Plague: Its Cause and the Manner of its Extension, Its Menace, Its Control and Suppression, Its Diagnosis and TreatmentJackson, Thomas Wright
History
Plague: Its Cause and the Manner of its Extension, Its Menace, Its Control and Suppression, Its Diagnosis and Treatment
Jackson, Thomas Wright
Plague; Rats as carriers of disease
On November 27, 1912, a sick cat was brought to the
laboratory for examination. It was reported that the animal
was found in a warehouse in which dead rats had been found
some time previously. The rats were not examined. In the
morning of the 30th, the cat was found dead in the cage where
it had been kept under observation. The following are the
post-mortem findings:
The animal was a fairly well-nourished female.[16] The
subcutaneous tissue, pericardium, mediastinum, and
mesenterium contained considerable amounts of fat.
[16] The cat was the mother of 4 kittens which were about 3
weeks old at the time the cat was delivered for examination.
They were kept under observation for several weeks, but
showed no signs of plague infection.
The subcutaneous tissue of the neck showed œdema and small
hemorrhages. The submaxillary tissues were swollen on both
sides. When the fasciæ and superficial muscles of the neck
were removed, enlarged glands were found on both sides. These
were closely attached to the submaxillary salivary glands.
The surrounding tissue was œdematous, but no hemorrhages were
noticed in the vicinity of the enlarged glands. Upon section
the glands were found to be necrotic, and upon pressure a
thin purulent liquid escaped. There were no hemorrhages
within the glands. Several enlarged lymph-nodes, smaller in
size, could be followed down the neck on the left side. The
lymph-nodes in the axillæ as well as in the groins and
peribronchial nodes were normal. The mesenteric glands were
slightly enlarged and reddened.
The lungs were slightly collapsed. A clear, sanguineous,
slightly coagulated effusion was observed in both pleural
cavities. The tissue of the lungs showed considerable œdema
and hypostasis. The bronchi and pharynx showed no changes,
the mucous membrane being pale and thin.
The heart was normal.
The spleen was enlarged, of light red color, with follicles
slightly prominent.
The stomach contents was blackish in color; there were no
hemorrhages or ulcers in the mucosa.
The liver was somewhat enlarged. The organ showed prominent
structure, the centres of the acini being red, the periphery
lighter in color.
The kidneys were slightly enlarged and pale. The capsule
peeled off easily, the venæ stellatæ were prominent, the
surface smooth; there were no hemorrhages. The cortex was
increased in breadth and was of the same color as the
surface; the pyramids were darker in color. The organ was of
fragile consistence.
Suprarenals were normal, as were also intestine and bladder.
The histological findings were as follows:
_Bubo._--The capsule of the gland was œdematous. The whole
gland as seen in cross section had undergone necrosis, except
a few foci which still showed cellular structure.
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