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109
Bubonic Plague.
In the report for August and September (Sanitary
Chronicle 1900, p. 96), 191)0, the writer recorded the fact of
plague having broken out in Glasgow ; and now for the second
time after the interval of a year, undoubted cases of plague
have occurred not only in Glasgow, but in Liverpool. The
introduction of plague into this Borough, or into any part
of the Metropolis is, therefore, not impossible and if there is
any reasonable precaution that can be adopted, it should be
immediately put into force.
The careful investigations of a number of observers
have now established the important fact that the propagation
of plague is intimately connected with the presence of
rats; so much so, that it may be confidently asserted that
in any locality free from rats, the plague is not likely to
spread to any great extent. Infected garments, infected
food, infected dust and even actual contact with the sick
playing a subordinate part. Unfortunately, at the present
time, owing to the extensive demolition of houses and the
breaking up of old drains or the disuse of the same, rats
swarm in certain portions of the district, the exits from the
sewers being extremely numerous. Besides this in the 30
miles or so of old Westminster sewers, there are a vast
number of imperfect brick connections and old disused drains,
all affording facilities for rats to multiply, burrow, and make
their way into houses. The writer, therefore, brought this
subject lately before the Public Health Committee, suggesting
the appointment of a sufficient staff of properly qualified
men to make a systematic inspection of the sewers, sealing
up as they go all rat-runs and disused drains, and reporting
faulty connections. The Public Health Committee unanimously
approved the report and passed a resolution referring
the same to the Works Committee under the jurisdiction of
which Committee are all matters relating to the sewers.
Scarlet Fever and Diphtheria.
It will be seen by a reference to the curve on the
opposite page, that both scarlet fever and diphtheria are
below the average for the corresponding five weeks of
previous years.