Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-11-02
FEVER FROM GOATS
Disease Has Been Known to Ex-
Ist for Many Years.
Belief Is General in Sections Where it
Prevails That II Is Connected With
Herdina Industry - Has
Many Names.

Austin, Tex.-Some weeks ago the
presence Of Malta fever in Texas was
announced by the Journal OF the Amer
lean Medical Association. Further in
vesttgations 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 800 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 35 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.
continued fever characterized by fire.
quent relapses. pains in the joints and
a 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 % years. II
/ has been known there as slow fever,
| continued fever and occasionally by
/ the significant term of goat fever.
During the summer CT 1894 about
/ % 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 a number Of cases
have occurred near Barksdale each
i year. Many people have believed that
the disease was in some manner con-
/ tracted from goats and occasionally
have applied to it the term goat
fever" 1t has also been called dust
fever" on the theory that it 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 it
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
it has been known there as slow fe-
yer Nor 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 it is certain that q few
cases have occurred there each year
for several years past.
In order to ascertain the source of
Infection definitely a careful examina.
ton of the goat herd at LangtTy was
made. Twenty-three female goats were
examined, with the result that eight
out of % goats (34.7 per cent? were
found to be infected.
Malta fever is prevalent throughout
the older goat-raising sections OF
Texas. and probably a 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 tc
goat raising and all patients either
have history of drinking unboiled
goats milk or were actively connected
with the goat raising industry