424 The Philippine Journal of Science i9is 



ing from plague infection. The author also undertook a few 

 experiments, and arrived at the following conclusions : 



1. Cats suffer from plague. 



2. The disease may be acute or chronic. 



3. The type of the disease is septicaemic. 



4. The animals may occasionally play a part in the dissemination of 

 plague. 



5. In plague-infected areas cats pi-obably become infected through rats, 

 which they devour as food. 



6. In plague-infected districts possible plague infection in cats is of 

 great importance from a domestic point of view. 



On November 27, 1912, a sick cat was brought to the labora- 

 tory for examination. It was reported that the animal was 

 found in a warehouse in which dead rats had been found some 

 time previously. The rats were not examined. In the morning 

 of the 30th, the cat was found dead in the cage where it had 

 been kept under observation. The following are the post- 

 mortem findings : 



The animal was a fairly well-noui-ished female.'" The subcutaneous 

 tissue, pericardium, mediastinum, and mesenterium contained considerable 

 amounts of fat. 



The subcutaneous tissue of the neck showed oedema and small haemor- 

 rhages. The submaxillary tissues were swollen on both sides. When the 

 fascia and superficial muscles of the Jieck were removed, enlarged glands 

 were found on both sides. These were closely attached to the submaxillary 

 salivary glands. The surrounding tissue was oedematous, but no haemor- 

 rhages wei*e noticed in the vicinity of the enlarged glands. Upon section 

 the glands were found to be necrotic, and upon pressure a thin purulent 

 liquid escaped. There were no haemorrhages within the glands. Several 

 enlarged lymph nodes, smaller in size, could be followed down the neck on 

 the left side. The lymph nodes in the axillae as well as in the groins and 

 peribronchial nodes were normal. The mesenteric glands were slightly en- 

 larged and reddened. 



The lungs were slightly collapsed. A clear, sanguinous, slightly coagu- 

 lated effusion was observed in both pleural cavities. The tissue of the lungs 

 showed considerable oedema and hypostasis. The bronchi and pharynx 

 showed no changes, the mucous membrane being pale and thin. 



The heart was normal. 



The spleen was enlarged, of light red color, with follicles slightly 

 prominent. 



The stomach contents was blackish in color; there were no hemorrhages 

 or ulcers in the mucosa. 



" The cat was the mother of 4 kittens which were about 3 weeks old 

 at the time the cat was delivered for examination. They were kept under 

 observation for several weeks, but showed no signs of plague infection. 



