Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1880-12-29
A RUSSIAN PLAGUE.

A RUSSIAN PLAGUE.
Diphtheria is Said to Come from the Do
main of the Czar.
Brooklyn Eagle.
The governor of Kharkof, a Russian
province, reports that during the year
1879 the number of deaths from diph-
liberia alone was 1000, and for the first
ten months of 1880 not less than 5000
inhabitants have succumbed to the
dreaded disorder. This would be
frightful statement for the great state
Of New York, but the entire province
does not contain population greater
than 100000. The death rate, there
fore, from diphtheria is shockingly high.
The report is suggestive Of several i'm
portant inferences which may be turned
to account for our especial advantage.
In the first place, the mortality in Khar-
kof from diphtheria conclusively de-
molishes, if nothing else had done so,
the theory that diphtheria is due to
sewer-gas. The capital of the province,
of the same name, is manufacturing
town about the size of Syracuse. in this
state. Not being situated in particn-
larly progressive country, it may be
taken for granted that the sewer-gas fac
tory-.-namely, the sewerage system of
Kharkof-is exceedingly minute. The
Russian does not trouble himself very
much with sewers, even in aristocaatic
Moscow or imperial ST. Petersburg. In
the province at large, among rude ag-
ricultural peasantry, the sewer is prob
ably unknown. In other provinces the
conditions are about the same. And
yet, in this one in particular diphtheria
has become epidemic, carrying off some
1900 inhabitants in two years. There is
only one conclusion to be drawn by
common sense from this presentment of
facts--namely, that sewer-gas has moth
ing whatever to do with diphtheria.
But the fact that the disease has ragged
through the empire of the czar for years
does point to one very important fact,
namely, that Russia is either the start
ing point of the disease or else that 1t
lies very close to the starting roint. It
is admitted that while the disease may
be endemic, that is, find alodgment more
or less permanent, it is in general epi-
demic. as is shown during the present
season. 1t has followed steady course
80 far this winter that it has swept over
this continent, until the citiesiof the west
and south have been overtaken by it. In
this respect it resembles two other dread
pestilences, Asiatic cholera and the
plague, or black death, whose movements
have been well defined. Careful observa
tion has shown that both have their orr
gin in Asia, cholera rising to the import
ance OF an epidemic at uncertain periods
along the low, seamy plains Of the Gan.
ges, and the plague in the southern re.
gions of central Asia. 1t is something
more than an assumption that diphtherif
follows the same law, and that while it il
a constant element in Russia, circum
stances favorable to its development
cause it to overleap its ordinary bounda
rles and travel westward. About a yea
ago, when the Russians of kharkotf wer
dying by the thousand, other province
were even more g1eviously affected
1t will be remembered that s,lcl
was the terror inspired by tn
pestilence that the inhabitant
of one province in particular were flying
in every direction. carrying the seeds O
diphtheria with them. The imperia
government was alarmed. It saw til
necessity for checking this flight, and
Gordon of eighty thousand, troops wa
, formed around the center of the disorde
!, BY this means it was confined within eel
tain limits, and thither were sent force
OF medical practitioners from Russif
France, Germany and England. But
, , was clearly impossible that governmel
tai vigilance could be permanently an
: altogether effective. The disease spreac
and the germs OF 1T were carried by tn
dirty Russ IN his clothes and househol
enects, Durlng the past year emigrs
G1 ton from Russia has been extensive
Ile records show that the population {