804 



Actinomycosis 



ish granules surrounded by some pus can usually be found. 

 These granules, when examined beneath the microscope, 

 consist of peculiar rosette-like bodies the " ray-fungi " or 

 actinomyces. 



Distribution. The actinomyces is best known as a 

 parasitic organism associated with actinomycosis. That it 

 occurs rather widely in nature seems to be indicated by the 





Fig. 263. Colony or granule of actinomyces in a section through a 

 lesion, showing the Gram-stained filaments and hyaline material and 

 also the pus-cells surrounding the colony (Wright and Brown). 



fact that cases of infection have been known to occur from the 

 spines of barley and other cereals. Berestnew* succeeded 

 in isolating the organisms from hay and straw. 



Morphology. A complete ray-fungus consists of several 

 distinct zones composed of different elements. The center 

 is composed of a granular mass containing numerous bodies 

 resembling micrococci or spores. Extending from this cen- 

 ter into the neighboring tissue is a radiating, branched, 

 * "Centralbl. f. Bact.," etc., Ref., 1898, No. 24. 



