1 MARCH 1879, Page 3

The Russian papers announce that the Plague has reached St.

Petersburg, a man suffering from it having sought relief from a doctor there. The official doctors, however, declare that he is not suffering from plague, but from a form of syphilis, in which the symptoms are of the same kind. The interest .of the Russian Government in concealing any outbreak is so strong, that its denials are received with suspicion, and the report creates great anxiety in all European capitals. Even in London, the Epidemiological Society held a special meeting on Wednesday, at which it was stated that the disease was analo- gous to the low typhus of some English districts; that it was to be feared in places liable to fever, and in all seasons, except summer, when it always dies away ; that it seldom attacked the rich, being specially the morbits Iniserine, and that it was pro- pagated mainly through infected clothes. No idea was given of the treatment, except by disinfection, and indeed the possibility of cure, when a patient has once been seized, seemed to be put aside. The Government, through the President in Council, stated again, on Thursday, that all precautions would be taken, but practically no precautions can be perfect. An Astrachan fleece from an infected house might bring the disease.