PROCEEDINGS. 191 



cuts and abrasions, and everything pointed to the virus being introduced by 

 such an insect as the flea. He also explained the seasonal and endemic pre- 

 valence of plague in terms of the habits of rats and fleas. He pointed out that 

 infection in neighbouring towns and villages was chiefly conveyed by man to 

 rats by means of rat fleas carried on clothing. He concluded by pointing to 

 many facts in connection with the epidemiology of plague which could be ex- 

 plained in no other way than that the flea was the transmitter of infection — 

 such facts as the notorious infectivity of houses particularly at night, and the 

 efficiency of oil and tobacco as preventives against plague. He would have liked 

 to consider preventive measures against plague, but time did not permit. He 

 said, however, that to his mind since it was impossible to place a distance 

 between rats and man except by years of sanitary improvement and education, 

 the only method that held out any hope of salvation now and until sanitary 

 reforms were carried out, was to acquire immunity to plague by inoculation. 



The Honorary Secretary stated that Captain Listen's paper would be pub- 

 lished in full in the Society's Journal. 



OTHER PAPERS. 



The following papers were also read and discussed : — " Bee Culture in India," 

 by Major C. G. Nurse. " Description of a new Snake," " Oligodon McDougallt, 

 by Captain F. Wall, I.M.S., C.M.Z.S. "The Butterflies of Ceylon." by 

 Major N. Manders, R.A.M.C., F.Z.S., F.E.S. 



PALMS GROWING IN BOMBAY. 



Mr. H. M. Phipson exhibited photographs of 21 different species of palm 

 trees growing in Bombay under natural conditions. 



COBRAS DIGESTING WHOLE EGGS. 



Colonel W. B. Bannerman, I.M.S., stated that with reference to Mr. C. P. 

 George's paper on this subject, read at the last meeting of the Society, 

 he had, as then promised, made several experiments with the live cobras in his 

 possession at the Government Laboratory at Parel, which showed that a hen's 

 egg, with the shell intact, if pushed carefully down into the snake's stomach, 

 became entirely dissolved in the course of 48 hours. 



VANILLA FRUITING IN BOMBAY. 



Mr. C. D. Mahaluxmiwala exhibited a bunch of vanilla pods grown in the 

 Victoria Gardens, and explained the process of artificial fertilization which it 

 was necessary to resort to hi this country in the absence of the proper insect. 



