Sessional_Paper_1904 — Page 760

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We must remember also that the epidemic of 1903 was a severe one; that of 1904 looks like a very mild one.

These charts would appear to show that a malignant epizootic towards the end of an epidemic, means an early recurrence of human plague and a severe epidemic. On the other hand a mild epizootic would appear to indicate a late recurrence of human plague and a mild epidemic.

Again these charts show that after a mild epidemic, the epizootic persists in amount or even gradually increases. Fide 1902.

After a severe epidemic, however, the epizootic persists but is present in very much less numbers and does not show the same tendency to sudden frequent and even increasing exacerbations. The reasons for such are not clear. They will be discussed under a separate heading. The condition of affairs may be stated as follows:-

1902-Epidemic mild.

1902-1903.-Epizootic severe.

1903.-Epidemic severe. The epizootic is continuous. 1903-1904.-Epizootic mild.

1904.-Epidemic mild.

WILLIAM HUNTER.

The writings of past ages were not spared the disease. the malady.

Plague in Cats.

tell us that during plague epidemics, domestic pets Cats, dogs and birds were known to fall a prey to

It is only within recent years, however, that the occurrence of plugue in animals such as cats, which are intimately associated with inan, has attracted attention. In fact until the question of rat plague was raised, the presence of plague in animals was practically lost sight of, and regarded of no practical significance in regard to the spread of the disease.. With the knowledge of the presence of widespread rat plague and the fact that cats frequently devour these animals, the passible role played by cats in the dissemination of plague amongst human beings would appear to be of considerable importance. Few accounts of natural plague infection in cats are to hand. The various Plague Commissions make mere mention of cat plague, regard these animals as only slightly susceptible to the disease, and in consequence conclude that so far as the spread of plague is concerned, these animals are of no great importance.

Such an answer to the question of plague in cats is only partly true. Cats, when compared with many other animals, do appear relatively insusceptible but their importance in plague dissemination is decidedly under-rated when the subject is viewed in the light of recent experience.

In Sydney, ASHBURTON THOMPSON reports the presence of plague infection in cats, and discusses the dangers attached to such a focus of infection.

In Hongkong, we have good reason to suspect considerable plague infection amongst certain cats. The experience gained during the Plague Epidemic of 1902, and casually mentioned by me in my Annual Report for the same year, teaches us that under natural conditions, cats may become severely plague infected, and should opportunity present itself, there is no reason to doubt the spread of the infection to man by means of these animals.

We are quite prepared to admit that the disease is rare in eats, yet the possibility of the occurrence of the disease must not be forgotten.

Domnestic pets may occasion broadcast dissemination of plague bacilli in the immediate surroundings of man. Experimentally produced plague in cats would appear to give inconstant results. The disease can be induced, but much depends upon the method of incorporation of the virus.