ACTINOMYCOSIS. 357 



ably that by Bostron, 1 who carefully studied the micro- 

 scopical lesions of the disease. 



Actinomycosis is a disease almost peculiar to the bovine 

 animals, though sometimes occurring in hogs, horses, 

 men, and other animals. 



The first manifestations of the disease are usually found 

 either about the jaw or in the tongue, in either of which 

 localities there are produced considerable enlargements 

 which are sometimes dense and fibrous (wooden tongue) 

 and sometimes suppurative. In sections of these nodular 

 formations small yellowish granules surrounded by some 

 pus can be found. These granules when viewed beneath 

 the microscope exhibit a peculiar rosette-like body — the 

 ray-fungus or actinomyces. 



The fungus is of sufficient size to be detected in pus, 

 etc., by the naked eye. It can be colored, in sections of 

 tissue, by the use of Gram's method, or better by 

 Weigert's fibrin-stain. Tissues pre-stained with carmin, 

 then stained by Weigert's method, give beautiful pict- 

 ures. 



The entire fungus-mass consists of several distinct 

 zones embracing entirely different elements. At the 

 centre of the mass there is found a granular substance 

 containing numerous bodies resembling chains of micro- 

 cocci or spores. Extending from this centre into the 

 neighboring tissue is a radiating, branched, thickly- 

 tangled mass of mycelial threads. These threads seem 

 to terminate in a zone of conspicuous club-shaped radiat- 

 ing forms which give the colonies the rosette-like appear- 

 ance. The clubs are inconspicuous in the fungus as seen 

 in the lesion of the human form of the disease. 



The pleomorphism and branched network formed by 

 the growth of the micro-organism class it among the 

 higher bacteria in the genus streptothrix. When the 

 artificial cultivations are properly crushed, spread out and 

 stained, it is found that the mycelial threads are from 

 0.3-0.5// in thickness, are quite long, and frequently 



1 Zeitschrift fur Hygiene, 1 889. 



