

377 
A Preliminary Note on the Susceptibility of Goats to Malta Fever. 
By Dr. T. Zammit, Member of the Mediterranean Fever Commission. 
(Communicated by Colonel D. Bruce, C.B., F.R.S., R.A.M.C. Received 
July 25, 1905.) 
Experiment 1—White Goat. To note the effect of feeding goats on material 
containing Micrococcus melitensis— 
1904, Sept. 15.—Examined blood for agglutination. Negative. 
18.—Fed this goat, adding the contents of an agar tube culture 
| of M. melitensis, 
Dec. 3.— Blood has reacted in dilutions of 1 in 20 to 1 in 100, but 
the temperature curve shows no rise. Fed again in the 
same way. 
23.—Blood reacts 1 in 300. 
1905, Apr. 29.—Blood reacts 1 in 100. Goat still alive. 
Hxpervment 2.—Red Goat— 
1904, Dec. 3.—Blood reaction negative. Fed as in Experiment 1. 
| 5.—Fed again. 
15.—Blood reaction negative. 
23.—Blood reacts 1 in 20; 1 in 50 after half an hour. 
1905, Apr. 29.—Blood reacts 1 in 50. 
These two experiments led me to the belief that goats are susceptible to 
Malta fever, and that the disease may be spread to human beings by goats. 
Expervment 3.—Examination of the blood of goats suffering from naturally 
acquired Malta Fever by the agglutination test— 
1905, June 14.—Examined the blood of six goats which were bought out 
of two different herds on the 12th inst. 
Goat No. 1—Strong immediate reaction, in dilution of 1 to 20. 
Goat No. 2.—Strong immediate reaction, in dilution of 1 to 20. 
Goat No. 3.—Strong reaction, after half an hour. 
Goat No. 4.—No reaction. 
Goat No. 5.—Strong reaction, after half an hour. 
Goat No. 6.—Strong immediate reaction. 
On June 15 the bloods were again examined, with identical results. On 
VOL. LKXVI.—B. 2¢ 
