The Colorado statesman., 1913-10-25
BOIL GOATS MILK
Facts of Practical Interest to All
Who Raise Goats.
Malta Fever Is Transmitted by AMI
mails Milk, and Has Affected Fam
lilies on Goat Ranches in Texas
and New Mexico.

hington.-Scientists of the bu-
reau of animal industry have COM
piled a bulletin which is of practical
such invalids as have been prescribed
goats milk as a diet.
Proofs have conclusively establish
ed that the transmission of a fever
known variously as Malta" ''moun-
tain,' SLOW typhoid" or by certain
other designations to man, is accom-
plished by the milk of infected goats.
Careful observation in Texas and
New Mexico show that the disease has
always made its appearance among
people connected with goat rails
Ing. Entire families have been
taken sick with 1t on goat ranches
The sickness appears usually after the
kidding season, during the months OF
April, May and June, when the peo.
pie are in closer contact with the
goats.
Observations have also shown that
Just over the border in Mexico goat
herders are not nearly so liable to the
disease. Conclusions have been drawn
that this is not due to any natural
immunity but to the fact that the
Mexicans always boil the milk before
drinking it. while the Americans use
1t raw
The general opinion has prevailed
that the United States is free from
Malta fever, and that the disease has
only occurred through importations.
However, 1t now seems evident that
the Malta fever has existed in Texas
and New Mexico for at least 25
years. The fever takes its name
from Great Britain's island in the
Mediterranean, where the disease has
been exceedingly prevalent among
British soldiers and sailors. Its oc-
currence In tropical and subtropical
localities has been noted in almost
every country. A number OF cases
have been reported among our sol
diers who had just returned from the
Philippine islands.
Pasteurization of infected milk for
20 minutes at 145 degrees Fahrenheit
is sufficient to destroy the organism
which transmits the disease There
fore. milk pasteurization for the de-
struction of typhoid and tuberculosis
germs will also be free from Malta fe-
yer germ
The symptoms of human beings are
usually pronounced and give rise to
more or less severe affection The
most striking symptom is an attack
of fever with periods of normal tenn
peratures. The duration of these pc
riods varies considerably during the
disease. The fever may be remittent
or intermittent: it may be continuous
ly high or low, and at all stages OF
the disease the type OF the fever may
change. 1t may be very acute from
the onset, the fever setting in with
chills and rise of temperature asso-
ciated with severe headache and pain
in the back, and a general i'll feeling.
The pulse and respirations are gen
orally affected in accordance with the
height of the fever. The course OF
the disease may extend for from six
weeks up to a year, and cases have
even been observed in which relapses
have occurred for three years. In
human beings the mortality is esti-
mated at three per cent.
In animals the course of the disease
always appears to be protracted Cases
have been noted in goats that extend
over a period of more than a year.
The prognosis in animals is always
favorable as far as the health is con-
cerned. But although the disease has
no active effect on goats, it's eradica-
ton must be considered for the public
health. and it Is particularly important
since there has been tendency re-
Gently among physicians to advise the
drinking of goats milk for children
and invalids.