The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-02-13
THE ASTRAKHAN PLAGUE.
symptoms OF the Di.ease-FOrmer Vista
sious OF the "BIaek Death"
riol

The disease now ravaging the districts
of Astrskhsn is the "blsck death"
which for ages has had its home in
Egypt, Syria, Greece, Turkey and the
adjoining provinces of Russia, to which
counties it is now chiefly limited. The
people in the first infected districts are
dying, the report states, like flies. So
rapidly has the disease spread that fully
ten per cent. in the newly infected dis
tricts have died. No one dares touch
the dead, and they lie unburied in the
streets.
In the commencement of the disease
there is feeling of WEAKNESS and IA
tigue. shivering, nausea and sickness,
confusion of ideas, giddiness and psin in
the Joins. These are quickly followed
by increased stupor and delirium, by
pslIor and flushing of the face, and
feeling of intense binding or construction
about the heart. Darling pains are felt
in the groins, armpits and other parts of
the body. The Emphatic glands be-
come enlarged and csrbuncles appear.
The tongue becomes dry and brown,
and the gums, teeth and lips are covered
with dark fur, while the bowels.
which are at first constipated, become
relaxed, and dark, offensive and some
times bloody discharges are frequent.
The will loses its control over the mus
cles. About the second or third day
Iivid spots and stripes appear upon the
skin. In fatal csses-and most are fatal
the pulse gradually sinks, the surface
becomes cold and clammy, the blood
oozss from the mucous surfaces, and
there is either coma or delirium. The
victim usually fingers five or six days,
and may pass away without struggle,
or in commissions. 1t is said that inject
ed persons might visit every country in
Europe before the symptoms were
recognized, and in this way endanger
the whole world.
The plague may be spontaneously en-
gendered by endemic or epidemic infu-
ences; it may originate from local causes,
and may be propagated by peculiar con-
tagion. Temperature seems to exert a
very great influence over it. In tropical
climates it is not known, and it does not
long withstand the cold of northern
climates It's particular harvest time in
Europe is late in the summer and early
! in the fall, especially in September.
Like the germs of yellow fever, it has
thus far evsded the examination oil
chemists and microscopists. As soon as
absorbed it alters the composition OF the
blood and the condition of the tissues
There is no universal cure tor it. In
occasional instances fresh air may be Of
benefit. Cleanliness is generally pre-
ventive, and it is due to this and superior
ventilation that foreigners in the Lsvant
are comparatively exempt.
In 1888, 50 Chinese historians tells us
there were great commissions in nature
and earthquakes and floods, which were
followed by drouths ard famines. Hill:
and lakes disappeared, and the case:
rising from the earth and decaying veg
tation and animals, rendered the all
excessively impure. Following these
commissions came the great plague, and
before it entered Europe, 100000 o.
people in China and 25,00O,O 700 people il
Western Asia and North Africa had
died.
1t appeared in Russia, near where il
now prevails, in 1913 Constantinopie
was attacked, and from there it spread
over all Turkey. The disease was carried
to Italy, and from thence to France
England, Germany and the Low Uoun
tries. From England it was conveyed
10 Sweden, and passed over the Baltic
sea into Northern Russia. In only three
wears it covered the whole of Europe
Half the population of Italy died of it
Fifteen continental cities lost 100000
inhabitants, Londos 100000, and in
Europe 25,OOO,OO0 people persisted
The terrible disease was attributed by
the superstitiOus to the Jews, who were
accused of poisoning the wells, 90 that
the water would breed pestilence. En-.
tire colonies of Jews were massacred
and thousands were so terrified that
they took their own lives. The disease
WAS extensively spread by Numerous
bands of religious zealo.s, who visited
town sfteE town. tQrturpg their bodies
in the vain hope OF expiating the sins O.
the people. These flsgellants, as they
were called, comprised both men and
women, who went about nearly naked,
and each one wore a red cross upon the
breast. The church reaped a rich har,
vest, Cor many of its frightened subjects
gave to it their all. the donors were
obliged to throw their gifts over the walls
of the enclosure, for the monks were
afraid to come in contact with them, and
shut the gates. Multitudes sought 70
escape the disease by living in caves and
woods. and starved. Some endeavoreG
to escape by the sea. They died, and
the sailors who picked up their boats
shared the same fate. Rotted bodies
the fosted down streams, poiluting them
and filling the air with conJagidu
some OF The deiirious victims ran
through the streets OF the villages. tear
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