"No cases of plague were known at Shang hai, and during our stay of three weeks the crew were all well and hutaltby
in May zest, it pan., Bthe bead waiter (European) was taken siddenly ill. with fever, temp. You'5” and showed all symptoms of plaque. At midnight, the second saloo steward was also taken ill with same symptom- na B-, their temperitiaes going over tog". These two accupied the same cabin, and on havin the cabi gryped I found two dead rals (ja decomposing) under their bank
The stare poom, in which was stored rice from Boubay for use of native crew, was also cleared, when many dead rits were found be. tween and under the wooden gratings, having died while eating the rica'
*On arrival at Hongkong, where plague was very land, lese two cases were landed, the ship kept quarantine for twenty four hours and fumigated. Fortyeight hours after arriving, and twenty-four hours after coming out of quarantine, Lascar sailor native was seized with plague and died in hospital. The day after leaving port, another Lascar was taken ill and died suddenly of swellings, &c., but it is doubtful whether it was plague,
"Tas two Europeans recovered after five weeks in hospital. No other case harpened after, and everybody enjoyed good health. “
B, I heard, visited a Japanese house of ill-fame at Hongkong, on afternoon of 27th, where three of the women died of plague shortly after tris visit.
"remain, c..
"J. W. VIBERT. *Conde. P. & 0.1 COROMANDEL"" The long period of incubation, viz, twenty- four days, excludes the possibility of the head waiter having contracted the disease in Hong. kong from the Japanese prostitutes. There was no plague in Shanghai. The history points rather to something having been taken an board from Hongkang, and it is not unlikely that while she was lying at the wharf in Kow. loon some infected rats from the share got on to the ship, plague being prevalent in Kowloon at the time.
In connection with illness of the first Lasent, it was discovered that while the store-room was being cleared he had stolen some of the rize, and it was thought that this was the cause of his tunek of plague.
The Pissemination of plague by the in- 14 fected rat is, it appears, as marked in Hong kong as it was in Capetown, in South Africa, and the occurrence of rat plague on board ship antecedent to human plague is an additional link in the chain of evidence of the important rode which rat plague plays in the spread of human plague.
PART IIL
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THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH,
water buffalo were, selected, and each was either inoculated or fed with plague material. As the investigation proceeded the inactins were given up, because of the greater interest excited by the unexpected discovery of the readiness with which plague could be caused by leeding with plague material, a fact which has a new and important beating on the master in which plague spreads.
Rats and guinea-pigs were employed to further test and confirm the nature of the discase produced than was evidenced by finding plague bacilli in the animals and birds experimented on.
Cultures of plague bacilli on the usual media were not employed in this investigation, it being considered that plague material in its natural state, made into an emulsion with bouillan, would be nearer, what occurs in nature than artificial cultures on agar. The only occasions on which cultures were em- inoculation of some played were for the guinea pigs with bacilli isolated from the internal organs of a sheep, piz, and hen, in order to furnish additional evidence that the microbes so isolated were plague bacilli.
Cultures from the internal organs of some of the animals experimented on ware made and examined, particularly from Calf No. 6, Sheep No. 4, Hen No. 7, Pigs No. 7 and No. 13. Monkey No. 4. and a goose and pigeon. The cultures corresponded to the characteristics of ordinary plague bacilli, while those of Pig No 13, lion No. 7, and Sheep No. 4 inoculated into guinea-pigs caused their death in two and three days with plague baciti in their blood.
The result of the experiments demonstratee that pigs, calves, sheep, monkeys, hers, pigeons and ducks are more or less susceptible to plague of a fatal nature that they take the infection by feeding as well as by inoculation; that the type of plague induced by feeding is usually septicemic, and that the intestinal and urinary tracts contain plague bacilli
3. The following is a brief summary of the experiments, greater details being entered into later when dealing with each animal,
P'10s.
Nine experiments were made on fifteen pigs. Of the nine experiments, five consisted in feeding nine pigs with plague material, Two were subcutaneous injection of plague material into two pigs. Two were scarification of the skin of four pigs, and rubbing on to the scarified skin plague material.
Of the nine pigs fed-
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are the lymphatic glands and the mucous membrane of the stomach and large intestines. Death may take place as early as the 4th day or be delayed over a month. Plague induced in this way from animal to animal is quicker
than from a human source.
(4.) When plague is caused by subcutaneous injection or by scarification, the mucuous men brane of the s'omach and large intestines are
THURSDAY, MAY 21, 1903.
given them. Only one was seen to take the food. Dr. Hunter writes since my departure that two other turkeys died of plague on the 40th and 47th day after the first feeding or on the 37th and 44th day after second feeding.
