The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-01-21
PLAGUE AND FAMINE.

The following was sent out from
London, Jan. 10Th, under the copyright
of the Sun Printing and Publishing
which we take from the
Richmond Dispatch
1.-The eyes-of the European world are
turned this week toward India. Each
days intelligence from that stricken
land makes it more apparent that the
greatest tragedy in modern history Is
being enacted there under the double
curse of plague and famine. The heart
of Europe has been touched at last,
and the universal sympathy is perhaps
moe because it is now tinged with APP
prehension. 1t would not be surprising
if within month genuine plague
panic should spread through Christen-
dom. The great Powers show alarm,
and the news comes to-day that Italy
has summoned an international confer
ence, to meet forthwith at Rome, to
consider measures for dealing with the
danger. There is little doubt that the
reponse of the governments will be
favorable, and all the resources of mod
ern science will be speedily arrayed
against this hideous foe.
"Reliable Information about the real
extent of the plague in Bombay and
vicinity is lacking, and regarding NOR
tality, 1t is only said in general terms
that more than half of those attacked
succumb. The news service Of the
London press is strangely inadequate,
and it is from private sources that most
of the information comes. The point
which most interests Europeans Is
whether the awful disease is likely tc
flourish in northern ATTITUDES if lnfec.
ton should be introduced here, but
evidence is not forthcoming yet. It is
argued by medical men, however, that
if the plague was dangerous in Hong
kong, it will find an equally prolific
field in London and Paris, so far az
climate is concerned. It is generally
admitted that the plague is a filth dis
ease. DR.. Hankin, a well-known bacte
biologist, who is investigating the sub
ject in Bombay, fastens the responsible
lty for carrying the infection upon rats
ants, and other insectsA Rats in houses
have the plague; they die, and arr
eaten by ants. which carry the germ
into the crev1ces OF the building, tt
water-tanks, and sinks. Thus the poi
son is diffused, and can not be eradicat
ed, except by fire. This explains TIT
efficacy of the old method OF cleansing
by confagration, and at the same time
the futility of isolating the sick, as il
other infectious diseases. The onl,
thing to do is to remove the healthy.
cit is stated in the Daily Nails die
patches, which are the only ones wortl
reading in the London papers, tina
large business houses In Bombay whicl
are infested by rats have been rendere'
untenable by the ravages of the plagu
among those vermin. They die by tn
hundreds In the walls, and the human
occupants have been compelled to va
cate the buildings. It is not observe,
that any larger animals are subject t
the infection.
"The French, Austrian, and Italian
governments have already taken strlr
gent precautions against the imports
ton OF the plague. but it can hardly b
: possible to escape series Of alarm
from this cause during the next fe'
weeks. The ravages of the famine i
the interior of India are still tar NOR
deadly than the more horrible plagu
at Bombay. The victims of the plagu
are perishlng by hundreds daily, bu
the victims of hunger succumb b
thousands daily"