Posted 14 June 2012 - 04:09 PM
The 14th.Cent. plagues that decimated Europe consisted of 3 Yersinia pestis- caused infections, namely the best-known Bubonic (Which is very difficult to catch except through the direct bite from an infected animal) and which attacks the lymphatic system, the more virulent Pneumonic, which attacks and destroys the respiratory system, and the rarest but most virulent of the three - Septicemic, which attacks the blood stream.
I would suggest that either the rat was still alive and delivered the bite directly, or the cat had drawn the blood of the rat which entered the man's blood stream by way of the cat's bite to his hand. Either way, I don't envy him. Treatment (if administered withing 12 hours of being bitten is usually streptomycin.)
The bite most likely to cause septicemia BTW? Human!
"Gæð a wyrd swa hio scel, ac gecnáwan þín gefá!": "Fate goes ever as she shall, but know thine enemy!".
"I was born with a priceless gift - the ability to laugh at other peoples' troubles" - Dame Edna Everage