Fleas and Plague 157 



taken there is always a chance that plague may be 

 transferred from them to human beings. The 

 records of the plague cases in California show at 

 least three cases in which there seems to be very 

 little doubt that the disease resulted from handling 

 plague-infected squirrels. 



A still more serious thing is the possibility of the 

 disease remaining in a more or less virulent form 

 among the squirrels for some time, possibly for 

 years, and then breaking out again in some locality 

 where the rats or men may become infected. As 

 long as there is a trace of the disease among the 

 squirrels there is always the chance of it spreading, 

 so that new areas may become infested. Those in 

 charge of the plague-suppressive measures are fully 

 aware of these dangers and are making a careful 

 study of the situation and will doubtless be able 

 to cope with it successfully. It may be that the 

 squirrels will have to be exterminated in the in- 

 fected regions. This would be a long and difficult 

 task, but the success attending the fight against the 

 rats in a great city shows what can be done when 

 the determination to do it is there. 



REMEDIES FOR FLEAS 



We have seen how a great city set to work to rid 

 itself of the plague-sick rats. As a matter of fact 