Of the six ducks-
seldom affected. In three out of the four pigsubsequently I hear from Dr. Hunter, died of the infective material of a monkey with plague found in the organs of the body and in the
sacrified there was patchy pneumonia.
(a.) Three-in one cage were led with plague material from a case of plague. One died on the 18th day with plague bacilli in blood and spleen. The other two remained well, but (5.) With exception of high temperature, plague forty-seven and fifty-four days after there is seldom ahy other symptom to show feeding. that the pig is ill with plague. There is occn- (6) Three in one cage were fed with internal sionally congestion of eyes and discharge morgans of Hen No. 4 (Exp. 7), which had died them. D ring the last twenty-four hours or of plague from being fed with material from a more there may be staggering gait. The only plague case. One lack died in twenty-four certain method of diagnosis is by post-morten hours, another in two aud-a-half days, and the and microscopical examination.
third in seventeen days. All showed plague bacilli in blood and spleen.
CALVES.
7. Seven experiments were made on eight calves: Of these, three were fed with plague material. One was injected intraperitoneally with plague material. Two were scarified on abdomen and the scarification smeared with the plague material,
Of the three calves fed-
(2) One was fed three times with plague material from a plague case, and died on the 24th day after first feeding, or the 22nd day after the second feeding, or the 5th day after the third feeding. The post-mortem showed infiltration of gelatinous material in floor of mouth, with redematous swelling around; glands in region of neck enlarged congested, and hæmorrhagic, crowed with plague bacilli. Few plague bacilli in blood and in spleco; intestines healthy,
(6) One was fed twice with plague material from a plague case, and died on the 19th day after first leediag, and fifteen days after second feeding, mucoid or gelatinous swelling in floor of mouth. No marked congestion of organs. A few plague bacilli in blood and in lymphatic glands.
(c) One was fed with blnad from Culf No. & (Exp. 24). which had died by smearing scarifi- cations on abdomen with plague material from gland of Buffalo culf No. 5 (Exp. 11), and died on the 9th day after feeding. The pharyngeal muscles were much congested and hemorrah- gic. The glands of neck, upper part of body, mesenteric and retro-peritoneal most affected. Plague bacilli in glanda. Intestines normal.
Of the two injected subcutaneously--- (a) One was injected twice with plague material from a plaxue case, and beyond aa elevated temperature, enlarged and painful lymphatic glands, and loss of weight, showed no other signs of illness.
(6.) One water daf so calf was injected twice with plague material from a plague case, and was in a comatose and dying condition on the 9th day after the first injection, or the 7th day after the second. The calf was killed. The inguinal, ax liary, and crural glands were much enluged and hemorrhagic Plague bacilli in enormous numbers in these glands; blood contained very few plague bacilli. Intestines normal.
(a) Three were fed on material derived Lom plague cases.
The three dird of plague on the 36th, 30th, and 28th day respectively after feeding. They had a rise of temperature on the 14th to the 15th day, but beyond this they remained apparently quite well, with no diarrhea, untill a day or two before death, when they appeared to be somewhat feeble on their legs and inclined to stagger. The post-mortem ap- pearances showed congestion of the organs, congestion and hemorrhagic condition of mas of the lymphatic glands, especially of the throat and neck in two out of the three cases, and patchy inflammation and bemorrhages The one injected intraperit neally with into the niucous merabr ne of the large in-plague material from a plague case died in testines. Plague bacilli were present in the thirty-six hours. The and pupliteal glands bad spleen, ginud, kidneys bladder, and congested. Plague bac lli.
intest nal cante 1.
(b) Three we fed with organs and blod of fig_brat hd died of plague ingred in them by moculation and ferdirg.
PLAGUE IN ANIMALS OTHER THAN RATS.
1. In many reports from China in con- nection with plague, mention is made of pigs, osen, Infülves, and chickens dying either before er at the time of a plague epidemic. The Chinese believe these deaths to be due to plague. To lear up this point, a question was asked with reference to it in the color letter to medical men ; and the waivers, in a nuin- of instances, confirmed the mortality among pigs, oxen, and chickens, but as to whether if was actually our to playue no one was in a}
So position to save a positive opinion. evidence, pat ve a negative, being obtainable One of the three died on the 4th day after in this lifection, abet du oppurta y of ex-feeding, one un the 8th day, and one on the amining the affeted animals and fals in 17th day High temperature appeared in one China arising it was necessary to settle the on the gut day, in auther on the 4th day, and question of susceptulity to plague on other in another on the 9th day. There was no lines, and it was decided to do so ex- diairhata, but we or two days before death the perimentally. Was possible or impossible pigs seemed to be feeble on hind legs. The to cause plague in chickens, pigs, and cattle glands of the body were congested, but varied by feeding or by inculation with infected very much in their degree of congestion and hemorrhagic tate. The large intertince were material derived fra human plague?
congested and hemorrhagic. Plague bacilli were present in blood, s jeen, and glands.
