300 The 'Book of the Goat. 



their own households, it is well that I should state, on 

 the authority of Dr. Eyre, that no case is on record of 

 any person having been attacked by this disease from 

 drinking the milk of goats in England. In every instance 

 where symptoms of the fever have been manifested in 

 this country it has been traceable to recent sojourn in 

 Malta or the neighbourhood. Some twenty years or so 

 ago Maltese goats were frequently brought into this, 

 country, being landed from yachts and vessels on which 

 the milk from these animals had been used for passengers, 

 and I myself have had several at different times in my 

 own herd; but I never knew of a case of illness arising 

 therefrom. It is quite possible, nay probable, that the 

 microbe to which the disease is due was present in the 

 blood of some of these imported Maltese goats; but as 

 stated above, the coccus can only develop and become a 

 source of danger under climatic conditions which do not 

 obtain in this country. -- 



