FLIES AS PLAGUE CARRIERS.
G. C. Frankland, in Nature. Yersin was at first of opinion that rats were the principal disseminators of the disease, for healthy mice shut up with a dead plague-stricken rat rapidly developed the disease and succumbed; but be noticed later the curious fact that, in the little room where he carried out his post mortem ex_mioati6ns, immense numbers of dead flies were scattered about in all directions. He therefore determined to ascertain if this wholesale slaughter of flies had any connection with plague infection ; so taking some of these insects, and first removing the head, wings and feet, he pounded up their bodies in broth. An examination later of the liquid exhibited masses of bacilli closely resembling the now familiar plague microbe ; to place their identity beyond doubt he inoculated, some of this broth into mice, with the result that the latter died of plague. That flies materially'assisted in the spread of the disease was thus established.
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Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9704, 17 April 1897, Page 2
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161FLIES AS PLAGUE CARRIERS. Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9704, 17 April 1897, Page 2
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