The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-08-04

descriptions OF people, without regard to
constitution, habits or age. It first ap-
peared in Egypt, and from thence spread
to all parts of the world, laying waste cities,
caves, islands, mountains and all places
where man dwelt. Persons were seized
suddenly, without premonition. Soon after
being seized bubo arose in the armpits,
groin or near the ear. All had these
symptoms; with many the bubos turned into
the gangrene. Those whose bodies were
spotted with black pimples the size of
lentil lived not day. Some had thighs
withered and others lost the use Of their
tongues. It lasted in Constantinople for
four months with extreme fatality, until it
swept off 10000 persons daily"
This plague continued for about fifty-two
years; but, says Evagrious, who wrote
about the year 594, .the plague did not
rage continuously, but it exceeded all pre-.
ceding ones in its mortality
Various historians tell us that in the year
1345 destructive pestiIence appeared in
Asia. Says Villaui, it was the most APP
palling, distressing scourge the world had
ever known. Itspread over Egypt, Syria,
Greece, Turkey and the whole of Europe,
where itcontinued its ravages for Eve years
The disease bafied all medical skill. 1t
was called the black death. Among the
symptoms were black tongue, raging fe-
yer, vomiting or splitting of blood It de-
stroyed life in half the time the bilious
plague did.
1t is recorded that half the human family
perished in about eight years; in many
cities nine died out of ten, and many places
were entirely depOpulated In London 5O,-
900 dead bodies were buried in one grave
yard; in Norwich died about the same num-
Der; in Venice died 100000; in Lubes,
10000; in Florence, 10000; in the east
perished 10000 in one year. In Spain
the disease ragged three years and carried
off two-thirds of the people A large
colony of Danes in Greenland were ex-
tinguished by this plague. One of the
phenomena attending this plague was the
death of fish, which caused report that
the Jews had poisoned the waters
In the year 1899 history tells of a dread
full plague that prevailed in Spain. The
mortality was so great that the king was
obliged to suspend the law which restrain
ed widows from marrying within year
after the death of their husbands
About the year 1886, in England, ap-
peared new pestiIence called the sweating
! plague. The mortally from it was appall-
ing. Sir Thomas More, in letter to Eras-
mus, declares this disease more dangerous
than battle. In London it carried off
upward of 10000 of the population. Says
Maitland's history Of London: cit is
current opinion that the disease was inn
ported into Europe by the first adventur-
ers to America with Columbus
Inthe year (1665) of the great plague
in London $4,000 of its inhabitants we're
destroyed and more than $4,000 by other
diseases. This calamity was preceded by
great mortality among cattle The disap-
pearance of this dreadful plague was at
tributed to the great conhagration that
destroyed the city in 1866, and the more
airy and convenient rebuilding of the mod
ern city, the introduction of pure water,
cleanliness and improved manner of living.
Since then this plague has never appeared
in London.