2. In connection with experimental work of this kind it is to be noted that Staff Surgeon Wilm, of the Imperial German Navy, records, in his report on the epidemic of bubonic plague at Hongkong, in the year 1896, the following observations
(e) Two were fed on organs und blood of a pic that had died of plague, induced by feeding it on the organs of a buffalo calf that had died of plague by inoculation with plagus material.
"A monkey that chewed and sucked a piece Une pig died on the 4th day after feeding, of sugar-cane infected by a pure culture of the the other died on the 13th day. The pig which died on the 4th day, though its organs swarm- bacillus died in five days of the disease. The post-mortem examination showed very slighted with plague bicilli, can scarcely be counted as de the used by plague alone, as it was kestion of the intestine, and swelling of the mesenteric glands and of the spleen.
evidently, suffering from typical swine fever. The other presented similar post-mortem ap pearances to and, the lymphatic glands being congested and hemorrhagic and the large intestine, benarthagic. Plague bacill were present in both pigs in blood, spleen, and glands.
"A pig ate the spleen of a man that bad died of plague; the animal lost flesh rapidly, suffered from diarrhich, and died of plague in twenty-two days. The post-mortem examina tion showed bæmorrhages in the abdominal walls, the inguinal glands were swollen to the size of a hazel nut and bluish red in colour, the sub-maxillary glands were swollen to the size of a hazelnut, the mesenteric glands were swollen to the size of a bean or hazel-nut and of a bluish colour; there were baemorrhages in the mesentery, with much congestion and swelling of the stomach and intestinal walls hemorrhages in the mucous membrane, and swelling of the intestinal follicles; the spleen was enlarged, the kidneys were swollen and congested, and the lungs were engorged with blood. The plague bacillus was found in the interior of the organs, in the glands, and in the blood: Another pig, inoculated subcutaneously on the abdomen with a shail fragment from a bubo, died of playue in forty days. The appearances on post-mortem exam nation were substantially the same at those just described. The site of inoculation showed moderate con- gestion and swelling.
"Two cats that ate portions of a bubo were ill for seven days, and became very thin, but recovered.
Fowls that swallowed fragments of orgaus and matter infected with pure cultures died rule after three or four days. Plaque bacilli were found in the blood and organs.
Pigeons were immune to subcutaneous
3.5
inoculation.'
And further:- "In the beginning of August, 1836, on board of two steamships carrying pigs to Hongkong from the island of Hainan and from Fakhol respectively, a large number of pigs died. A great many died also after they had been landed at Hongkong. Post-mortem examina tion of the bodies at this animal showed the same morbid appearances as in those killed
(d) One was fed with ing rnal organs of a ken which And died of plague caused by feeding it with the organs of Pig No. 10.
Pig was killed on the 13th day. In a week's time, the eyes became congested, and dis- charged white mucus in which plague bacilli were found. On the 11th day the urine was examined and found to contain plague bacilli. Fig became very weak about the 12th day.. Post-mortem showed glands to be congested and humorrhagic, and large intestine inflamed in patches. Plague bacilli in spleen and glands of neck, but not in the blood.
Both pigs were injected subcutaneously with plague material.
One pig died on the th day after injection, The glands of body were congested and The internal organs of body hæmorrhagic were congested, but the mucous membrane of stomach, small intestines, and large intestines was healthy. Plague bacill were present in the blood.
The other pig was killed on 35th day after The seat of Injection bad inoculation, necrosed and sloughed, but animal beyond this was apparently well, Post-mortem ap- pearances seemed to indicate that animal was recovering. All the organs were very pale, but glands were enlarged and congested. No. plague bacilli were present in blood, but a few were present in spleen, glands of neck, and in kidneys.
Of the four gigs scarified on the skin of ab- domen and then vaccinated-
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of the two calves serified an oldomen, and scanfictions smeared with plague material frum Wideru.To calf No. 5-
(8.). One died of the 9th day. Glands con vested, but not humorrhagic. Mucous mem brane of large and small intestines inflamed. A few plague bacilli tixed with other orga nisms in blood, spleen, and glands.
