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

ing, distressing scourge the world has ever
known spreading over Egypt, Syria,
Greece, Turkey and the whole of Europe.
Twenty-Five millions of people perished on
the European continent, and 36,O00,OO0
perished in Asia. 1t is recorded that half
the human race perished by it in the eight
years that it prevailed.
The following concise account of the
dire plaques that have prevailed before and
since the Christian era viii doubtless be
read with interest in this connection
In the year of Rome 3Ss commenced a
most desolating plague of three years dura-
ton. This was in time of profound
peace, says the historian. 1t seemed to be
the destiny of Rome never to be exempt
from fear and dangers, for when war and
sedition ceased pestilence arose.
In this horrible plague, Livy tells US,
persisted the great Camillus, and asserts
that 10000 citizens died in day. On
this occasion recourse was had to the cere-
mony Of the Lectistrium. This cerem ony
consisted in placing the statues of Apollo,
Latona, Diana, Hercules. Mercury and
Neptune, on three beds, and serving them
with magnificent repasts for eight days,
and nail was driven in the wall Of Jupi-
ters temple. This was done under the
law The time Of year when the law re-
quired that this ceremony should be per
| formed, the ides of September, indicates
the period when restilence began in Rome
lust the time when the malarial districts Of
this country, in hot, dry seasons, bein To
develop its evil results. The historians OF
that time attributed this great outburst Of
disease, as they did all other plaques, tc
earthquakes and eruptions of volcanoes
the appearance Of comet or planetary dis
turbance. In reality it was occasioned by
the malaria that arose from the Pontine
marshes by which Rome was surrounded
In the year of Rome 422 violent
plague arose, which, says Diaconus, was
supposed to proceed from corrupt air, until
the conspiracy of the Roman women to
poison their husbands was detected, and
after which it was ascribed to that cause.
Livy does not appear to credit popular
opinion in this case.
A terrible malady, attacking man and
cattle, manifested Itself in the years Of
Rome SIC, of which Livy says: "The
pestilenee which had affected cattle only in
previous years now turned to disease Of
man. Those who were seized with itnever
survived beyond the seventh day; those who
did survive were for long time affected
with quartan ague. The disease made
its most fatal ravages among the slaves,
whose dead bodies lay unburied along the
highways, as it was impossible to bury the
bodies of free citizens; their corpses lay un-
buried, untouched by dogs or vultures, and
wasted away by corruption. Carnivorous
animals would not touch the bodies of the
dead. The vultures fed from the atmos-
phere of Rome. 1t seems that fowls dis
covered the pestilential state of the atmos-
phere sooner than any other of the animal
creation, as it is found that birds generally
disappear during the prevalence of a deadly
pestilence. This plague was called the
bilious plague, and it lasted for seven
years"
Historians relate that an appalling pesti-
lence in the year of Rome 62S arose in
Africa from dead locusts. Those animals
were brought toward Numidia and Utica
by a strong east wind in such multitudes
that theY devoured every green thing, not
spariDg even the bark of trees. They were
driven by the south wind into the Mediter-
ranean, and, being washed on the shore in
the hot season, they putrefed and caused
a most deadly plague.
II is recorded that 10000 persons
perished in Numidia alone, 100000 on the
sea coast of Carthage and Utica, and 5O,-
900 Of the Roman troops. Not less than
1000 dead bodies were carried out daily
through one gate of Utica Cattle, wild
beasts and birds perished through the cor
ruption Of the atmosphere, thus increasing
the evil. Livy confirms these statements
A. D. 65, in the reign of Nero, occur
red horrible pestilence. The ravages of
this plague swept away 100000 of the city
of Rome, which at that time contained not
to exceed 1000, 600 inhabitants. Houses
were filed with the dead and the streets
with funerals. Slaves, plebians, all classes
were suddedly taken off amid the lameu-
tsltions of their wives and children, who,
while they assisted the sick or mourned
over the dead, were seized with the disease,
and, perishing, were burned on the same
funeral pile.
A. D. 167 appeared in Rome general
fatal pestilence, which originated in Asia a
few years before and was brought to Rome
by soldier A. Marcelinus relates that
'this horrid pestilence originated from the
foul air of small boy which Roman sol
dier had opened for plumber after the tax
ing oeSelencia. From this little box was
generated universal pestilence, which
spread from Persia to Gaul, and from
thence over the whole earth. Famine fol-
lowed, and myraids of caterpillars and other.
insects oyerran the earth, devouring all
vegetation The pestiIence referred to no.
doubt was cholera.
Ahont the year 1877 Rome was aoain