Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-16

The vlry oress Visitation ~ isis ssd IL
cs.vse-sss L<ap Acrsss tie 0ecas-Lases


ne vlrss Great visisasiss ~ isis ssd ~
cvsvse-sss L<sp Across sss oecas-Lasss
PsssiIsnee.
Ofan the plaques that have declmated
she human family from time TO time none
hns excited greater terror than the Assatio
cholera, ss il r. called. As an epidemic, at
lesst, VI Il of comparatively recent origin.
Until the summer Of 1917, when II began
a. rayarcs In bengal, u was unknown
even IN India. n broke out suddenly IN
the middle Of August, aud at once began
its dreadful march, reaching Calcutta
IN less than q month. It's first victims
were natives. but Europeans soon
fell q prey to 81. and the mortality
was drcsdiul Its spread was rapid, It's
violence extreme. By May, 1873. II had ex-
tended across Bengal from Silhet 10 Cut
its confluence With the JumDa. Leaving
Bengal II advanced TO Bcnares, where Il
swept away 1900 persons In two months.
In The populous district Of Goruckporc II
found 10000 victims In n month. BY No
vemivr II had reached Jubbulpore. Nun.
deilah and Sanger, where the command
of the Marquis OF Hastings, comprising
10000 troops and $4,000 followers. was con-
centrated. In twelve days its victims reach
ed 1900. From the 1fth 10 the Goth o! No
vember The mortality was so great that II
produced universal terror and dismay. The
camp became one general hospital. Nothing
was heard but the groans OF the dying
and lamentations for the dead. Death was
often immediate-in few cases was II de-
Jared beyond few hours. There was pos
siblity Of escape only by fight. The ma
fiyes were the flrst 10 abandon the camp. but
The fields aud highways along which tbey
ned were covered with their dead bodies.
The troops left their military equipments
behind and fed In as much disorder az II
pursued by victorious enemy. After a
march OF Fifty miles high and dry posi-
ticn was reached, where the disorder soon
began TO decline, and finally abated alto
gctber. Such was the beginning OF Asiatlc
cholera In Its first march round the world.
The campaign lasted fifteen years. In
ore year from It's appearance this malig
pant epidemic had trayersed the whole OF
HIndosfan. often advancing at the Fate OF
eighteen miles day. But it did not con-
fine itself 10 the mainland. Even the sea
was no barrier 10 its spread. While raw
aging the coast OF Maiabar and Coroman'
del II suddenly made It's appearance on the
island OF Ceylon. raging with great vio-
lence in Candy, its capItal. In September,
1919, II swept over the island OF Mluri-
tliS. hHu subsequently bltut It's dPDttu-
anee nj the Isle OF Bourbon also, although
all intercourse between the two islands had
been prohibited. In this year, too, 1t reached
the island Of Java, where II was dreadiully
destructive. BY the latter part or the same
wear u had penetrated 10 The southernm0st
exircmities 81 the Indian peninsulas, aud,
continuing its course in 1920 10 the Islands.
IL turned from Manila I'm northeast direc.
ton and rayished China. Cochin China, and
TopQuin ia 1890 and 1921. The mortality |
in Pekin was so great that the dead were
buried at the public expense. In July,
1921, II also invaded Arabia, where II wa
supposed to have been carried by vessels
trading between Bombay and Muscat.
During The Arabian epidemic death oc-
CURED in many instances within ten
minutes. IL now spread TO different parts OF
the Persian gulf, along the Euphrates and
through MesOpotamia into Syria, along the
Tigris fIom Bassora to Ragdad on the one
hand and into Persia on the other. At BaS-
sors, which confined only 10000 inhabi-
taDts, It was SO violent that 1900 persons
persisted, 14.Co0 In fortnight. In the
spring OF 1870 1t continued its des0lating
march from city to city through Syria and
along the Asiatic shore Of the Mcdtcrra-
mean. BY August IL hsd reached Baku on
the margin of the Caspian sea, and Astrak- !
