192 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



autopsy, which showed that the child's skull had been pene- 

 trated by the rat's teeth, which had not, however, reached the 

 brain. The internal organs examined were infected. The 

 anatomical diagnosis was "streptococcus septicaemia." Dr. 

 O'Shea says : — 



From the fact that the autopsy and microscopical and bacteriological 

 examinations revealed nothing other than the presence of streptococcus 

 sepsis to which the child's death could be attributed, together with the 

 absolute knowledge of the rat bite, it seems reasonable to give the latter 

 as the primary cause of death in this case. 



In reply to another letter, Dr. George Burgess Magrath, 

 medical examiner, northern district, Suffolk County, who per- 

 formed the autopsy, writes as follows: — 



In reply to your letter of September 25 I beg to state that the child 

 in question died from streptococcus septica?mia about two and a half 

 days subsequently to infection of the scalp, presumably and evidently 

 caused by rat bite. Although the incidence of the septica?mia was quite 

 rapid, I have no doubt that it was in consequence of the injury specified. 



The term "rat poisoning," which you use, I am not familiar with; 

 I assume it to be co-ordinate with septicaemia. 



This occurrence should warn all hospital authorities to keep 

 their premises clear of rats. I happen to know that at least 

 one hospital is infested, and there may be others. 



On the other hand, the unreasonable fear of rats exhibited by 

 many people is ridiculous. Some women go into hysterics at 

 the sight of a rat, and there are tales of people made tem- 

 porarily insane by contact with the creatures. The bite of the 

 rat is not always and perhaps not often infectious. In my own 

 case it was followed by inflammation, suppuration and pain, 

 which }_lasted many days, after which there was no further 

 inconvenience. 



Dr. Horder, of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, reported 

 three cases of a disease, previously undescribed, which he called 

 rat-bite fever. Having been bitten by a rat, each patient, 

 after an incubation period of three or four weeks, suffered in- 

 flammation of the lymph channels in the tissues about the bite, 

 accompanied by malaise, anorexia and fever. Hard, reddened 

 patches appeared distributed over the skin, and tender swellings 



