442 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



fungus. Later ones are inclined to place it among the higher bac- 

 teria. Present knowledge concerning the actinomyces growth indi- 

 cates that it should be classified with the higher bacteria or trich- 

 omycetes. 



Whatever the situation of the disease caused by actinomyces may 

 be, its nature is fundamentally the same and peculiar to the fungus. 

 The pathological details which make this statement clear can not be 

 entered upon in this place, nor would they be of any practical value 

 to the farmer. We will simply dwell upon a few obvious characters. 



The consistency of the tumor varies in different situations accord- 

 ing to the quantity of fibrous or connective tissue present. When 

 very little of this is present the tumor is of a very soft consistency. 

 As the quantity of connective tissue is increased the tumor is firmer 

 and of a more honeycombed appearance. The individual actino- 

 myces colonies are lodged in the spaces or interstices formed by the 

 meshwork of the connective tissue. There they are surrounded by 

 a mantle of cellular elements which fill up the spaces. By scraping 

 the cut surface of such a tumor these cell masses inclosing the fungi 

 come away, and the latter may be seen as pale-yellow or sulphur- 

 yellow specks, as described above. 



Location of the disease. — In cattle the disease process may be 

 located both externally, where it is readily detected, and in internal 

 organs. Its preferred seat is on the bones of the lower and upper 

 jaws, in the parotid salivary gland in the angle of the jaw, and in the 

 region of the throat. It may also appear under the skin in different 

 parts of the body. Internally it may attack the tongue and appear 

 in the form of a tumor in the mouth, pharynx, or larynx. It may 

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



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

 disease seems by preference to attack 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 actinomy- 

 cotic tumors are most frequently encountered in the throat region 

 and in the jawbones. 



A description of actinomycosis of the jaw (lumpy jaw) and of the 

 tongue has already been given in a previous chapter, and hence they 

 will be dealt with here only very briefly. Wlien 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, reddish, 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 



