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(16.) Vermin such as flies, cockroaches, beetles, ants, rats, mice, etc. may harbour plague bacilli and convey the virus to food used by man or animals. These animals have been found to contain plague bacilli. (Vide "Results of Examination of Insects for Plague.")

(17.) Certain experiments with cockroaches furnish strong evidence in favour of plague infected food as a method of spread of the disease. (Vide "Pound's Experiments and own Results under Insects in relation to Plague.")

(18.) The results obtained with flies infected with plague bacilli. (Vide

"Results on Sugar.")

(19.) The long length of life of the plague bacillus which is possible on

different fruits and prepared foods.

(20.) The strong evidence that articles of diet, cooking utensils, and water, may become contaminated by man himself, either through infected fingers, clothing, etc.

(21.) The danger attached to latent cases must be borne in mind. (22.) The evidence brought forward by WILM, JANSEN, BITTER, etc.

WILLIAM HUNTER.

The Paths of Elimination of the Bacillus Pestis.

A knowledge of the paths of elimination of the Bacillus pestis from the bodies of plague patients and animals is of the highest importance from a prophylac- tic point of view.

In plague, no matter what variety of the disease is present, the causal agents are scattered broadcast by those infected.

In primary pneumonic plague, the sputum, which is abundant, is simply teeming with an extremely virulent race of plague bacilli.

In septicemic plague, with its complications of bubonic formation or second- ary lung lesions, the excretions and secretions represent extremely potent sources of the spread of the infection.

In dealing therefore with the disease from a prophylactic point of view, it is of the highest importance to be au fait with those channels through which the causal agent leaves the bodies of the infected.

Such an elimination of the plague virus may be occasioned by two ways:-

1. Directly discharged from a focus of the disease.

2. Discharged through the blood with the normal secretions and

excretions.

1 Direct Elimination.—For such to occur it is necessary for the focus of the disease to be in direct communication with the outer world.

ous.

The opinion is widely diffused that cases of bubonic plague are not danger- They are not sources of infection. Consequently such cases would not come under this heading. In my opinion, however, such varieties of the disease are merely manifestations of a general septicemic disease.

This being so, all secre-

tions and excretions from patients suffering from septicemic plague, must be looked upon as possible sources of infection. Direct elimination of the B. pestis would appear to be possible through the following channels:-

1. Through the respiratory channels.

2. Through the fœces.

3. Through the urine.

4. Through discharging buboes.

Other possible channels of elimination are possible, but are not to be included under direct elimination.