The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-11-25
FROM GOATS
Disease Has Been Known to Ex-
ist for Many Years.
Belief 10 General In Sections Where it
Prevails That II ls Connected With
Herdine Industry - Has
Many Names.

Auctin. Tex.-Some weeks ago the
presence of Malta fever in Texas was
announced by the Journal OF the Amer
lean Medical Association. Further in
vestigations by medical officers OF the
United States army show the presence
OF this disease in a considerable Sec
ton OF Texas. in which goat raising
is an important industry. An area
approximating 300 miles along the Rio
Grande and extending 90 miles to the
! north. including the Nueces and lower
Pecos river countries was examined
For the past Sc years the raising OF
goats has been the principal occupa
ton of this section.
Careful inquiries through this Sec
ton show that for many years there
has existed. principally in the Nue.
ces and lower Pecos river countries. a
continued fever characterized by fire.
quent relapses. pains In the joints and
very low mortality This fever has
been known to exist in Edwards coun.
ty. at the head Of the Nueces river,
for period of at least rs years II
has been known there as slow fever.
continued fever and occasionally BY
the significant term Of goat fever.
During the summer Of 1894 about
20 cases Of fever occurred in the Nue..
ces river canyon. almost entirely in
families that had goat pens immedi.
ately surrounding the houses.
More recently q number Of cases
have occurred near Barksdale each
year. Many people have believed that
the disease was in some manner con.
tracted from goats and occasionally
have applied to II the term goat
fever" 1t has also been called dust
fever" on the theory that 1t came
from working In dusty goat pens.
Since the disease is more prevalent
during the months Of May. June and
July. when the prevailing wind is from
the south. some Of the goat herders.
have located their goat pens on the
north side Of their houses to avoid the
dust. The Mexican goat herders have
long believed that slow fever was due
to drinking unboiled goats milk. and
for this reason. and also because II
improves the taste. practically all Mex
leans drink only milk which has been
boiled.
The disease appeared in the Pecos
river country about ten years ago. and
1t has been known there as slow To-
yer or Rio Grande fever Owing to
the fact that the country is very
sparsely settled in that locality. the
disease has failed to attract much at
tention, but II is certain that a few
cases have occurred there each year
for several years past
In order to ascertain the source of
infection definitely careful examina-
ton of the goat herd at Langtry was
made. Twenty-three female goats were
examined. with the result that eight
out of 2S goats t34.7 per cent? were
found to be infected.
Malta fever is prevalent throughout
the older goat-raising sections of
Texas. and probably large proper
ton of the cases will be found to be
suffering from Malta fever.
All cases of Malta fever found have
occurred in the territory devoted to
goat raising and all patients either
have a history Of drinking unboiled
goats milk or were actively connected
With the goat raising industry.