90 OMENTAL PLAGUE chap. 



to have spread to places on shore. But as regards two of these, 

 viz. the Friary in 1901 and the Niger in 1900, the spread on 

 shore is not alleged to have taken place through the medium of 

 infected rats, but occurred from direct contact with sick persons. 

 Indeed, as regards the Friary, bacteriological examination of rats on 

 board at the port of arrival gave negative results ; while, in the case 

 of the Niger, it is not clear that, on the particular voyage in question, 

 rats on board had plague. The Centauro, however, which reached 

 Ascension on 26th April 1899, is stated to have set up plague there 

 through plague-infected rats on board making their way on shore. 

 Four of the Centaurtfs crew were attacked by plague on the 27th and 

 28th April j they were taken ashore and three of them died. In the 

 Centauro's hold, while cargo was being discharged, some thirty dead 

 rats were found. A fortnight after her arrival an epidemic was 

 observed among rats on the Custom House premises. There was not 

 at the time any suspicion as to the disease, among either rats or men, 

 being plague. Plague was not, in fact, recognised in Ascension until 

 the following September. Other ways in which the disease may 

 have reached Ascension have been suggested ; and it is not clear 

 whether the Centauro was responsible or not for its introduction to 

 this place. 



The Gironde, also, is credited by one authority (Dr. Borel) with 

 having infected Loren9o Marques in 1898. She reached Lorenco 

 Marques on 21st October, and when her holds were opened there 

 large numbers of dead rats were found. After a week's stay she 

 left, and five days later human plague appeared on board. It is 

 affirmed that during discharge of the Gironde's cargo at Lorenco 

 Marques infection was conveyed ashore by rats. Plague was recog- 

 nised in this place towards the end of the following November. On 

 the other hand, it has also been alleged that there probably was 

 plague, in unrecognised form, in Lorenco Marques at the time the 

 Gironde called there, and that the Gironde was infected from Lorenzo 

 Marques. 



It must be observed, however, that most of the 28 vessels 

 under consideration had been fumigated at the port of arrival with 

 a view to secure destruction of rats on board ; which may be taken 

 to have diminished the risk of infected rats making their way ashore. 

 Among exceptions were the Marienburg and the South Garth, in 1900, 

 in which fumigation was not resorted to until after discharge of the 

 whole cargo ; seemingly also the Dundee in the same year ; and 