The fat that plague affects cattle as m portant in the matter of raw hices, which at one time were supposed to carry plague.
Of the six gessp-
1) Three in one cage were fed with a par- tion of a bubo from a plague case One died on the eith day with plague bacilli in blood and spleen. The other two remained well.
(4.) Three in one cage were fed with internal organs of lien No. 4 (Exp. 7) and Hen No. (Exp. 17). One goose died in seventy-two hours with plague bacill; in blood. The other two geese remained well, but one subsequently, I hear from Dr. Hunter, died of plague on the 38th days after first feeding, or on the 35th day after second feeding.
Of the three redbeaks-
Three in one cage were fed with gland of Cdf No, t, which had died from being fed with plague serial from a plague case, "Two red- beaks dad on 4th day with plague bacilli in bland. Une remained well,
10. Seven monkeys were experimented on in two series. In one series, fue were inocu- lated with blood of rat which had died of plague: one was fed with a banana smeared with the blood of the same rat which had died of plague; and one had the same ret placed its cage. AU four took plague; the two inoculated died on the 6th and 7th day, the one fed died on the 6th day, and the one placed in contact with the dead rat died on the 10th day. The four mon keys in the first series showed symptoms of illness about the same time.
There was no difference in the post-morten appearance of any of the cases, whether infect ed by inoculation, feeding, or contact with plague material, and they were all cases of septicemic plague. The experiment demon- strates that rat plague communicable to the higher animals."
The exact manner in which the monkey with the plague-infected rat in its cage became in. fected it is difficult say. It may have been by self-inoculation caused by scratching, or by infection of the mouthy the fingers of the mon- key becoming infected by touching the rat, or it may possibly have been due to fleas from the rat passing to the monkey, or the fleas of the monkey passing to the rat and then again set- thing na the monkey.
In one cage a monkey was placed in one compartment, and a rat sick of plague in the compartment at the opposite end This rat was covered with flexs; taken out dead three days after, there were an fleas on it. The monkey on the fourth day had a temperature of 1046 It became dull, did not eat and was evidently sick, with its head down on its breast,❘ and with it hand to 15 head, but, after this illness had continued for nearly a week, it
6. That plague material from Monkeys will | Dr. William Hunter, the bacteriologist to the
give plague to:
Colony, the three of us ginde a careful exomis! by feeding (0) Rais
(Experiments 50,
nation of the affected uníinals, and came to the 5%, $5).
conclusion, first, that the outbreak at the dairy 21. Not only, then, can the infective material was not plague; secondly, that it was not rin from an infect pigs, calves, hens, ducks, derpest; and thirdly, that it was a systemic geese, rats and sheep, but their infective disease manifesting itself mainly in the intes material can also in their turn infect one another.tinal tract and causing at times, a hemorrhagic More than this, the infective material of a condition of the lymphatic glands. The causal plague tat can cause plague in monkeys, and agent is apparently a minute diplococcus to be
can give rats.plague. What is here proved to urine and excreta, and probably infecting the be the case with experiments in monkeys, fodder. The outbreak was confined to one namely, that at plague is communicable to shed, and on the 16th of May, fifteen out of nineteen of the animals were ill. Two of the them by feeding, inoculation, contact and without contact with rat plagbe material, is four which remained well had the disease the likely also to apply to man."
previous year; eleven of the fifteen were obser- ved not to be well on the 13th of May, and on taking their temperatures they were found to be high, varying from 104° to 107° F. The next day the remaining four showed signs of illness.
Plague is consequently not a disease con
The infective material from fined to man. bio is liable, if eaten by rats or other minals, to give them plague, and they in their turn are likely to spread it among the animals and poultry of the farm-yard or house-yard in which these are kept and again pass it on to ing. The rat is apparently the most impor abt agent in disseminating plague. It has relations both with man's house and with the premises on which the animals mentioned are kept. To both it is attracted by fond, and should infective material be in either place its susceptibility to plague by feeding on infective material, from whatever source derived, is like ly to favour its chance of being attacked with plague and, when attacked, it generally carries the disease elsewhere.
The general symptoms were high tempera ture, ripid breathing, rapid emaciation and severe diarrhea, the stools varying in colour, sotac contaming large quantities of blood, others being only slightly blood-stained. There was no erupting or excoriation of the guns, no intense inflammation or redness of the buccal mucous membrane, no very profuse running at the eyes or uose, although in some there was a slight appearance of this symptom, and there was no very great congestion of the eyes,
From the history of the outbreak most of the cows appear to have been taken ill about the same tine. No new animals had been brought to the shed for many months past, but grass and fodder had been recently obtained from the outside. The water supply to the farms was, good.
