272 3Ianual of Veterinary Microbiology. 



examination of this parasite in the tumors to which 

 it gives rise. 



Bostroem classes it with the group of schizomy- 

 cetes and especially with the cladothrix, a conclusion 

 which is forced upon us from a study of the parasite 

 in its cultures, and one to which our own researches 

 have led us. We are also inclined to regard the mi- 

 crococci, spoken of above, as spores. 



The actinomyces is anaerobic and facultatively 

 aerobic. 



Action of physical and chemical agents. — According 

 to Domec, the filaments are killed in five minutes by 

 moist heat at 60°, whilst the spores resist for that 

 length of time a temperature above 60° but below 

 75°. This feeble resistance of the spores compared 

 with that of the spores of bacteria has been advanced 

 as an argument in favor of regarding these spores as 

 allied to those of the mucediuese, and of classifying 

 the parasite with this group of plants. 



The action of chemical agents has been little 

 studied. Iodine has been recommended for the de- 

 struction of the actinomyces in the tumors, but the 

 hot iron is still the means most to be recommended 

 for this purpose when it is possible to use it. 



Research and coloration. — The examination of the 

 actinomyces fungus Is extremely simple, the suspected 

 material merely requiring to be spread upon a glass 

 slide; the hard, yellow grains which to the naked 

 eye have the appearance of grains of sand, separate 

 themselves during the operation. These grains are 

 the colonies of the actinomyces. To verify this it is 

 merely necessary to put on a cover glass and examine 

 with the microscope ; a magnification of from two to 



