The 2nd Report of the Commissioners at present engaged in Plague Investigation in India (1907) shows that by feeding it is possible to infect rats and produce intestinal and mesenteric plague lesions. In Nature, however, intestinal infection rarely, if ever, takes place.
To sum up, therefore, from the investigations made up to the present time, it would appear that, according to the Austrian and German Plague Commissions, feeding experiments do not induce intestinal plague, except when the material is administered in large doses or as stomach tube is used (Austrian); according to Rolle, Simpson, Kister and Schumacher, Brestreiff, and the present Indian Plague Commissioners, intestinal plague is induced by feeding with fresh plague-infected materials, either alone or mixed with some foods; and, lastly, according to Klein, fresh plague tissues or cultures not only induce plague in experimental animals, but when preserved, or dried and mixed with rice or wheat, produce typical intestinal plague.
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