GENERAL SYSTEMATIC BACTERIOLOGY 165 



that the presence or absence of "clubs" when growing in tissues is not 

 diagnostic. These are the result of certain interreactions between 

 parasite and host, and may be produced in either genus under the right 

 conditions. 



Buchanan (1918, p. 405) characterized the genus as follows: 



Branched filaments, resembling mycelium, breaking up into segments which 

 may function as conidia. Usually parasitic. Clubbed ends conspicuous in 

 lesions. Not producing aerial hyphae or conidia. 



The type species is Actinomyces bovis Harz, the cause of bovine 

 actinomycosis. 



Castellani and Chalmers (1919, p. 1041) reject Actinomyces in favor 

 of Nocardia. Waksman (1919) in his monographic treatment of the 

 group accepts the generic name Actinomyces as does also Lieske (1921, 

 p. 5). 



The description used by the "Committee" of the American Society 

 of Bacteriologists (1920, p. 198) and by Bergey et at. (1923, p. 339) 

 follows : 



Organism growing in form of a much-branched mycelium, which may break 

 up into segments that function as conidia. Sometimes parasitic, with clubbed 

 ends of radiating threads conspicuous in lesions in animal body. Some species 

 are microaerophilic or anaerobic. Non-motile. 



The type species is Actinomyces bovis Harz. 



Merrill and Wade (1919, p. 63) insist upon the non-vahdity of 

 Actinomyces and the validity of Discomyces. 



The claim of legitimacy for Actinomyces as a generic name for the 

 organism causing lumpy jaw and other similar affections is menaced by 

 two facts: First, the name Actinomyce was used by Meyen in 1827 for 

 an entirely distinct fungus; Second, the generic name Streptothrix 

 Cohn has priority. Probably the best analysis of the situation is that 

 which has been furnished by Breed and Conn (1919, p. 585; 1920, p. 

 489). They say (1919, p. 594) 



Two attempts have already been made to establish the validity of a generic 

 name for this group of organisms through legislative action both of which must 

 be regarded as abortive. The first was taken by a Committee of the English 

 Society of Pathologists who, as reported by Foulerton (1912, p. 304), approved 

 the term Streptothrix Cohn in ignorance of the general and wide usage of Strep- 

 tothrix Corda. The second was taken by the Botanical Section of the First 

 International Congress of Comparative Pathology according to Pinoy (1913, 

 p. 933) and confirmed by him in a letter dated September 9, 1918. The name ac- 



