DISEASES OF CATTLE 289 



cause extensive disease of the lungs, more rarely of the digestive 

 tract. 



It appears, furthermore, that in certain districts or countries the 

 disease seems to attack, by preference, certain parts. Thus in Eng- 

 land actinomycosis of the tongue is most prevalent. In Denmark the 

 soft parts of the head are most prone to disease, while in Russia the 

 lips are the usual seat. In certain parts of Germany actinomycotic 

 tumors of the throat (pharynx), in others disease of the jawbones, is 

 most frequently encountered. 



When the disease attacks the soft parts of the head a rather firm 

 swelling appears, in which are formed one or more smaller projecting 

 tumors, varying from the size of a nut to that of an egg. These push 

 their way outward and finally break through the skin as small, red- 

 dish, funguslike bodies covered with thin sloughs. Or the original 

 swelling, in place of enlarging in the manner described, may become 

 transformed into an abscess which finally bursts to discharge creamy 

 pus. The abscess cavity, however, does not disappear, but is soon 

 filled with funguslike growths which force their way outward through 

 the opening. 



When the tumors are situated within the cavity of the pharynx 

 they have broken through from some gland, perhaps beneath the 

 mucous membrane, where the disease first appeared, and hang or 

 project into the cavity of the pharynx either as pendulous massea 

 with a slender stem or as tumors with a broad base. Their position 

 may be such as to interfere with swallowing and with breathing. In 

 either case serious symptoms will soon appear. 



The invasion of the bones of the jaws by actinomycosis must be 

 regarded as one of the most serious forms of the disease. It may 

 start in the marrow of the bone and by a slow extension gradually 

 cause it to become thickened and porous. The growth may continue 

 outward, and after working its way through muscle and skin finally 

 break through and appear externally as stinking fungoid growths. 

 The growth may at the same time work its way inward and appear 

 in the mouth. The disease may also begin in the periosteum, or 

 covering of the bone, and destroy the bone from without inward. 

 When the tongue is affected the animal finds it difficult to eat, the 

 tongue is hard, inflexible, and swollen painfully, and in the advanced 

 cases hangs from the mouth with abundant salivation, thus meriting 

 the term wooden tongue applied to this condition. 



Actinomycosis of the lungs is occasionaly observed, and it is not 

 improbable that it has been mistaken at times for tuberculosis. The 

 actmomyces grains are, however, easily observed if the diseased tissue 

 be carefully examined. The changes in the lungs as they appear to 

 the naked eye vary considerably from case to case. Thus, in one 

 animal the lungs were affected as in ordinary broncho-pneumonia 

 as to the location, extent, and appearance of the disease process. The 

 affected lobes had a dark-red flesh appearance, with yellowish areas 

 sprinkled in here and there. These latter areas were the seat of mul- 

 tiplication of the actinomyces fungus. In another case, of which only 

 a small portion of the lungs was sent to the laboratory, these were 



