294 DISEASES OF CATTLE, SHEEP, GOATS, ETC. 



While the possibility of such direct transmission is not denied, never- 

 theless it must be considered extremely rare. Practically the same 

 position is maintained at present by most authorities as regards the 

 transmission of the disease to man by eating meat. Israel, who has 

 studied this question carefully, found the disease in Jews who never 

 ate pork* and who likewise were protected by the rigorous meat in- 

 spection practiced by their sect from bovine actinomycosis. Further- 

 more, it must be borne in mind that actinomycosis is a local disease, 

 causing great destruction of tissue where the fungus multiplies, but 

 very rarely becoming generally disseminated over the body from the 

 original disease focus. The fungus is only found in places where the 

 disease process is manifest to the eye or becomes so in a very short 

 time after the lodgment of the fungus. Only the greatest negligence 

 would allow the actually diseased parts to be sold and consumed. 

 Finally, this parasite, like all others, would be destroyed in the proc- 

 ess of cooking. The majority of authorities thus do not believe 

 that actinomycosis in man is directly traceable to the disease in ani- 

 mals, but are of the opinion that both man and animals are infected 

 from a third source. This source has already been discussed above. 

 How far these views may be modified by further and more telling in- 

 vestigations of the parasitic fungus itself no one can predict. There 

 are still wide gaps in our knowledge, and the above presentation sim- 

 ply summarizes the prevailing views, to which there are, of course, dis- 

 senters. An attempt to give the views of both sides on this question 

 would necessitate the summarizing and impartial discussion of all the 

 experiments thus far made a task entirely beyond the scope of the 

 present work. 



Whether an animal affected with actinomycosis should be used 

 for human food after all diseased organs and tissues have been thor- 

 oughly removed is a question the answer to which depends on a 

 variety of circumstances. Among these may be mentioned the thor- 

 oughness of the meat inspection itself, which allows no really diseased 

 animal to pass muster, the extent of the disease, and the general con- 

 dition of the animal affected. 



Whether an animal affected with actinomyces should be used 

 for human food after all diseased organs and tissues have been thor- 

 oughly removed depends upon the extent of the disease and the gen- 

 eral condition of the animal affected. If the carcass is in a well-nour- 

 ished condition and there is no evidence upon post-mortem examina- 

 tion that the disease has extended from a primary area of infection 

 in the head, the carcass may be passed, but the head, including the 

 tongue, should be condemned. If the carcass is in a well-nourished 

 condition and the disease has extended beyond the primary area of 

 infection, the carcass may be passed after destroying the affected 

 parts, provided the lesions are slight, calcified, or encapsulated, and 

 are confined to a single body cavity in addition to the original seat of 

 infection. When, however, the general health of the animal is af- 

 fected, or when there are more extensive areas or a larger number of 



*Hogs are subject to actinomycosia. 