Four cow's were examined. The post-mortem appearances of the four cows were similar. The respiratory tract was healthy, tongue, larynx, trachea and lungs were normal, so was the upper digestive tract, but the disease seems to have expended its force on the fourth stomach or abomaseum, on the large intestine, on the cacum, and on the small intestine, each of which was intensely inflamed, contained hæmorrhagic extravasations, sometimes in small, and in other times in large patches, and was the seat of ulcers varying in size from a pin's point to that of a sixpenny piece. Along the small intestine there were groups of ulcers which sometimes extended for four or five inches along the mucous membrane on the side opposite to the intestinal attachment to the mesentery. 'Tlie next most characteristic appearance was the congested and bemor bagic condition of nearly all the lymphatic glands of the body. Some of the smaller lymphatic glands were so much congested as to be quite bluck. The larger lymphatics varied in their appearance, but on section nearly all were darker than usual and showed hæmori- hagic infarcts.
22. A fact to be noted is that after the infec tion enters the body by the alimentary canal, a considerable period sometimes elapses before the animals show any marked signs of illness, In the case of pigs it is sometimes over a month, and it appears to be occasionally the same in regard to sheep, calves, turkeys, ducks and geese, Anyone not conversant with this might readily come to the conclusion that the pig was insusceptible to plague and get rid of it before the sickness had time to develop. This long period, not of incubation, because if the animal's temperature is carefully taken its sys- fem will be observed to be out of order, but of absence of visible signs of disease, is important in relation to the interval which elapses be- tween cases of plague in endemic centres. It is probably one of the bridges of many which connect the intervals common in these regions between the attacks in man.
In this connec- tion it may be remarked that the descriptions of the mod life of the inhabitants in the end mic cof plague in Persia, India and China, are altre in representing the very in nate association of the animals and poultry and the people in their houses, each and all living together generally in the same dark and unventilated hut. Now that such animals and poultry are known to be susceptible to plague, that the symptoms are ill-defined, and that the liness inay be of more or less chronic type and thus be unrecognisable except to those who are The other organs of the body, though coa. looking for it, the endemicity in these regionsgested, showed no particular change from the becomes more explainable. It may also be normal. In fact the disease seemed to be that the virulence and type of the disease is essentially one of the intestinal tract and of the connected more or less with the passage of the lymphatic glandular system. plgue organisms through these animals.
23. The remaining subject for consideration the comparative ease with which the animals and birds experimented on took the infec-
.
Iorder to ascertain whether the discare was due to a micro-organism, microscopical speci mens were side of the blood, bile, intestinal contents, and the pulp of the lungs, liver, kid-
As already stated this disease requires to be further investigated in order that its causes, mode of spread, and method of prevention may be ascertained.
With the object of endeavouring to settle his -point in the second series, two monkeys were placed in specially constructed cages along with rats dead of playas, but so separated as to pre vent any possibi of contact. The rages each consisted of three compartments, the middle compartment being separated from those at each end by mails which, wile permitting small obtion by the mouth and alimentary canal.ney, spleen and lymphatic glands, and inocula jects to pass between them, effectually prevent. The facility of this mode of infection raises tions into nutrient agar were made at the same (9). One, nine months old, died on the 6.bed the monkey in the compartment at one end a much wider question, namely, whether time. Examination of the specimens showed day. Large quantity of peritoneal fund putting his hand through to reach er touch the plague is not more frequently acquired by in all more or less, but more particularly in the abdomen containing plague bacilh. AB The rats in the compartments at the other end swallowing infected food, solid or fiquid, glands, a micro-organism of a minute size and
has hitherto been thought to be of a coccoid shape frequently joined as diplo organs of the body deeply congested. Mucous The walls of the cages were constructed of than membrane of intestines covered with her mosquito wire nesting, which prevented fl-as the case. When it is found that such differently cucci with a capsule.. The cultures were not rhagic patches. Gin se larged congested, or mosquitoes in the cage getting outside, constituted animals as monkeys, pigs, calves, very satisfactory, the small diplococcus being and bacmorihagi Plague bacillin blad and though they might readily pass from one cam sheep, rats, bens, ducks, turkeys, geese and
mixed with other organisms. A guinea-pig glan s.
