SPECIAL EXAMINATIONS 371 



No. i, Jan. 1911), the writer cites evidence which goes to 

 show that it may not be so uncommon. Out of fifty 

 specimens from different udders submitted to him for 

 suspected tubercle, in five cases the lesions proved to be 

 actinomycotic. The lesions in each case were indistinguish- 

 able by the naked eye from those of tuberculosis. On 

 cutting into the substance of the udder numerous cream- 

 coloured foci, similar to tubercles, were seen, ranging from 

 the size of a pin-head to that of a pea. The part affected 

 was also of a brownish tint, as is so often seen in tubercu- 

 losis of this tissue. Smear preparations showed elements 

 of actinomyces in four of the cases ; in one, no elements 

 were found, but on making sections typical actinomyces 

 were found. All the others were confirmed by making 

 paraffin sections. In one of the smears both tubercle 

 bacilli and actinomyces were found ; and if not on one's 

 guard, such a case could be readily dismissed as tuber- 

 culosis without looking for actinomycosis. Dr. Patterson 

 says : "I am confident from my experience in these cases 

 that if each suspected tubercular udder were subjected to 

 a microscopical examination, the percentage of actinomy- 

 cotic udders would be greater than is generally supposed. 



In regard to milk, many of the samples, taken by veteri- 

 nary surgeons inspecting dairy herds from cows having 

 what appeared to be marked tubercular lesion of the udder, 

 have proved negative even on animal inoculation. Dr. 

 Patterson asks the question : " Might these not be cases 

 of actinomycosis ? " and cites the following case : 



" During last winter's inspection (1909-10) a case occurred 

 where the lesion of the udder was markedly nodular and 

 similar to tubercle. A sample of the milk was taken, and a 

 guinea-pig inoculated with negative result. Not satisfied 

 with this result, samples were again taken from all four 

 quarters of the same cow. These samples again proved 

 negative on animal inoculation. Smear preparations from 

 these last samples, made from the deposit of the centrifugalized 

 milk, showed a few acid-fast rod-shaped, and a few fragments 

 of club-shaped, elements suggestive of actinomyces, in those 

 samples taken from both hind quarters and from the left fore 

 quarter. I was unable to procure the udder for further 

 examination, but am convinced that this was a case of 

 actinomycosis. In actinomycosis of the human subject, it is 



