The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1900-01-12
BUBONlC PLAGUE.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE PEsTILENCE
NOW SCATTERED BROADCAST.

n. o. States.
The ripple Of excitement that was
raised by the announcement Of the
coming to the port of New Orleans OF
the British steamship Will0wdene
from the plague-infected port OF Sa n.
tOs created considerable local interest
in the disease now prevailing in so
many portions Of the world. The Will
luwdene on her arrival at the mouth
OF the river was found to have a clean
bill Of health. but the State and Fed
eral authorities, nevertheless, sub.
jectcd her tna very rigid diSinfection,
and her cargo Of coffee was likewise
treated to such powersul dose of dis.
infectants that if there ever was Il
germ among it, that micrUbe is today
as dead as dOornail. Something
about the history Of the plague, how
ever, may prove interesting.
Bubonic plague or Black Death has
at various times destroyed fully one.
fourth of the population OF all Europe,
and fully onc-third of the population
OF England. The hubonic plague, or
the plague, aS the disease was known
In the middle ages, is a term now re-
strlcted toa very malignant kind Of
contagious fever prevailing at certain
times and places epidemically. 1t is
characterized by buboes. that is swell
ing Of the lymphtic glands, by carbun-
cles and peteenial, and apparently
furnishing very imperfect security
against its recurrence In the same in.
dividual.
The disease generally makes its first
appearance in the groins or in the arm.
pits. The first extensive outbreak of
the plague on record took place in tho
sixth century. A. d., and devastated
the Whole Roman empire 1t is sup,
posed to have started in Lower Egypt,
but at any rate, from this time eAon,
frequent epidemics occurred IN various
parts Of Europe. eliminating In what
was shown as the Black Death, in the
fourteenth century. 1t continued t0
ravage Northern and Western Europe
until far up into the seventeenth cen
tury. The last outbreak in England
in l663-65, caused the Great Plague
Of London" which spread through al
parts of the British Isles. Since tht
end of the seventeenth century, how
ever, it has only twice visited WesterI
Europe, until it again made its ap
pearance in Oporto, Portugal, last DC
tOber. Since that time cases Of tn
plague have prevailed In Alexandria
Egypt, portions OF Japan and China
Manria, Honolulu, and Santos, BRA
zil.
| But to return to the seventeenth
century. Towards the end Of tha
century the terrible epidemic almos
entirely ahated. In 1707.l4. however
II spread from Russia and Hungary a
far as Sweden, Denmark, Prussia an
Bavaria: and In l720.22, being Intro
duced from Syria into Marseilles,
destroyed almost half the pOpulatio
there, and spread through the pr
vince. During this time It's favorit
locality seemed to be, so far as
known, the countries bordering th
eastern Mediterranean Sea, or NOR
specifically still, Lower Egypt, Syria
Asia, Minor aud Turkey In Europe
But from all these countries u bas
since disappeared, until the outbreal
I In Alexandria, Egypt, few month";
ago. The last previously knowRcase
! lIn Egypt occurred In 1874, and IN tn
''Io,iier countries In 184l. 1t was hopet
and, In fact, believed, unti! last OctC
! beE TINT the disease had actually be
4 lcolne extinct, after its appearance
- =