partment of the cage to the other.
picons contract plugue by feeding on food inoculated with the blood of one of the animals which has previously been infected, it is diffi died in twenty-four hours, having in its organi cult to suppose, though it is possible, that man
and blood a pure culture of the small dip is not likely to be infected in the same way. It lococcus,
is important that this avenue of infection should be guarded, and that henceforth in all preventive measures against plague, precau. lions to prevent the bringing into the markets of infected food should be taken. The mon- key is the nearest approach to man of the animals experimented on, and though one of the feeding experiments was unsuccessful, the other, viz, smearing a banana with the blood of a rat that had died of plague, caused the death of the monkey from plague in six days. Taken in conjunction with the recorded experi- ment of Staff Surgeon Wilm, in which a mon- key that chewed and sucked a piece of sugar cane infected with a pure culture of the bacillus died in five days, the experiment leaves no doubt as to the susceptibility of the monkey contracting plague in this way. There are no recorded instances, so far as I am aware, of plague in man being caused by infected food, if Dr. Graves' statement of his having known II. Three dogs were fed with plague bubo, it to be caused by discased chickens be, excep- but, apart from a rise in temperature of once; bit I take it that this has been rather due degree, remained well; subsequently to any leaving Hongkong they were led on four ac casions, but remained quite resistant,
[Paras, 13 to 19 deal with details of experi- merts on various animals and birds.]
HENS.
8. Twelve experiments were made on thirty one hens. Of the twelve experiments eleven consisted in feeding twenty-nine bens with plague material. One consisted in subcuta acous injection of plague material into two
hens,
Of the twenty-nine hens fed- Eight were fed with plague material derived from human plague cases. Of those three died, one on the 11th day, one on the 15th day, and the third on the tgth day.
Six-were fed with plague material der ved from a hea dead of plague. Three were affected. The three and two days after feeding.
Three were fe with plague material derived from a calf dead of plague; one of the three died in two days
Two were fed with material derived from a pig dead of plague; ons died in two days.
One was fed with material derived from rat dead of plague; died in two days,
Nine were fed with plague material--three from monkey, four from pig, two from rat- with no results.
recovered,
In the other rage a monkey was placed in one compartment, and four dead rats in the compartments at the opposite end. The mon- key on the third day had a temperature of 1038. It also became dull and was evidently sick, but in a few days recovered.
Dr. Hunter writes that one of thess monkeys, he does not state which, died of tuberculosis | fiftyawo days after having been experimented on. A third monkey was fed with a banana Sineared with blood of a rat which died of plague, but it remained quite well.
Two hers were injected, with plague material from a human plague case. One died in two. days, the other in fourteen days. All the hens (a) Pigs that died had plague bacilli in their blood.
DOGS,
20. CONCLUSIONS.
↑
enquiry in this direction not being pursued owing to the preponderating influence of 15signing most of the cases to inoculation. In China, where pork is the chief article of a meat ciet, the fact that pigs are subject to plague is of great importance, and has always to be borne in mind when dealing preventively with From the foregoing experiments it is evident: the disease. The part that the plague-infected 1. That plague material from Min will give at plays in the spread of the disease to man is
p'ague to:
not unlikely to be due in many instances at by inorul tion (Exp piments 12 least to the infection of food stuffs, golid and
and rs)
fiquid, the examination of the intestinal con- by feeding Experiment 13) tents, prine, and mucus of the mouth of by incculation (Experiments 3 infected rafs showing plague bacilli in a cer
and 4 and 11) | kain proportion... by fued ny (Experiments i It would be a very rare occasion, even in
and 1)
China, for an infected rat to be eaten, though by inoculation (Experiment 19) curiously enough Dr. Patron, of Chiachiew in by feeding (Experiments 6, Fukien, refers to a man who was believed to
7,641
have contracted plague by having eaten a rat by feeding (Experiment 35) which had fallen from the miters in a dazed (Experinient 36) condition. The rat was cooked before being (Experiments 62, exten.
63)
(c) Henr
NZ -The hens were kept in twos and threes in the same cages. Owing to the avidity (8), Calves with which some of the hens in each cage took the infected foad it was not always certain as to the others getting any or more than a very small quantity.
OTHER BIRDS. 9. Nine experiments were made on various
Of these, (d) Du.ks birds, twenty-eight in opmber. seven were pigeons, six were turke, s, six were (e). Geese geese, six were ducks, three were small red.) Kats beak birds,
Of the seven plgeons-
(a) Two pigs were vaccinated by rubbing (d) Two in ose cage were fed with the ing the organs of Pig Na 7 (Exp. 27) on la the ternal organs of hea No. 4 (Exp. 7), which bad (6) Heus
died of plague from feeding with an emulsion (c) Pigeons scarification.
