﻿12 The Philippine Journal of Science i9i4 



the hollow bamboos, and our experience in the Philippines there- 

 fore fully confirmed the experience of the Javanese authorities. 



RELATIONSHIP OF HUMAN TO RAT PLAGUE 



In the 68 cases of human plague, rats afflicted with plague 

 were only found on three occasions in the house or premises in 

 which the victim died or worked. The first of these instances 

 has already been mentioned under the head of explosive out- 

 break at the Azcarraga station of the Manila Railroad Company. 

 The second occurred in a jewelry shop, and will be discussed 

 under the head of multiple house infection. The third was that 

 which resulted in the death of the editor of the Manila Daily 

 Bulletin. 



It is also of interest to know that human plague existed for 

 over two months before any rat plague could be found. Not- 

 withstanding the foregoing, an examination of the map in the 

 appendix of this report shows that by districts there was a very 

 close relationship between human and rat plague in Manila, and 

 in none of the human cases, after rat plague had once been 

 discovered, could a history be obtained that the human victim 

 had not been in the district in which plague rats were found. In 

 every instance, he either lived or worked in such a section. 



MULTIPLE HOUSE INFECTIONS 



The first instance of multiple house infection was that already 

 described under explosive human outbreak, which occurred at the 

 freight warehouse of the Azcarraga railway station. The next 

 was reported on February 18 at 1028 Calle Comercio. A Chinese 

 boy, aged 15, died of plague on the 12th, and a Chinese, aged 50, 

 died of plague on February 18. During the week ending April 

 27, there were 5 cases of plague, all in Filipinos, that occurred 

 among the employees of a silversmith shop at 1364 Calle Sande. 

 These men were all employed on the first floor, which was of 

 cement. Ordinarily, such construction would be regarded as rat 

 proof; but, owing to the openings which resembled rat holes, 

 found near the sides, and cracks located here and there, it was 

 deemed advisable to tear out the floor. Several mummified rats 

 were found underneath, the death of which was in all prob- 

 ability due to plague, although this fact could not be definitely 

 established. It is assumed that the fleas made their way through 

 the cracks in the floor or perhaps left a plague-sick rat during 

 its migrations through the shop. This was another striking 

 instance of the close relationship which exists between rat and 

 human plague. 



