415
The analysis of rat plague and human plague as given in the previous pages undoubtedly points to a connection between the outbreak of rat plague and human plague in given localities.
There is, however, no constant relation either in point of time or severity between the epizootics and the epidemics.
This want of constancy seems to me to indicate that there is yet to be found some factor in this connection which will explain the variations in the mutual behaviour of the rat and human plague curves which are at present so puzzling.
The total number of plague infected rats recorded up to end of July in 1904 in Hongkong is 624, of which 222 bave been found in houses.
This means that 355 per cent. of the plague infected rats came from premises of which the address is known with reasonable certitude.
This contrasts favourably with the results obtained during the corresponding period of 1903 when out of 2,549 rats reported infected only 43 came from known premises, a percentage of 166 only.
This also means that as far as rat plague is concerned an actual as well as relative increase has been made in the number of houses cleansed and disinfected.
The discovery of an infected rat in a house in a city is not evidence that that house is more dangerous to its inmates than the neighbouring houses are. No one can limit the wanderings of rats. But the general cleansing of the houses in the city and especially those areas in which plague, both human and rat, is worst com- bined with the special cleansing and disinfection of any premises where rat or human plague has been known is probably of great benefit, as by this means whole blocks of houses and areas of lanes and tenements are dealt with simultaneously.
The following statement in tabular form shews the houses in which plague infected rats and human plague cases also were found in 1904, either in the same house or next door to each other.
HEALTH DISTRICTS I AND II.
Address.
Plague rat on
Human case on
120, Queen's Road, East.
May 2nd
Nil.
14, Albany, Street.
May 30th
Case next door (118) July, 9th. Human case May 28th.
3, Star, Street.
July 11th
Do.
July 13th
Case next door (4) June 6th
15, Moon Street.
July 11th
Case next door (13) April 7th
HEALTH DISTRICTS V AND VI.
51, Staunton Street.
April 6th
June 1st.
HEALTH DISTRICTS VII AND VIII.
1, New Street.
June 23rd
May 5th.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.