Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-02-15
HARAorER OF THE RUSSIAN PES
THENCE.

The announcement that the plague has
in Europe naturally occasions
some alarm in that continent. The pro-
vince OF Astrakhan. lying northwest of
the Caspian Sea, and drained chiefly by
the river Volga, is the locality OF tine
outbreak The habits of the population
In that part of Russia tend to promrte
the progress and fatality of epidemic
disease when once introduced. Tenn
perance aud cleanliness are so little OBJ
served ameng the peasantry that there
is slight ground Tor surprise AT the re-
ported destruction OF whole villages of
people by the terrible malady which has
come upon them. The circumstances
attending the first appearance oil the
disease in this region, however, seem to
Justify some doubt as to whether it is
really the plague. - q
The peculiar and intensely malignant
carbuncular lever, which medical men
are content to call by its common name
of plague. appears to have Il permanent
abiding place in Asialic Turkey. Persia,
and Egypt. Since 1876 it has certainly
prevailed to some extent in the northern
provinces OF Persia, on the southern
shore OF the Caspian Sea, whence it
might readily be conveyed to the city OF
AsLrakhan, or other Russian ports, liz
the absence OF a careful Quarantine. But
the earliest outbreak OF the existing
pcstilence in Russia did not occur ameng
persons who had lately arrived from
Persia. or who had been exposed to con-
,agion from that source. 81
he malady first appeared at the viii
lage of Vetlianka, which is situated on
the river Volga, "a considerable distance
above Astrakhan. 1t attacked detach-
ment OF troops who had lately returned
from the Caucasus, where Il similar fever
pre- vailed at the tiue they lett that
region. The story that was telegraphed
from Europe, attributes the Injection to
a shawl which one Of the Cossacks
brought home to his sweetheart at
Vetiianka; but, il this is authentic. it
argues against the view that the disease
is the plague, tor the transmissibllity oil
plague by means OF merchandise ha.
been questioned and denied 10y high
III dical authority. g..
AT all events, the fever was not re-
cegnized as the plague ut first. 1t was
confidently declared to be typhus. There
has been a great deal OF ty phus fever
among the troops engaged on both sides
ot the recent war. and the returning
soldiery might naturally be expected 10
bring the seeds ot the disease from
Turkey and Asia Minor and the Cauca.
sus. On the other hand, the plague is
not known 10 have been prevalent late
ly in any OF these countries. Early in
December. however. as suon as the out
break at Vetllanka Was reported the
Russian authorities sent L medical officer
To The village to make an investigation
He found neither y phus nor plague, but
only lntlamnatUry lever and simple con-
tIuued fever. here was nothing alarm
ing in these affections, and lhe epld.rulc
appears tO have gone un without further
attention until tuuut the lfot ui Januar,
Then IL became kuuwn that 143 persons
had died out Ol lS3 who were attack ed
BY The disease, and this in u population
ut less than six hundred. 1nc CRY OF
plague WAS raised, and the Survivors fled
from the district, only to splead the pes
thence, whatever it may be, throughout
the province. and perhaps the empire
Military measures were ut once adopt
ed for the establishment anti enforce
ment OF Il strict quarantine, and every
effort has been made on the part OF the
government to prevent the injection
rom extending outside the regions al
ready affected. This is all the more dill
ticult from the fact that the Volga is Il
great highway OF traffic into the interior
ot Russia. In the mean time. the true
character OF the disease remains un,
known in western Europe. The Lance,
say. the last reports from Russia are
curiously silent as to the nature OF the
nalady. and rcter to it simply as .'the
disease )" while correspondent OF the
Voice. Russian journal, pronounces
the scourSe q new one, hitherto un-
known to medical science, and incurable.