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With regard, however, to the remark that "as rats died first it appears to be amply
proved that the disease is conveyed not in the body but in or on clothes or some other
medium," reference may be made to what has been stated in a previous part of this report
that it seems likely that in many cases in which mortality among rats has appeared before
outbreaks of plague among human beings, the disease has actually been introduced in the
person of some human being whose attack of plague was either unrecognized or was not
brought to light. Mr. Silcock considers that the only theory that would appear to fit all the
facts of conveyance is infection by fleas and advocates a more thorough investigation into
the facts connected with it. He holds this opinion, however, on the supposition that the
" microbe cannot be kept alive on clothes for more than 7 or 8 days "—a supposition,
however, which has little evidence in its support.
Both Dr. Fateh Chand and Mr. Silcock call attention to the mild case of plague
which occur during the hot weather. The latter notes :—
" I think it desirable to call attention to the fact that although the district is now
free from official plague, it is not free from a modified form of it. There are a number of
cases through the district where buboes are occurring without any fever or other symptoms
of plague and where the patients (if they can be called so) go about their work without any
inconvenience. There appears little reason to doubt that this is real plague in a very diluted
form and that it is one of the ways in which the disease is kept alive in villages during the
autumn and winter months."
Although mention is made of the occurrences in the large number of villages of rat
mortality before outbreak of plague among human beings, no instance is recorded of the
actual conveyance of infection of plague from one village to another by rats.
The evidence that rats are largely disseminators of plague in villages already
infected is very great. This will appear from what is mentioned below with reference to
rat mortality.
Plague among rats and other animals.
(l) With regard to mortality among
rats the Deputy Commissioner notes :—
" In 14 villages, although rats died of plague, the village site was not evacuated and
no plague occurred among human beings.
'' In 33 other villages rats died, the village was evacuated, and no case of plague«
occurred.
" In 563 plague-stricken villages rats died before any case occurred among men.
" In only 88 villages, out of the total 698 affected, did cases occur among human be-
ings before it was observed among rats.
" There was an appreciable interval in most cases between the death of rats and the
outbreak of plague : all through the district in fact the death of rats acted as the danger
signal : those who took the warning escaped ; those who waited generally got plague."
Dr. Fateh Chand remarks :—
" The connection of the rats dying prior to plague outbreaks has been so recognised,
in the district that it is looked upon as a sure ' pilot ' of plague epidemic in a locality,"
Dr. Fateh Chand also .notes :—
" The death of rats in plague-stricken villages has been nearly absolute. They dis-
appeared from every village while plague still existed in them. This shows that plague is
much more fatal to them. In many villages they have not yet re-appeared, and in those
where they have re-appeared the period of absence after subsidence of plague has been- as
iong as three months or so." He also notes that where rats re-appear they are all
' youngsters.'
As regards measures for the destruction of rats, the Civil Surgeon notes:—
" No particular step was taken to catch and destroy rats. The general feeling
to such an undertaking shall now be considered unjustifiable by the people, as they have
recognised the value of their presence, and look upon their death as a sure message of the
onset of plague and would be at a loss in the event of their absence."
• With regard to plague among other animals, Dr. Fateh Chand states that he has
himself seen squirrels suffering. He states that they were paralyzed in the posterior half of
the body. In some places they died after plague had been some time among the people.
The deaths of cats and dogs were noticed in some badly infected villages, these deaths
being attributed to their having eaten rats that died of plague,