BACTERIOLOGY AND THE WAR. 9 
The average number of cases of Mediterranean Fever 
among the Army and Navy for five years preceding 1906 
was 555. In the second half of 1906 the drinking of goats’ 
milk was prohibited, and there were 270 cases of fever. In 
ec 20; m 1908, 11; m 1909, 11; im 1910, 4; m 1911, 9; 
in 1912, 6. The disease is still verv prevalent among the civil 
population who persist in drinking goats’ milk, for the average 
number of cases during the five years preceding 1906 was 632, 
but they had only diminished to 318 in 1910.* 
Think of the true significance of this astonishing discovery. 
Visitors to Malta will remember how the ubiquitous goats 
increase the picturesqueness of the streets. Yet these harmless- 
looking, common, domesticated animals, apparently in perfect 
health, are veritable breeding grounds of micrococci, or “germ 
carriers,” and have been spreading Mediterranean Fever for 
hundreds of years—and no man knew it. 
Fortunately, Malta Fever has been rare in this War 
- amongst our troops, and is not likely to occur in epidemic 
form. 
SpottepD Frver oR CEREBRO-SPINAL MENINGITIS. 
This is caused by a small round microbe or coccus which 
is difficult to grow artificially. It produces inflammation of the 
coverings of the brain and spinal cord, which often terminates 
fatally. Isolated cases of the disease frequently occur amongst 
children, particularly in the spring and autumn, and occasion- 
ally it breaks out in epidemic form; thus eight years ago, 
1,000 cases occurred in Glasgow, nearly half of which died. 
This organism has caused the Military Authorities serious 
trouble during last sprmg and autumn, for many outbreaks 
of meningitis occurred, particularly in the South of England. 
* Hyre, Lancet, 1912, Vol. I, p. 88, and private communication. . 
