ACTINOMYCOSIS. 



355 



of the disease, as has been established with certainty by the 

 successful transmission to calves of actinomycosis by means of 

 such granules (Ponfick and others). 



The disease in animals presents, in the first place, the charac- 

 ters of an inflammatory new-formation, which develops around 

 the fungous proliferation as a foreign body; besides, there is 

 considerable destructive tendency the proliferating fungi in 

 their growth displacing and destroying all opposing tissues. 



Infection in animals probably takes place principally through 

 the mouth in feeding. The ray-fungus is said to be present in 

 feed, in wheat-grains, which play an important part in the pro- 

 cess of infection. Infection through the superficial integument, 

 through the lungs, etc. , is possible also, but occurs less commonly. 

 A case of actinomycosis of the udder has been observed in a pig, 

 and another of miliary pulmonary actinomycosis in a cow. 



Fig. 82. Actinomyces (von Jaksch). 



Actinomycosis in Human Beings. Isolated cases of 

 actinomycosis in human beings had already been observed 

 by B. v. Langenbeck (1845) and by Lebert (1857), but the 

 disease was first clearly recognized and accurately described 

 as an independent affection by J. Israel in 1878. Actino- 

 mycosis in human beings differs from the same disease in 

 cattle in its slighter tendency to tumor-formation, and its 

 marked tendency to insidious, widespread extension, which 

 may finally lead to involvement of all of the viscera. The 

 chronic inflammation that takes place around the fungous 

 deposit is identical with that which occurs in animals. The 

 newly formed granulation-tissue undergoes fatty degenera- 

 tion more quickly, however, with disintegration or suppura- 

 tion, while the fungous proliferation progresses and gives 

 rise to fistulous formation, undermining the skin, penetrat- 



