Reports and papers on suspected cases of human plague in East Suffolk and on an epizootic of plague in rodents.
- Date:
- 1911
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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![Bacteriological Diagnosis, without cost to the local authority, of material sent to the Board’s medical officer by the medical officer of health from the earliest suspected cases. Isolation and Observation of “ co/itacts.”—Although it is ouly in the pneumonic form of disease that personal infection is likely to occur, the isolation of all patients suffering from plague is desirable, among other reasons, because disinfection and the dis- infestation of premises from vermin can be more efficiently secured after the patient’s removal. It is important to keep under observation those who have been in contact with the patient or exposed to the same conditions. The Production of Personal Immunity.—Those persons who are liable to be exposed to direct infection will do well also to protect themselves beforehand by means of the plague prophylactic, which had been found to be successful in India in protecting attendants and others exposed to infection under very dangerous conditions. Plague prophylactic should be obtained by the medical officers of health of districts actually invaded by plague, for the protection of doctors and nurses who may have to attend cases of plague, or others who may be exposed to infection. Any person attending a patient with recognised or suspected pneu- monic plague should use strict precautions to avoid infection. Among such precautions may be mentioned personal cleanliness, especially of the hands, and the use of a respirator containing a him of cotton, made to cover the nose and mouth. The part played by man in spreading bubonic plague is small. Hence measures taken against him have a correspondingly limited influence in preventing the propagation of plague. In the case of pneumonic plague dii’ect personal infection occurs. Such outbreaks are successfully dealt with by isolation of the patients and observation of contacts. (b.) Precautions in regard to Inanimate Objects. These are concerned with the destruction of infective material derived from man or from animals, and with removing the harbourage for rats. As already stated, the plague bacillus does not live long out- side the animal body, even in excreta or in discharges from the lungs or abscesses. It is, however, important thoroughly to disin- fect and cleanse infected dwellings. The disinfection and cleans- ing which will be most efficient will be such as will secure the dis-infestation of the rooms and of all articles of bedding and clothing from fleas. Clothing, which may harbour infected fleas, is dangerous. Fleas are to be found in dust and rubbish in dirty, untidy houses; hence the importance of domestic cleanliness in the prevention of plague. The removal of all heaps of refuse, especially of garbage afford- ing food for rats, the removal of empty boxes or any rubbish allowing rats to hide near houses, the stopping u]> of rat^runs with broken glass and tar, the repairing or re-laying of drains in houses where there are rat-runs, are among tlie mo.st important methods for preventing tlie spread of plague by tlie rat. It is also important securely to stop up entrance to spaces under floors](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b22431937_0095.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
