The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-06-20
WEDNESDAY. JUNE 90, 1900.
THE BU6oNlc PLAGUE.
Historical Mortality List of the Dread
Disease.

The following figures convey an
idea of the fearful rayages of the bu-
bonlc plague from the time of the first
historical record of its existence: The
history of bubonc plague dates from
the second and third centuries before
Christ, and two AleXandrian physi-
clans, Doscorides and Posldonius
who were contemporaries of Christ
have left a description of the disease
which leaves no doubt that II was the
same us that of modern times. The
plague never died out but 1t was not
until the middle of the fourteenth
century that the horrible epidemic
known as the "black plague visited
Europe and caused the death of more
than $4,000, 900 people, The disease
was epidemic In London in 1913, l"Gl,
and 1865 In 1925 two thirds of the
academic population of oxford died
Of ii. II was again epidemic in London
in 400, 1I0G, 1923, 1872 and 400 In
1866 over 10000 persons died of 1t in
Paris. In 1868 il broke out again In
London, and the mortality was more
than 1000 per week. In 1872 Lyons
lost 10000 Of It's population from the
plague. In 1878 1t visited Venice and
carried off 10000 persons. In 1908 the
mortality of another epidemic in Lon
don reached $4,000. In 1903 an cpdcm-
IT, In Egypt is said to have resulted iii
the death of 100000 people. An epl-
demic in London, In 1922 caused II
mortality of $4,000, and in lG3G, more
than 10000 Londoners were carried
off. In 1866 there was II terrific cpl
demic which carried off 100000 in Ma
pies. 60,00O in Genoa and 1900 in
Rome. In 1868 a fresh epidemic in Lon
don res ulted in the death of GS500
people This is the FIRST absolutely ac-
curatc estimate on record. In 1919 VI
emma lost 10000 by plague and in 1861
Prague lost SO 900 In 1901 Stockholm
had an epidemic with about 10000
fatal eases. In 1920 an epidemic In
Marseilles carried off from 10000 to
GO. 600 people. In 100 and 1771 the
plague knled 100000 people in Moldo-
via. Wallachia, Pennsylvania, Hun
gary and Poland, and in the same
year one fourth of the population OF
Moscow died OF plague. Since that
time there have been frequent out
breaks of the disease and II has con-
Stantly existed in lower IIindoostan
and about COnstantinoplc, but there
have been no really great epidcmcs
Coming 10 recent times, Bombay sur
fered an epidemic in 1876. In January
the mortality was nearly 1900. and
in February 1900. The total mortality
In the Presidency of Bombay has been
l6I,0s3. In Puma, last August. there
was nm average of l60 deaths a day,
III a population of G000O
II is Il remarkable fact that Euro
pcans seem scarcely susceptible to The
disease nowadays, and are able to
withstand its raVagcs when infected
During the recent outbreak in Hong
kong only IL Europeans were at
tackled. and the mortality In their
cases WAS but 1872 per cent Among
japanese tl0 cases the mortality was
60 per cent, among Portuguese resi-
dents rs cases the mortality was GG
per cent. and among Chinese G.GI9
casc~l the mortality was 93.4 per cent.
Or George NJ Sternberg IL. D., In
an interesting article in the Gcograph
ic Magazine. says:
II shall have the satisfaction of stat
ing that preventive medicine has made
such progress during the past 30 years
that there Is very little danger that
bubonie plague will ever again com
init serious rayagcs In the more en-.
lightened countries Of Europe or that
ii is "A serious menace TO the lives aud
prosperity of citizens of the United
States"