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an investigation as to the presence of Trypanosomes in them, and the possibility of their transmitting these parasites to infected animals. At the time of writing this investigation is still proceeding, as is also one into the distribution of Spirochaetes in Gummata.
Examination of Rats.
On taking over the Victoria Mortuary, where this work is done, early in June, I found that the rat returns had been kept in the manner shown in Table I.
Table I has been completed for the year and from it will be seen that the number of rats placed in the rat-bins and sent for examination is larger in the hot weather months than in the cool and further that the proportion of plague infected rats decidedly increases in the hot weather and decreases in the cool, from 10 per 1,000 of rats examined in June, July and August to 3.2 per 1,000 in October, November and December.
Table II, so far as it goes, indicates that in all three species of rat the male shows a greater predominance of plague infection than the female. It also shows that Mus Rattus presents a far larger proportion of infected rats than either of the other two species.
Particulars of rats caught in Kowloon will be found in the Kowloon Mortuary Report.
TOTAL.
Table I MALE January, 5,087 2,465 2,621 7 146 February, 3,805 1,908 1,897 14 69 March, 5,616 2,802 2,814 48 162 264 ... April,. 5,491 2,737 2,754 3 151 363 ... May, 6,209 2,916 3,096 68 162 1,560 197 June, 5,737 2,623 2,872 58 79 965 242 July, 5,879 2,745 3,005 52 72 822 129 August, 5,335 2,409 2,794 60 90 821 132 September, 4,818 2,152 2,525 43 139 760 141 October, 4,597 2,050 2,400 19 November, 4,678 2,176 2,373 15 149 660 147 December, 4,115 1,963 2,016 12 160 580 136 Total,. 61,367 28,946 31,157 399 1,549 7,449 1,254