The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-06-24
INFECTED RATS
ARE DISCOVERED
CITY TO PAY BOUNTY TO ANY
ONE DELIVERING RATS TO
STATE LABORATORY BUILDING.

One rat known to have been plague
infected and another rat suspected Of
having plague were found yesterday.
and cyanid fumigation was ordered
for the buildings in this district by
DIR. Spencer. Guinea pigs We're inoc-
ulated with blood from the second rat
and until they have been given time
to develop the disease no official an
nouncement will be made. The fun1i-
CATION will rid the buildings OF all rats
and make them safe for human habi-
tation.
The city commissioners yeS<erday
agreed to pay a bounty of 10 q is Tor
each rat turned in at the laboratory
building Is any one in the city OF
Pensacola. Wien citizens catch rats
they are requested to Immediately dip
them in kerosine and take them to the
laboratory building where they vii. be
given certificate. Upon the prcscn-
tation OF the certificate to the city 10
cents for each rat caught will be paid.
The idea originated by DIR. w. D.
Mobiles. city Eealth physician.
Surgeon General II. s. Cumming and
Assistant Surgeon General Creel are
expected to arrive here today to look
over the situation and assist in the
epidemic. A meeting between the
state health and city officials will be
arranged when the situation will be
gone over thoroughly.
The following bulletin was issued
by DIR. Ralph ". Greene last night:
Pensacola. Fla. June 20, 1920.
One positive plague rat was discov-
cred by DR.. r. r. Spencer, u. S. Pub
lie Health Service, in an examination
of the dead rodent by him. at. the rat
laboratory today Another rat which
is clinically a positive plague rat was
examined. but official announcement
of the diagnosis of rat plague is with
held until inoculated guinea pigs are
given time to develop the disease and
are examined.
DIR. Spencer today launched pro-
gram of cyanid fumigation of certain
structures where plague rats are
thought to be. This form of fumiga-
ton will not only kill all rodents in
buildings but will make the places per-
fectly safe for human occupancy.
Surgeon General H. S. Cumming and
Assistant Surgeon General Creel will
arrive in Pensacola tomorrow. A con-
ference with state health officials and
city officials will be arranged at which
all phases of the present situation will
be discussed in the hope that addi-
tionaI preventative methods in the con-
troll of plague may be put into imme-
date effect.
Word was sent out today to the
principal newspapers of Florida that
because OF the discovery that fatal
case of plague occurred In Pensacola
on June second at a time when there
was no restrictions of coastwise ves-
sells and no inspection of rail freight,
infected rats might have gained access
to other ports, that thorough rat
examination campaign must be put in
to effect at once in all coast cities. 1t
viii be necessary to carry on this work
for long time in order to be assured
that no rat plague is existing now
DIR. b. T.. Arms, Director Bureau
Diagnostic Laboratories Is now on a
tour Of inspection of all coast cities of
Florida for the. purpose of instructing
doctors in the recognition of bubonic
plague and is also comforting with
city officials relative to a state wide
rat campaign.
Misses Griffith and Bait and Mr..
venters. psychologists of the State
Board OF Health, left for their respec-
tive stations today. having seen all
phases OF the laboratory methods of
diagnosis of plague while in Pensa-
VIOLA, including inspection of organs of
rat had guineas4p.s' sgus~seeNQg hui
man case. staining specimens frc.p all
sources for the Identification OF Nthe
plague bacillus and methods of growing
the germs on artificial culture media<
DIR. Spencer OF the U. S. Public Health
Service and DIR. Brink of the labora-
tory personnel of the State Board Of
Health gave them the instruction.
RALPH n. GREENE.
State Health Officer.