Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-26

century, and in certain parts oil
| England it would appear that the
| whole population was carried of, Iu
the fifteenth, in the sixteenth, and In
The aevenleonth centuries successlv c
epidemics required; but sincs then
England has boon free. But the
disease seems always 10 have perslsiei
In one part or another OF that vague
geographical expression, the East, and
has again and egain stretched cut it's
tcniaees to gather victims 10 Turkey ,
Ia Rusaia, aud slong the shores Of the
NediieTahesg.
Alter this brief review of the history
! Of the plague the Journal mentioneI
says:
No doubt the sanitary conditions H.
| which many Of the people live have
been vastly improved since tho time OF
| the black deuth OF the fourteenth cen
| fury. But both then and In the time OF
| the grca. plague many snug and COM
| Portable citizens were carried oil, so that
| II was nos altogether matter OF poverty;
and, AS TO sanitation, II would, we think,
be Idle 70 contend that toward the ond OF
| the seventeen h con ury The sanitary
surroundings became 20 much better,
| tho poverty so much less and the food
So much more ample throughout Eu-
rope than they had boon during tho
threo preceding centuries, that the
plague. which up to then had occurred
80 frequently, could no longer find
foothotd among the people.
With sadness We have to accept tho
facy that we do not know on what de-
ponds the periodical development of
epidemic virulence in plague. We know
that plague remains endemic in certain
districts in minor form for long periods,
and then breaks bounds. spreading far
and wide as an intensely ia al epidemic.
but why this happens we do not know.
We know that, whether in regard to on
demlc prevalence or epidemic spread,
the presence of 9th, and especially OF
pollution of the soil, seems 10 be de-
terminlng agent In regard to the locali-
ties TO be attacked. But in view Of tho
meL that tho plague vanished OF us own ac-
cord from Europe dmihG the seven zenith
century, 1t would be presumpluous to
say that tho improvement which has
taken place in such conditions will pre-
vent its recurrence. So far as our
sanitation helps to protect us from
other zymotic diseases, 20 II will do
from plague, for plague IL essentially
filth disease. But sanitation Is
wide term. We are told that over
orowding Of dwelling housea is power
ful contribntory cause OF plague; but
have we no overcrowding? We nre told
thai "oi all social conditions, poverty
and general social misery seem to be the
most influential in its producti0nn (All-
butts System of Medlcinel. hut have
we no poverty and social tnsary? And
as for dirt and pollution of The soil, al
though our well-draiued towns NAV
probably assume that they are safe from
disease 10 peculiarly allied with filth
as plague is we would ask: Are there
no midden towns IN Englsnd2 Arc
there no villages yet undrained2 Are
there no hamloia yet unprovided with
w0ter except such as aoaks into the wells
from neighborlng cosspools? o 81
We do not wish TO be aiarmists, but to
those who boast that England is i'm
mune to such diseases, and that by her
cleanliness SHE Is saved, we say: DO not
boast too soon.
The great trouble In the Orient is
that the common people with their
ideas Of an unavoidable fate can hard
ly be Induced to take common pre-
cautions against the propagation OF
any epidemic. Their prejudices against
western methods are so AtTong that
they will avoid, If posaIble, to follow
tho directions given for their own
benefit. Cooperation OF the natives
with the European health I'll ,ers ia
not to DO counted on. Prohibition
against pilgrimage 10 Mecca
and ordinary quarantine reRua.
tions VIII be regarded as meas
ures OF oppression, not to be sub.
mitted to, and therefore the disease
will find outlsts to the great centers
OF the world, unless indeed most
drastic measures are adopted.
Then, 1t lie not apparent how quarau.
tine measures can be enforced against
the little pests that, according to oil
reports, utilize veFsels for their pas.
sage from one part OF the world to
another, just as human beings do. The
rodents win enter chip by means
fan anchor chain, a rope or gang
way and leave for shore when prompt
ed to do 80, swimming for miIep. They
VIII pass from one ship to another
without the least regard for rules and
regulations. How can they bs quar-.
antinsG?
The readers of the NEWS will re.
member that a couple OF years ago
man in whom they have every reason
to place The greatet confidence pub.
licly announced that visitatiUns were
to come upon the earth, not to cease
until that which has been recorded
In sacred writ shall have been fulfillsd.
Events since then have amply proved
that this announcement was dictated
by power above that commonly pos.
sssssd by men and women. Evente
still future may furnish even more
striking illustrations OF this. At all
evontg, bleEsed lie he who Is not car.
ried away with the maelstrom OF
iniquily, but who is planted on the
rock, watching for and understanding
the sigus OF the tlmes.
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NO SUCH INFERENCE INTENDED. |