The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-02-20
The Asiastic Scourge.

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committee on Epidemic Diseases, inviting
that body to consider the propriety of pro.
viding by legislation to maintain two medi-
cal officers in Europe as scientific out posts tc
watch the advance westward of the plague
that is now devastating those districts. Russia
Germany, Austria, France and England
have sent medical officers directly to the sec.
tions afflicted with the scourge in Russia to
study and observe the disease, its symptoms
and the manifestat ions which might lead tc
an intelligent understanding of its probable
spread. Referring to the subject, the New
York Herald of the 10th says: Russian
bulletins, OF recent date, declare that the
plague is now actually under control, that
there are no new cases since January 18th,
and that the sharp frosts in the valley of the
Volga have put an END to the epidemic. II
is to be hoped this is true, but the fact that
it has been so declared in Russian bulletins
is not guarantee on that point. But even
if the immediate spread OF the disease is ar.
rested the analogies of the march of epidem.
les in that part OF the world lead naturally
to the apprehension that this winter suppress
sion is mere rebate, temporary in its effect,
and that the return of summer will revive
the malady. Plaques on former occasions,
as we'll as the cholera, have acted that way
in Eastern Russia. On this occasion the en-
ergetic action proposed by the government
may make difference. DR.. BoLkins sketch
OF plan fe- stamping out the disease was
adopted by Ministerial Council on the Doth
ult., and sanitary commission was appoint
ed to put it in force. This plan included
cremation of the bodies OF the dead re-
moval of the living from infected places to
more salubrious localities, and their isola-
ton there by military cordons the complete
incineration of all their effects, and the alb
solute destruction by fire of every village
in which the plague has shown itself. Should
this plan be carried out, as it would be, for
instance, in Germany, if ordered by the SUI
perior authorities, the Western World might
discharge from its mind all apprehension as
to the recurrence of trouble next summer
but Russia's neighbors in Europe do not
seem to exhibit confidence in her intentions,
and perhaps their distrust is better guide
for us as to what will take place than the
declaration of her purposes
The New York Post, in discussing the
progress of This fearful pestilence, says
'Much is to be hoped from the vigorous
measures that have now been taken to arrest
the progress of the plague in r ussia but it
must be confessed the situation 10 oks very
grave. The German Ambassador at St. Pet.
ersburg has advised his government that the
epidemic is spreading rapidly. The aut hor-
tiles at Berlin have ordered the establish
ment OF a strict passport and quarantine
system, to go into effect on the 10th of Feb.
Each traveller before entering Germany
must thereafter show that he has not been
in an infected district within twenty days :;
and all clothes and baggage brought to the
border are to be disinfected. Quarantine
has been ordered for the Italian, Spanish
and other Mediterranean and Atlantic ports.
The frontiers of Austria, Hungary and the
principaiities have been placed under strict
watch. Russian railway cars are no longer
permitted to pass into other contiguous ter
ritory. Each day, in fact, brings news of
fresh measures to cut Russia off from the
rest of Europe and to place her in a state of
isolation.
'sWhat has been done outside of tine Rus
sian boundaries is fully justified by what is
;reo
beyond the Volga has been created a special
province, for convenience in meeting the ex-
igency. and General Loris Melikoff has been
put in control of it as Governor. The panic
throughout Russia is described by late dis
patch as almost incredible. 1t is now de-
clared that, although the epidemic had as
sumed serious dimensions by the 25tfl Of No
vember, the government was not s'officially
informed OF it until December II, and that
not until ten days after the last date was
anything done to arrest the scourge. 1t is
agreed, however, that, since it began to move
the government has exerted itself to the
utmost. What is called the ''double Gordon"
is now enforced. This means that the places
in towns or villages where the disease is
raging are isolated by military force, and
that, in addition, the whole neighboring
country is likewise surrounded, so that
egress and ingress are alike prevented. But
even this does not satisfy the people of dis
tricts not yet iAfected. Petitions have pour
ed in from all quarters and all classes I'M
ploring that total cessation of intercourse
shall be decreed with the smitten region.
Letters sent from it are refused by the per-
sons to whom they are addressed. Some |
persons, it is said, even refuse to take paper |
money, lest it should contain the germs of
All this recalls what occurred |
during the great plague of London lin 1865.
Then, as now, it was stoutly asserted that
he disorder was not communicable by the
ouch, but solely by the atmosphere; and
hen, as now, people refused to believe 1t.
rhe inhabitants of London who, at that dis
nal time, handled even metallic money with
ongs, starved rather than touch food that
lad passed through plague stricken
horoughfarc, and struck men down with
heir prototypes to-day in Astrakhan and
laritZen.
''If the Russian Sanitary Commission is
Permitted to carry out the plan of shutting
If all Intercourse between the Volga line
nd Western Russia, the fears of the people
ill be in measure allayed. 1t is authori-
Ively denied that the plague has broken out
lsvillages near Moscow; and there is rea-
On to believe that, so far, it has not crossed
he sanitary line which begins at Samyan
wska and follows the course Of the Volga
, Batagnaska. The London plague pene- {
'ated to the rest of England in only an in
gnifcant degree; there is, therefore, good
Jason to hope, as we have said, that with q
lergetic precautions the pest may be kept {
thin or close to its original limits.
Railroad Legislation In West Virginia. l
The West Virginia Legislature seems to t
I'VE gone wild on the railroad business, and {
roposes to take the practical management v
the B. & o. r. r. out of the hands of
e officers and stockholders, ard undertake il