﻿16 The Philippine Journal of Science ^^^* 



cable, were carried out ; rat runs were obliterated ; where neces- 

 sary, ground surfaces were cemented; and all harboring places 

 were destroyed wherever practicable. By the time that these 

 operations had extended to the infected house, the sanitary 

 engineer of the Bureau of Health made a careful inspection of 

 the infected house and issued the necessary sanitary orders to 

 make it rat proof. In accordance with the Manila ordinance, 

 the Bureau of Health has authority to order even extensive 

 structural changes in houses in which plague has occurred. 



In the meantime, the sanitary force connected with the station 

 of the district was busily engaged in making house-to-house 

 inspections in order to ascertain whether or not there were any 

 additional human cases. Constant inquiry was made as to 

 whether any unusual mortality was apparent among rats. The 

 public was particularly requested to report all dead rats found, 

 and these were promptly taken to the laboratory. 



Active steps were taken to deprive rats of their food supply. 

 All garbage was put into metal containers covered with tight- 

 fitting lids. Hay, oats, corn, fodder, and feed for animals gen- 

 erally were ordered placed in rat-proof containers. 



More extensive rat catching was immediately begun in sus- 

 pected areas in all other districts of Manila in order to ascertain 

 whether there was any other rat-plague infection. 



It was hoped that by employing such means, accurate infor- 

 mation would be available for detecting an outbreak in advance 

 and taking sanitary measures before human cases could occur. 



PREVENTION OF SPREAD OF PLAGUE FROM MANILA TO THE 



PROVINCES 



At the railway warehouses, men were stationed to inspect all 

 cargo that was shipped from the city, and in many instances 

 in which it was suspected of containing rats it was repacked. 

 To prevent the spread of the disease by sea, all vessels were 

 required to use rat guards, and fumigations were made at in- 

 tervals of a few months. All lighters, cascos, and other craft 

 used in transporting cargo from ships to shore were also included 

 in these fumigations. All ports in the Philippines to which these 

 vessels proceeded imposed antirat regulations against such vessels. 

 They were required to use rat guards wherever they went along- 

 side of docks or piers and also to undergo medical examination. 

 Fortunately, the water front of Manila and the warehouses from 

 which ships load did not become rat-plague infected. 



