The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1880-06-26
Il Dread Epidemic.

things now exists in Adams, north
ern part Of Berkshire county. Out
Of D. population of about 1000 fully
ene-third are prostrated with n Sc
we're attack Of n disease which
closely resombled cholera morbus
About, ten o'clock last night per-
sons began 10 DO attacked With vic.
lent ntpurging..and vomiting. Whole
families wero prostrated, and
scarcely n family escaped without
one or more Of its members being
taken down. Three Of the doctors
in the place wero soon running
hither and thither, trying to an
swcr the hundreds Of calls, and the
other doctor laying sroaning in bed
with the prevalent disease. The
whole town was aroused.
The alarm spread from house to
house with the advance Of the cpl
demic, and the doctors were nearly
as frantic as the people. ASS gem
eral thing the patient would feel at
first a sort of dizziness, lasting for
several minutes, which would DO
followed by n deathly sickness and
rapid vomiting. Terrible gripping
pains succeeded the vomiting, fair.
ty doubling the patient up with the
agony. Then would come violent
purging, which, as rule, lasted for
several hours. Some cases were
exceedingly severe. a number OF
men becoming crazy with tho pain,
did and said all sorts Of foolish
things. One of tho worst cases
was tho local express agent, who,
after tho violent contortions and
writings were over, insisted on
going to his Office to express his
legs 10 Pittsfeld. The disease at
tackled principally women and
children, though strong men were
frequently prostrated. Among the
men were James Renfrew, the man
uftcturer, and r. A. Mole. treasurer
Of the l.. i. Brown Paper Compa-
ny. Toward morning the epidemic
tegan TO lose its violence, and the
sufferers were generally relieved.
The cases which broke out this
morning and afternoon are less
severe than those Of last night,
Though they are all painful.
No death occurred, but scores are
left in a weak and helpless condi-
ton. To-day The factories have
been running with weakened force,
and tile stores are witllout5their
usual number Of clerks. The most
ofthose who were attacked last
night were out=this =afternoon,zbut
feeling very weak nervous.
No fatal resultss arc anticipated,
though the doctors are utterly ut
sea as to tho cause of the disease.
They say they never saw anything
like it before. At first it was feared
that the towns supply Of water
had been poisoned and there are
these who still adhere to that the
ory, but this does not seem proba-
bic. The doctors ngreo that the
trouble must have been caused by
some atmospheric influence Of
which they are ignorant. About
$50 Wednesday evening there was
heavy rain, and afterward the air
grew suddenly and intensely cold.
DR.. Burton says hc noticed about
10 o'clock, a peculiar air, like that
which hangs about a collar long
unopened, and detected the same
condition of atmosphere on several
streets during the night as he hur-
ried from place to place. Intelli-
genco comes from Savoy and other
mountain towns about oight or ten
miles distant, that the people are
similarly affected. This shows
conclusively that it is not tile
water. Indeed, over 70 Of the suf-
ierers were not in tho habit of using
the reservoir water.
The doctors ceased their calls
only at eight o'clock last night,
being thoroughly tired out. They
say all danger is passed, unless
there should be- a recurrence OF the
atmospheric conditions which
brought il on, and the town is get
ting over its fear and is laughing
ut tho Queer experience. 1t is
strange that North Adams, six
miles away, and in the same valley
with Adams was not affected in the
slightest. Adams has baan, in the
past, n remarkably healthy town,
and free from epidemics Of all sorts.
1t is located at the foot of Grey.
lock Mountain the highest point
ofland in the State, and WAS never
thought before to be situated flvor.
ably for receiving the bud effects of
sudden changes in the weather.
They are n lugurioua-looking peo-
pie who inhabit the town now
weak, palO-facsd, hollow-cyed, but
they have not got over their terror.