Reports and papers on suspected cases of human plague in East Suffolk and on an epizootic of plague in rodents.

Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Reports and papers on suspected cases of human plague in East Suffolk and on an epizootic of plague in rodents. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    When apparent lo(-alisatiou was established, the Board under- took a comprehensive scheme of delimitation by the examination of rats in all the districts within a belt surrounding the known infected areas. This scheme is further mentioned on p. v. It suffices to state here that no new infected area was discovered. The following chronological statement indicates the course of events: — October 2nd. Four deaths at Freston reported to the Board. ,, 3rd. The Board’s inspector visited the locality. ,, 8th. The first infected rat and hare secured for examination were examined by the Board’s bacteriologist. October to November 10th. Infected rats and a few hares discovered in eight sanitary districts. November lOtb to date. No new infected districts dis- covered.* Fukther Action ry the Board. (a) Infected Districts. From the first it was realised that grave significance attached to the presence of a focus of plague in rodents in East Suffolk, and that no efforts should be spared in coping with the situation. The most urgent step was that of warning and stimulating to activity the local aiithorities and their officers in the known infected districts. Two inspectors, Drs. Fletcher and Reece, in addition to Dr. Bulstrode, took up this work, conferring with and advising-also the officers of local authorities outside the known infected area. Every sanitary district in the administrative counties of East and West Suffolk and in the north-east portion of Essex was visited, as well as a few districts in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk; and the necessary precautions were fully discussed with all the officers concerned. These are set out in full in Dr. Bulstrode’s report. (6) England and Wales. In order that every sanitary authority in England and Wales might be put on the alert to detect any human or rodent cases of plague, the Board sent out a circular letter covering a Memorandum on Plague, by the Medical Officer of the Board {see pp. 71 to 77); and attention \vas draw n to the fact that the Board were prepared to continue their practice of many years to examine material from human beings or from rodents, forwarded by medical officers of health, which might be regarded with suspicion {see p. 78). A special circular letter {see p. 79) was also sent to the principal port sanitary authorities advising the examination of rats with a view’ to ascertaining whether any were infected with plague. ff>a ^ A regarded as infected until the presence of plague infec- n rodents has been established by inoculation tests on animals. Experience M shown that post-mortem examination of suspected material followed by icro^opical and cultural tests does not ordinarily suflSce to establish a nennite diagnosis of plague.