Liver.—There was considerable congestion. The centres of the acini showed parenchymatous and fatty degeneration. The cells on the periphery of the acini exhibited typical fatty infiltration. The large blood-vessels and small ducts were without change.

Kidney.—The cells of the kidney showed various degrees of degeneration, ranging from parenchymatous to fatty infiltration. There were a few capillary hemorrhages and hyaline casts present.

Suprarenals.—These showed slight degeneration.

Spleen.—This organ showed congestion, a few hemorrhages, and bacterial emboli; otherwise normal.

The bacteriological examination of the material from this cat gave the following results:

  1. Smears:
    1. From the buboes showed degenerated leucocytes, many lymphocytes, and numerous bacteria, some of which resembled Bacillus pestis in their polar staining.
    2. From the spleen showed numerous plague-like, polar-stained bacilli. Round involution forms were present.
  2. Cultures:
    1. From the buboes were badly contaminated with Bacillus coli and Bacillus pyocyaneus colonies.
    2. From the spleen: A few scattered colonies of Bacillus pyocyaneus developed on the surface of the agar. Between the large colonies a scanty growth of dewy appearance was noticed. Smears made from this growth revealed plague-like bacilli of the cultural type, showing a few club-shaped involution forms. Subcultures were made in order to secure pure culture. They showed a pure growth of Bacillus pestis as indicated by the morphology of bacilli and shape of the colonies. Agglutination with plague-immune serum was positive.
  3. Inoculation experiments (vaccination method):
    1. One guinea-pig was inoculated with the material from the left bubo, another one with material from the right bubo. They died of plague on the third and fifth days, respectively.
    2. One guinea-pig was inoculated with the material from the spleen. It died of plague on the third day.
    3. One guinea-pig was inoculated with material from the nostrils obtained by swab. The animal survived, showing no indication of plague.
    4. One guinea-pig was inoculated with material from the rectum obtained by swab. It died of plague on the fifth day.

Although plague infection among cats is apparently a rare occurrence, the fact that cats may contract the disease in spite of the high degree of resistance to plague infection has to be considered from the hygienic standpoint.

To appreciate the important rôle which cats may play in the spreading of the disease one need only consider the close contact of these animals with rats on one side and human beings on the other. It is also a well-established fact that not only plague-infected cats, but also those which have devoured plague-infected material and remained apparently normal, may excrete plague bacilli which have retained their full virulence.

Notes on Plague in Hong Kong by Dr. Roberg.—During the Hong Kong epidemic of plague which preceded and was coincident with that of Manila, I visited that city twice (December, 1913, and July, 1914), but I did not closely investigate the methods adopted and carried out by the authorities there, for the reason that the Manila plan was so much more productive of results, as shown by the apparent inability of the Hong Kong officials to gain control of the disease. However, I received from Dr. David Roberg, of the Oregon State Board of Health, a copy of a report made by him to the Secretary of his State Board of Health, following an investigation of the Hong Kong epidemic and the methods there followed. I have Dr. Roberg's permission to use his report and it is herewith presented. It is dated Manila, April 16, 1914, and is as follows:

I have the following notes to present on the epidemic of bubonic plague in Hongkong.