One plg died on the 9th day, the other on of a plague bubo, Oas pigeon died in twenty (d) Rats
bacilli were found ja on the 4th day. Post-mortem showed langs blood and spleen."
by giving them plague-infected organs to eat, the 15th day. Temperature rose in both pigs | four hours, and a second one re-rained i
by feeding by feeding
3. That plague material
78)
PART IV.
REMEDIAL MEASURES,
1. The annual expenditure of the Govern ment of Hongkong in its endeavour to limit the outbreak of plague by no means represents the financial burden which the Colony has to bear on account of these annual nutbreaks. I. actually forms a very small part compared with the loss incurred by the shipping community by every vessel being placed in quarantine at different parts of call, or by the emigration agents when, owing to plague in Hongkong, emigration is suddenly stopped; nor are these the only ways in which the plague affects the mercantile community. As soon as plugue becomes in the slightest.degree severe, there is always the risk of a large percentage of the coolics in different arms leaving suddenly and going to their homes in China, thus seriously paralysing business and interfering with trade activities.
2. The causes of the continuance of plague are external and internal to the Colony, and remedial measures, to be effective, abould deal with both. The relative importance of the ex- ́ ternal cause varies at different times. From June to December it may be treated as `of no consequence, while from January to June it may or may not be of the utmost importance. The latter will depend on the prevalence or absence of plague in the districts of Southern China, with which Hongkong is commercially connected, or in those from which a large con- tingent of emigrants come, or from which the floating inhabitants of Hongkong are drawn, and which at the Chinese New Year and the Tombs festival are especially liable to bring infection with them on their return to the Colony,
4. It is requisite for the Government of by feening
Hongkong to be in possession of information by feeding
as to the existence of plague in those parts of 34 Having settled the question as to whe-China with which the Colony is most intimately (e) Sheep by feeding Experiment 19) the other animals besides rats suffer from connected, commercially and socially, in order (a.) Two were injected intramuscularly with 2. That plague material from Pigs will give plague in the affirmativo, it is necessary to state that the ordinary measures of precaution may a ces. of a bouillon emulsion of preumonic plague to:
that other epizootice prevail in Southern China, be taken against importation of the disease. plague lung. Both died within twelve hours, (a) Pigs by neculation (Experiment 26)
and that even though pigs and oxen are dying 5. This protection may be afforded, not, by plague bacilli being found in their blood.
by feeding (Experiments 21, in a village where plague is prevailing, it need quarantine, which is ineffective and a costly 27,54) not be from plague. During my short stay in disturbance to trade, but by a supervision at by feeding (Experiment (8) Hongkong I was able by the assistance of Dr. the most dangerous period of the year over the
Experiment 7) Gibson, the veterinary surgeon, to examine junks and steamers trading with infected die (Experim at 28, cases of anthrax in cattle, pig typhoid in pigs,tricts, and insisting on the large steamers, 32, 57, 61, 66, and an ententie and glandular disease of nu native and European, which carry hundreds of infectious character in cows, which is in some passengers daily to and fro between Canton from Calves will respects similar to tinderpest, and evidently and Hongkong, and between Macao and Hong.
due to a minute diplococcus. I had no time kong, having a surgeon on board at the com (Experiment 42) ense, my chief concern being to determine with plague and other infectious diseaser, (Experiment 23) whether it was plague or not, but its frequent the alternative being a medical inspection (Experimoni 44) prevalence and fatality demand a searching in before the steamer communicates with the (Experiments &vestigation into its causes and provention.. I abors, a mode of procedure which causes 10, 15, 43, should recommend facilities being given to Dr. much delay and inconvenience, and should 65)
Hunter and Dr. Gibson to that end.
be avoided if possible. These is no need (Experiment 45)|
of making formal, declarations that cortain from Hens will give
parts, of Ching are infected. The supervision. should form one of the ordinary routine duties guided by the intelligence received in different centres,
to be pneumonic in patches mucous mem- well for sixteen days, wae fed with glands of
from the blood and the intestinal glands brane of stomach, small and large intestines i Plz No. 16, and dled two days after with plague {(u) Calves by ineculation. (Experiment 74) to enter fully into an investigation of this dis- panies' expense to report those that are sick-
the Appearances being most marked in the intestinal tract. A bacillus was cultivated which was not to be distinguished from the plague bacillus found in man; it killed mice, rats, guinea-pigs, and rabbits when injected subcutaneously, and produced in these animals similar patological changes to those produced by the plague bacillus This ob servation is of importance for this reason, that the Chinese are extremely fond of pork, and breed pigs' in very large numbers."
