evil
and what efforts being made for the safety OF
the country But the correspondent was never heard
of again, and so. supposng him dead the Goos sent
another special correspondent. a, very energetic.
trusty man. who consented to run tho risk OF death
on the condition that Mr.. Kraiewsky would insure
sufficient to his wife and two children in
he to succunb. AS yet the correspondent has
not got farther than Tzaritzn. but lhe has sent
which only two have found their way into
print and even those were cut in = most
by the director OF the Ministry of the Interior as
Geographic statement is allowed to be printed In the
papers without official sanction. But having seen
the original kilograms state tho truth
ing many things which are not generally known as
yet. First of all it ascertained that the plague is
yet localized in the Cossack settlements (stantzas
Of the government Of Astrakhan, and has not been
spread to Tzarzin. There are organized cordons OF
Cossacks FOR preventing the people OF the afflicted
stanizas from crossing to the adjoining districts,
Tzaritzn to prevent the spreading of the epidemic
by the railways communications But here begin
the drawbacks Of the proceedings The task Of the
commissio was of social interest, and notwith-
standing that the sittngs of the commission were
wrapped in the strictest mystery. ''tn
A PACKEp COMMISSION. ''7t
The debates took place ut the railway de6oreadere
where the engineers and representatives of the com
u,pnication lines appeared in majority. and were.
therefore, masters of the situation. For financial
considerations they opposed even the officials OF the
being sienographed. They would allow no stenog-
raphcrs to be present they perverted the aim OF the
commission. they would not even submit to the eS-
animation of the commissioners and would not listen
to the clever. practical project of the town major.
Menikon which would. if applied. have raised very
the public generally. The consequence was that
the commission did nothing at all-did not
indicate the measures for preventing
tho spreading of the epidemic by means u
railway communications, and the debates were
mystery affects the interests of two governments Of
the town of Tzartzin and Of the Tzartzin(ir Rail
way line; il ensenders the most absurd aid dangerous
rumors and paraly Yves commerce before any serious
for apprchensions in the sphere OF conf
mercial transactions. Even il it be trueand that is
almost beyond doubt-that the government has
the government OF Astrakhan the people Of Izaritzn
have right to be informed of all that is done, be-
cause Tzartzin is the sentry point against the
plague. As is always the under such circum-
stances the imagination of the people is apt to sup
ply the of veracious information by the circ-
laon of the most absurd reports. But 1t must also
be stated that there is very much reason for the gen.
eral feeling of fear concerning tho future
QUARANTINE SYSTEM.
have. for instance. received information from
away by the plague, which have depth Of two
yards. are dug in sandy ground and that the sand
IL Tor the most part even now DiOWn away Dy the
wind the houses of the diseased people not
disinfcctcd, their effects not burned, but only
packed up and scaled; the sentry posts occupied
by the local Astrakhan Cossacks and have authentic
information about many cases where the people
were allowed TO pass through these cordons. The
Cossacks in their ignorance of the strict severity of
the quarantine regulations. very much given TO
pityng their unhappy people and so they frequently
let them cross out OF pure friendship or sometimes
for o little present of money tobacco.
oar national good fairy tho FROST has already done
much good, and there are now comparatively speak
ing. few cases. but tha1lone cannot tranquillzc the
people II must be remembered that the winters in
those infected places do not last longer than the end
of February; the tbaw may set in even sooner. the
ignorant peasants may tear open the parcels with the
effects OF their dead relatives and who toll what
will then bc the fate of Russia and Europe?
AT the last sittngs OF the society OF Russian med
ical authorities ST. Petersburg all agreed regard
ing the general inciency of the quarantine system.
The most eflcaciots means just now would be TO
cut and that totally. all communication between the
infected localities and tho surrounding country-a
lla is iaux