Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-24
I'VE PLAGUE.

felt in Hawaii over the presence OF the
black plague at different points on that
island. While modern sanitary appl-
ances and medical skill can successfully
cope with that terrible affliction. its re-
currence in any part Of thew world excttes
the liveliest interest. by reason of its
record in the past. In a recent lecture,
Surgeon General Sterrberg referred to
the history of the disease as follows:
While l nave to present to you a dark
picture with reference to the past history
of the disease, and. some disagreeable
facts as to it's recent extension from It's
endemic foci in the far east. I Will have
the satisfaction of telling you that pre-
~ventive medicine has made u progress
during the last SO years that there Is
really very little danger that bubOna
plague will ever again commit serious
ravages in the more enlightened u
menace to the lives and prosperity OF
citizens Of the United States.
The history of bubonic plague extends
back to a remote antiquity. Greek physi-
clans of the second and third century
before the Christian era have lett q
record of the ~pestilential malady which
prevailed in Lfbya, in Egypt and In
Syria. and two Alexandrian physicians,
DioScorides and PoseidOniOs who were
contemporaries of Christ, have given a
description of the disease which leaves
no doubt as to its identity with the
plaques of more recent times. 1t may be
we'll to explain at this point that h
characteristics of the disease are en-
larged and infiamed glands in the groins,
in the armpits and elsewhere.
From the first to the sixth centuries
of the Christian era we have no anthem
I fip accounts IF fhn vnroy,q1nnoo 0f hv1.
bonic plague. During the sixth century,
however, its ravages. were greatly ex-
tended, n it prevailed as a devastating
epidemic in many parts of the Roman
empire: indeed. in the time of Justinfan
it extended far beyond the limits OF the
Roman empire.
During the middle ages epidemics CON-
tinued to occur, but it was not until
nearly the middle of the fourteenth CEN
fury that the horrible epidemic known as
the Black Death devastated Europe and
caused the death Of more than 5000, 900
of it's inhabitants.
The disease first appeared in london
i'm November. 134S. and it continued. to
prevail in various parts OF England for
a period Of eight or nine years. In 1852
the epidemic prevailed in the town of
Oxford to such an extent that this town
lost two-thirds of it's academic popula-
tion. The plague again invaded England
in 1861 and 1868.
In the fifteenth century plague was
again rampant in various parts Of Eu-
rope, and London, suffered severely from
the prevailing epidemic in 1400. 14O6, 1925,
1872 and 1899. In southern Europe the
disease prevailed extensively during the,
first quarter of the century, and in Ger,
many it was especially severe in 1859
Italy, France and Spain were again raw
aged by the pestilence in 1850. ap-
parently as a result of a fresh importa-
ton from Asia. In 1466 over 10000 per-
sons died from plague in the city Of
Paris. ~
Bringing his review Of the plague'A
ravages down to a still later dates the.
lecturer stated that London lost 1000
citizens a week. and Moscow a total Of
over 200, 900 in 1860 and 1870: while Venice
lost 10000 persons five years later.
Of the plague in 1903. it was not until
1865 that "the great plague" visited that
unhappy city, inficting a loss Of $685.
out Of a population Of AGO. 000. The gen.
follows:
Early in the century (1802) bubonic
plague appeared at Constantinople and
in Armenia. 1t had previously prevailed
in the Caucasus, from which province it
extended into Russia. In 1908 to 1913 it
extended from Constantinpple to Odessa,
to Smyrna and to various localities in
Pennsylvania. 1t also prevailed about
the same time in Bosnia and Dalmatia.
In 1912 to 1914 it prevailed in Egypt and
as usual was conveyed from these to Eu-
ropean countries. Its last appearance in
italy was at the seaport Noja, ON the
eastern coast Of that country, in 1916.
A limited epidemic occurred in Greece In
1923 as a result OF importation from
Egypt. During the same year it pre-
vailed extensively in Moldavia, Walla-
CHA Bessarabia. In 1881 it again
prevailed as an epidemic in Constants
nople and i'm various parts of Roumelia,
and again 1T appeared in Dalmatia in
1910 and in Constantinople in 1841. Egypt.
which for centuries had been the princi-
pal focus from which plague had been
introduced into Europe. continued to
suffer from the disease until 1S45, when Il
disappeared from that country. The last
appearance of Oriental plague in Europe,
until its recent Introduction into Portu-
gal, was the outbreak on. the banks OF
the Volga in 1879. 81 /,
Timid people. who predict all manner
of misfortunes for the world during the
transition of mankind from one century
into another, may see in the reappeaar,
ance OF the plague man Of the POSSIBILITY
ties Of the past. There is little danger.
however. of its invading the realm Of
modern sanitation u
I
Nh. DAILY TO TESTIFY.