Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-07-30
july27d1w


rapidly. On the part of the flea the
pathogenic germs in the blood which
he draws from the diseased rat find a
congenial soil in the intestinal tract of
the flea and have a tendency to multi
ply there without affecting the vitality
or the activity of the flea. Five thou
sand plague bacilli may find a favor
able resting place within the flea.
In experimental work plague Is cas-
lily transmissible to guinea pigs and
other animals through the bites of
fleas from rats affected with plague.
Plague may also be given to animals
by the bites of human fieas though not
so readily.
Plague is Not a Filth Disease.
It is a disease due to rats and. rat
fieas and not to filth or dirty habits.
If bitten by an infectious flea, person
who is cleanly in his personal habits
acquires plague as certainly as the
person of filthy habits and surround
ings. For instance, when plague was
in San Francisco a well-housed, and
neat and clean and thrifty German
family was wiped out by plague with
the single exception of an eighteen
known focus of infection near them,
but when the wooden flooring of the
house and back yard were torn up the
carcasses of nineteen plague infected
rats were found. Filth, dust, or rub
bish predisposes to plague only as
they serve as hiding places for rats
and ffeas
The Period of Incubation.
The period elapsing between the re-
ception of the Infection into the sys-
ten and the appearance of the first
symptoms is usually from two to five
days. 1t may be as short as twenty
four hours and it may be extended to
ten to twelve days. .,-z.
symptoms.
The early symptoms of plague are
much like those which characterized
most of the other acute infectious dis
eases-shivering, fever, flushed face,
nausea and vomiting, severe head
ache depression. When a bubo APP
pears it is usually ushered in with in
tense pain, even before the beginning
of the swelling. The uubo may re-
main small or 1t may reach the size
of mans fist. 1t may attain large
size in few hours, or take several
days for it's development. The ap-
pearance of the bubo. the swelling in
the groin, armpit or neck, Is a de-
cidedly characteristic feature in the
bubonic form of plague.
In the septicemic variety of the dis
ease, the bacilli invade the general
circulation in large numbers at the
81 NO
glands show no special enlargement
during life. The system is profoundly
affected by the amount and the in
tensity of the virus and the course is
almost inevitably to a fatal termina-
ton.
Pneumonia plague is also unaccom-
panied by external swellings. The
primary localization of the infection is
usually in the lungs. though in some
cases a few days may elapse before the
lung symptoms develop,
Signs Of Impending Danger
Rats. when affected with plague,
sometimes die in large numbers in
their burrows, but it has many times
been observed that after they have
sickened. they leave their holes and
wander around in dazed condition in
rooms to which they have access, or
about yards. having apparently lost
all sense of fear and their instinct OF
self preservation. Whenever it is
noticed that there is an unusual NOR
tality among these animals It should
suggest the possibility that there is
plague among them and that it may
be a precursor of the epidemic among
the human population which will be
likelv to follow in the absence of ade-
ouate preventive measures.
Preventive Measures.
To forestall an outbreak of plague
at any port or in any community TO
which there is reason to believe that
infected rats may have come, the cam
paign against these rodents should be
begun with traps and poison ana
starvation, not only for their destruc-
ton. but for their investigation to de-
termine whether any of them are az
fected with plague.
With the finding of the characters
tic LESSONS of rat plague, confirmed by
bacteriologic findings, there should be-
gin a rapid aggressive campaign
against these rodents.
Eradicative Measures.
Concurrently with the work aimed di-
rectly at the destruction of the rats, the
public should be instructed to do their
part in the Important work of cutting off
the food supplies Of these animals, and
the requirements in this direction should
be strictly enforced under the provis-
ions of rules and regulations or bylaws
made by the state or municipal health
authorities.
Care of Patients.
All sick persons should Immediately be
removed to an isolation hospital which
is rat-proofed and screened against files
and mosquitoes. Here, the patients
should be stripped as soon as they are
admitted and receive cleansing and eis-