From MARJORIE COOPER
John Ashby spoke a true word either in jest or with tongue in cheek
when he suggested that cows in France succumb to madness for different reasons
(Letters, 9 April). That 1912 dictionary meant ‘mad cow’ as we use ‘mad
dog’, that is, rabid. Rabies is ‘la rage’ in French and so ‘enrage’ has
this very specific as well as general meaning. Vive la difference indeed.
Marjorie Cooper Kingsteignton, Devon
