


BUBONIC PLAGUE 
BUBONIC PLAGUE 
Since the sixth century, Bubonic 
Plague has swept three times over the 
world, killing millions of people. 
It is a bacterial disease, 
primarily of the rat, 
spread and carried to man by the bites of 
infected fleas. 
In California two species of squirrels 
are subject to the disease, 
while in Asia 
the marmot must be reckoned with. 
To control the plague we must fight the 
rat and the other rodents mentioned. 
The most effective measures are: 
1. Prevention of rat breeding — Clean 
up rubbish and cut off the rats’ 
food supply. 
2. Destruction of rats— Poison or trap 
them and _ fumigate enclosed 
spaces. 
3. Exclusion of rats from dwellings by 
rat-proofing. 
4. Quarantine against vessels from in- 
fected regions by placing rat guards 
on the hawsers, etc. 
Plague, under certain conditions, 
may also be spread by the mouth spray 
from a coughing patient. 
A fair degree of immunity may be 
produced for a short time by the use of 
vaccine. 
(Notes RELATING TO 
EXHIBITs ) 
CHART 7 gives the range of each 
pandemic. 
CHARTS 9 to 12 are copies of old 
paintings, showing how the scourge 
impressed the ancients. 
An enlarged glass model of the germ 
(Bacillus pestis) will be found in 
WALL CASE 5, and on the same 
snelf are displayed four species of rats 
most often concerned. CENTER 
CASE 12 contains a model of part of 
an actual house, which was badly in- 
fested with rats. 
A flea is mounted under a lens in 
WINDOW CASE 3 and an accurate 
model of the insect, magnified one 
hundred and twenty times, is installed 
in a case at the entrance to the Hall. 
Mounted specimens are in WALL 
CASE 5, andin CENTER CASE 13 
the most important species is shown 
in its natural surroundings. 
CHART 8 summarizes the methods 
of control and CHART 13 shows some 
phases of an anti-plague campaign in 
New Orleans. 
In WALL CASE <5 are three good 
traps and beside them is a model 
showing the results from their use. 
On the 1st shelf is a model of a farm 
protected against rats 
and one of a 
schooner with rat guards in position. 
On the top shelf of WALL CASE s5 
are shown the costume and respirator 
worn to protect against this danger. 
Samples of the commercial product 
are just beneath. 