Der. From Persia The disease spread TO |
the north through Kurdistan and 1auris.
The severity OF the winter OF 1SS2-'23 put |
a check TO The disease, and during the en-
suing summer il did not resume its march.
But while the cold for the time avertcd the
impending danger from Europe. the epi-
dtmic was free 10 retracc its steps and re-
conquer the ground previously rsvaged.
In Java 1t carried off 100000 Of the inhabi-
fants. Rtentering China, 1t continued its
destructive combat with human existence,
and by the close Of 1926 1t had reached tbs
frontiers Of Siberia. During the years 1927
and 1923 The rayages OF the disease contin-
ued TO be confined 10 tie stricken cities OF
Asa, but in October, 1920, IL again began
Its march westward through Persia. Its !
progress was retarded by the excessive cold |
OF the following winter, bit by the middle |
OF juno, 1850, IL was again all along the !
southern borders Of the Caspian sea and /
rcsuming its westward march.
From the Inflated city OF Astrakahan, for
the second time Frustrated by the resisiless
power Of the epidemic, the disease spread
along the course OF the Volga and it, trbu-
taries into the very heart Of the Russian
empire. BY the Sth Of August. 1880, il
had reached Tilis. BY the 2Sth Of Septcm-
Der il was at Moscow, having travelled Il
distance Of 900 miles in three months. This
popuOus city. the ancient and favorite
capital Of Russia, had risen in redoubled
beauty and grandeur from the ruins u-
fiicted upon il 10y The torch OF Napoleon.
BY the 10th Of November 5,507 eases were
officially reported. and the deaths were
1905. BY midwinier the disease had
greatly declined in Moscow, but in
January, 1881. il appeared 10 limited
extent among the troops marching upon
~. -. I'll
RACED in st. Petersburg and Riga, and re-
appeared with greater violence among the
Russian armies, by whom IT was commua.
Gated TO the Poles. While three imperial
robbers were celebrating upon the rart-
ton OF Poland, while three powerful ar
mics were laundering AT the gates OF the
capital Of that ancient kingdom, the scOurge
was deeimatipg Warsaw. Thence it was
conveyed by the Austrian soldieTy to vi.
enna-hy the PTussian forces TO BcTlu.
IL simultaneously ravaged the capi-
itals Of the three Powers. and swept
over the cities. towns, and villages Of
the three empires with relentless fury, eX-
tending from the Gulf Of Riga 10 the Black
sec, from the Cult Of Venice TO the Baltic.
The fTosts Of November scarcely served TO
check IL; the intense cold OF December
with difficulty stamped il out. Ii WAS not
uttlt tue niiuulc VI INC lust lnOubu III Tue /
year that IL had disappeared from st. Pc
tersburg-as late as Christmas there were
still five eases at Berlin. In the latter city
there had been zoos cases and 1,27i deaths
previous 10 the 9th OF November, aud
there were as many more afterward. In
deed, the official report Of the Academy at
Berlin put the deaths In that city at 10000
and $4,000 In the villages. This is perhaps
the tue ratio OF the destructiveness OF the
scourge everywhere. In Austria and Hun
gary also II was disappearing at the close
Of the year: but at Prague as late ~
December 23d there remained SO cases, OF
which 40 were new, and In Bohemia 1t still
continued to spread. All Europe had been
rayaged east Of the Rhine, and 1t was
found that not even winter was able To
stay the march OF the scourge 10 the west
ward.
Cholera reached Hamburg early in Octo-
Der. 1881. In less than month 100 per-
sons were attacked ard 300 deaths had oc-
CURED. From Hamburg the disease was
carried into England. II first made its
appearance at sunderland. In the North.
For several days 1t did not spread beyond /
the single family Ia which II manifested it,
self, and OF which five members died. The |
reported eases began to be doubted, II not |
denied, but this confidence was misplaced. |
Before Christmas there had been 196 deaths |
out OF 52s cases, and the plague was |
spreading with fearful rapdity. From |