The truth about vivisection : pamphlets and leaflets published by The Research Defence Society during February-July, 1910.

  • Research Defence Society (Great Britain)
Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The truth about vivisection : pamphlets and leaflets published by The Research Defence Society during February-July, 1910. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    56/60
    they found that the fever could be conveyed in food. A little “pure culture ’’ of the germs was added to the food of some monkeys: and these monkeys all caught the fever. Thus Bruce and his colleagues were led to examine the food-supply of our garrison : and, since goats’ milk is so generally drunk in Malta, they examined the goats’ milk. The goats looked healthy enough : but many of them were found to have the germs in their blood, and in their milk. So the Commission tested some thousands of goats: and it was discovered that quite half of them were affected, and that 10 per cent, of them were actually secreting the poison of the fever in their milk. Monkeys fed on milk from one of these goats, even for one day, almost invariably got the disease. About this time, the s.s. Joshua Nicholson shipped 65 goats at Malta, for export to America : and, of course, the milk was drunk on the voyage. There were 27 persons on board : and 17 of them have been traced. Of these 17 persons, 2 always boiled the milk, and thus were protected. Of the remaining 15, no less than 5 got Malta fever. The goats were landed in America, put in quarantine, and carefully watched. A woman, living on the station, unfortunately drank the milk, caught the fever, and died. One after another, as time went on, the goats all showed signs of severe infection, and were all slaughtered : not one could be saved. In Malta, early in 1906, Dr. Hardie and others were beginning to warn our men against the goats' milk : and, on July 1st, 1906, the official order was issued, forbidding the supply of goats’ milk to the garrison. See what happened. Remember, that the fever had not been stopped, though it may have been checked, by other sanitary measures. Remember, also, that the worst months for the fever, always, were July, August, and September. In 1905, there had been 643 cases, among our soldiers alone : and, in the navy, about the same number. In 1906, up to July 1st, there were 123 cases. During the rest of the year, including the three worst months, there were 40 cases. In 1907, there were 11 cases. In 1908, there were 5 cases. In 1909, there was 1 case. In 1910, up to the present time, NO CASES. These figures were made public, a few days ago, in the House of Commons, by the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies. (See the Times, June 14th, 1910.) The civil population of Malta went on drinking the goats milk, and suffering from the fever. It remains, to discover how the goats become infected: and a Commission has been appointed, to study this question. RESEARCH DEFENCE SOCIETY. All applications for literature to be made to the Hon. Secretary, 2i, Ladbroke Square, W. The Hon. Secretary will gladly receive the names of all who desire to become Members or Associates of the Society, and thus to advance its good work.