FAMINE 1N RUSSIA.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3738, 12 May 1899, Page 2

FAMINE 1N RUSSIA.

LIFING ON CHOPPED STRAW AND BRAN. ALARMING SPREAD. OF DISEASE. VA ST." PETERSBURG, March 22. .Thp. Vt Petersburgskia Viedolno.sti ,, givo 9 a harrowing picture of the distress prevailing in the famine-stricken districts, and especially in the province of Samara, where, in addition to starvation, the vil-lagers-and peasants have now to cope with outbreaks of scurvy, typhus, and other diseases. The doles and advances niade by the Zemstvos to the peasantry were scarcely sufficient for the first half of February, and the people are now reduced to feeding upon a kind" of gruel of boiled flour and water, - or on bread composed of a small proportion of wheat mixed with chopped straw and bran, s The doctors are sending in alarming reports as to the -effects of this'diet upon frames already, weakened by hunger and , disease. , The typhus epidemic is said to be rapidly spreading, and the ravages of an acute form of scurvy are described in distressing detail. Moreover, it is next to impossible to cope efficiently with the disease, owing to the miserable conditions of life of most of the peasants, perishing as they axe from want in chilly, damp and ■filthy cabins devoid of the meanest necessities of existence. The distress has compelled many to sell everything portable they possessed, and scores of houses are absolutely bare of; furniture, everything having been pledged or sold to purchase food. In some, districts the-poor people are unable even obtain firewood, and are fireloss. as well as foodless. Not a few have been obliged to jjart with their agricrilturar implements, and will not bo able land: this spring., ; The Red .Cross Society has been" making efforts to, relieve the distress', but ftp resources, even-when combined with those of the local authorities, are inadequate to'cope with so vast an evil. On February 1, 71,000 were in receipt of constant relief, in .the province, of Samara alone, and this number lias since been in-creased.-1 .The ’ society has opened. 306 free"' soup kitchens for 32,090 children, arid" 120 for, 14,064 adults and children, hesides„.an;ariging to distribute 3filb of grain Or flour,per head per month to 12-156 individuals, and 301 bto 22,699 more/: A temporary- shelter has . also been opened; at Samara'for 1 ’461 women and children - . /1 ‘