3. These were very important experiments, but their paucity scurcely admitted of any generalisation on them without confirmation on a rcale that would place the matter beyond disputat
There was no need of experimenting on cats, because it the epidemic in Capetown at was proved by bacteriological examination, that "cals and ferrets suffered from plague. Dr. Wilkinson, of Dailetel in North Formos, mentibns that during the plague epidemic there some cats were found by the Japanese Inhora tory officers to contain plague bacilli
healthy. Plague bacilli ip organe, longs, and glands.
bacilli in blood and epison.
(3) Twipigs were vaccinated by rubbing the organs of buffalo calf (Exp. 11) on to the scarifications.
One pig died on the gth day, the other on 1gth day. Temperature ross in both pigs on 6th day. Both had congestion of eyes and unsteady
gait before death, due suffered from diarrhoea. The Big tot da showed at the post-mortem healthy intestines that which died on the 19th day, and suffered from diarrhoea, showed loffamed large in testines and lungs with pucamonic patches, Plague oscilli present in the blood of both.
6-CONCLUSIONE FROM EXPERIMENTI
ON PIOSE pointed (t) Pigs take plague by leading, subcat aneous injection, or by scarification of the skin and vaccination with plague material, y de
(2) The plasus material may be from a howare in the bloodstone(a) Mankeys by feeding
() Two in one cage were fed with organs of duck and pigeon which had died of plague. (d) Piga One pigeon died in less than thirty-six hours,(e) Hens the other pigeon in 1-se than sixty hours Rats. Plague bacilli were found in the bland of both,
give plague to
by feeding by inoculation by feeding. by feeding
(d) Ons, was fed with gland of Pig No: 16
by feeding (Exp. 74), which had died of plague from natural ($) Sheep infection. Figeon died on third day with 4 That ulague material Pague est in bread and spleen plague to
man source, or from another animal such as
4. For the purpose of the present research a fa pig, buffalo, or a fowl. sufficient number of pigs, calves, sheep, When plague is caused by feeding, the monkeys, hens, turkeys, goose, ducks, and a type is septic mic, the parts chiefly affected
In Hongkong there is one large dairy farm in which Australian and English. milch cows are ⠀ kept.. The farm was established in 1889, and
(Experiment 30) fince 1896 the animala have suffered more or of the squitary organization bulletine from":
Of the six turkeys kapala da je (a) Hens by feeding Six in one case were fed with internal of) Ducks by feeding Ben No: 4 and Ren No Hen No. 4 had (e) Turkeys by feeding. died of plague from being fed with plague ma (a) Gense, by feeding terial from a plague case, Hen No. 'bad'd ed.) Pigeons by freding of plaque from idiramuscular injection of plague (7) Katsia by feeding material from a plague case::: One turkey died para atent and out, three days after feeding, ono turkey died seven. (*) Pigs by feeding tears days after first feeding, and fourteen days 15 The plague material from after second feeding to both plague bacili Ela, de plague (pagasts,
The other four turkeys'temalaed well during
the period was in Hongkong. it should be stated that the six jurkeys were in the sòpie cage and that they were loath to sat the miljante (8) Hen
by:înoculation
contact us
without contact by
Experiment 37) less from an epizootic which has proved very Experiment 34 faint. It has always appeared during the pla Experiment (38) gue season. The late yeterinary surgeon come As the Chinese Government is not one of (Experiment 39) to the conclusion that it was rinderpest, and the signatory powers to the Venice Convention, (Experiments so, introduced the practice of inoculation da notification of plague in China is not made to 48), and preventative, and the use of blood serum from foreign Governments. It is accordingly not in (experiment: 59) animals recovered 'from the disease as n cum- this direction that the Government of Hong
Lang kong can acqulie the necessary Information, Kals will give live for the sick
On May 16th, 1901, Veterinary Surgeon Gib: It might, however, do so by other means and riment (33) | son asked me to visit the farm with him as an obtain even more valuable information than eriment outbreak of this annually recurring disease had that which is possible for a Government to periment once more taken place, and he was anxious to supply which has no health organization such
know what the nature of the disease was and as exists in the countries represented at the.. whether it was rinderpest. Taking With Us Venice Conference.1 would suggest in so