DISEASES CAUSED BY INFECTED MILK 133 



in color, and in some cases appears tenacious, slimy, ropy, 

 and contains flocculi and pus cells. The milk from such an 

 udder is objectionable from an aesthetic standpoint, and is 

 also liable to give rise to gastro-intestinal disorders, espe- 

 cially in children. The existence of a gargety cow in a herd 

 may be suspected if the milk contains many pus cells and 

 unusual numbers of streptococci. 



The milk regulations of practically every civilized coun- 

 try in the world forbid the use of the milk obtained from 

 a cow having any inflammatory condition of the udder. 

 Such regulations are wise, and inspectors as well as dairy- 

 men should keep a careful watch for this affection. 



Media fever 



Malta fever is a general infection not unlike other spe- 

 cific diseases, such as typhoid fever. It is caused by the 

 Micrococcus melitensis, discovered by Bruce in 1887 during 

 the earlier days of bacteriology. The disease is remarkable 

 in that it seldom leads directly to death, but is a long- 

 drawn-out affliction. It is not unusual for a patient to suffer 

 from malta fever from six months to two years, with rheu- 

 matic or neuralgic pains, sometimes swelling of the joints, 

 and low fever, profuse perspiration, constipation, and fre- 

 quent relapses. It prevails especially about the Mediter- 

 ranean basin. Authentic cases have recently been found 

 in Texas along the Rio Grande. 



Malta fever interests us especially because it is usually ^ 

 transmitted through goat's milk. It may also be trans- * 

 mitted in other ways, for example, the virus may be 

 taken into the system through wounds, or by food and 

 drink, other than milk. 



Goats are susceptible to malta fever and continue to dis- 

 charge the virus in the milk for a long time after they have 

 recovered from the disease. People who drink such milk in 

 its raw state are very apt to contract the disease. For this 

 important fact we are indebted to the reports of the British 



