The Misunderstood Goat.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 8 May 1914, Page 8

The Misunderstood Goat.

IT WILL PAY YOU TO KEEP A

FEW,

Scientific methods of breeding have changed the goat. To-day he would disown his immediate ancestors. Goat's milk is superior by several points to cow's milk. In the first place the goat is singularly immune to tuberculosis. This immunity is by no means absolute ; exposure and poor housing conditions, for instance, are capable of producing disease, but if the individuals of a. herd are otherwise vigorous and healthy, it is improbable that tuberculosis is present.

Again, goat's milk is of particular value in the sick room and in the feeding of infants. It does not contain less casein than cow's milk, but the curds which form in the stomach are smaller and softer than those of cow's milk, and consequently are more easily digested. Of fat it contains even more than does cow's milk, but the fat globules are likewise snujler, - thus facilitating fat digestion and assimilation—so small, indeed, are the fat globules of goat's milk that cream does not rise to an appreciable extent, the fat particles remaining suspended in the milk.

The qualities which recommend the use of goat's milk for the infant also indicate its use in the sick room, where every particle of the patient's strength that can be spared from digestion is needed to aid recovery. Expert breeders say, indeed, that the growing popularity of the thoroughbred goat is due to a great extent to the influence of physicians, who, after observing the beneficial effects tn the treatment of disease, themselves buy and advise

others to buy, one or two animals for supplying the family with milk.

There is a widespread opinion— among those who have never tried it —that goat's milk has an offensive taste. A young couple who spent their honeymoon in a remote but romantic region supplied with milk by goats found a iiy in the ointment of their happiness. Owing to a "spleen" against goat's milk they used milkless coffee and milkl ess tea, until one morning the bride had the temerity to try the "weest" taste. As she did not drop dead her husband followed suit, and comparing notes they came to the conclusion that it was almost tasteless, except

for a rather sweeter and more delicate flavour than cow's milk. So pleasing, indeed, is the flavour of goat's milk, that people quite accustomed to it spurn cow's milk.— "Popular Science Sittings."