THE GOAT
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—I notice that J. U. C. Desborough writing on " The Goat " in your issue of November 2nd, takes exception to some of my remarks as to British goats not being purveyors of Malta Fever, and particularly the following : " since in England there is no Malta fever, the goat cannot carry this disease to human beings vid its milk."
Mr. Desborough goes on to say that this statement seems a little sweeping since Miss Evans of the U.S_. Department of Agriculture in 1917 definitely proved that the bacillus asso- ciated with Malta Fever and the Bacillus Aborties Bang, responsible for contagious abortion in cattle and undulent fever in man are one and the same. I have never in my experience (extending over forty years, during five of which I acted as bacteriologist at the R.N. Hospital, Haslar) met with, or even heard of, Malta fever being contracted in Eng- land either through milk or otherwise ; everyone knows that goats can spread Malta fever where that disease exists ; but I repeat that goats cannot carry Malta fever germs unless they have these germs to carry, which is what Punch would call a glimpse of the obvious
As regards the alleged role of goats as carriers of the Bacillus Aborties Bang, if goats are carriers of this bacillus can Mr. - Desborough explain why it is that in many instances owners of valuable herds keep one or more goats to run with their cows as a preventive against abortion ?-4 am, Sir; &c.,
' = - 0. ANDanws (Surg. Captain; R.N.); 31-.011. for West Gloucestershire.
St. Briavels, S.O. Gloucestershire.
Previous page
