INFLUENCE OF DISEASE UPON MILK 103 



granules. They may rupture internally or externally 

 and discharge pus containing the fungi. The milk cis- 

 tern may be filled with the nodules. Sometimes the dis- 

 ease appears in the udder in a miliary form; the affected 

 quarters are enlarged, hard and somewhat nodular, and 

 on section numerous very small nodules of granulation 

 tissue with softened purulent centres are found dissemi- 

 nated through the gland tissue. Similar nodules may be 

 found on the mucous membrane of the larger canals and 

 cistern. Numerous actinomyces are found in the soft- 

 ened centre of the nodules. As a rule, actinomycosis 

 of the udder has not been recognized until after the 

 slaughter of the affected animal, consequently nothing 

 definite is known regarding the appearance of the milk 

 in this condition. Up to this time, actinomyces have not 

 been demonstrated in milk, but they are no doubt ex- 

 creted with the milk when the actinomycotic nodules rup- 

 ture into an alveolus or duct of the udder. The milk 

 may be infected secondarily when an actinomycotic 

 nodule in the udder ruptures externally or when an actin- 

 omycotic tumor in the maxilla or adjacent parts opens. 

 In such cases the discharge contains not only actinomyces 

 but also bacteria, particularly the pyogenic organisms, 

 and these, too, may gain access to the milk. 



There is no record of the transmission of actinomy- 

 cosis to man through milk. This may be due in part to 

 the slow development of the disease, as in the case of 

 tuberculosis. Infection with actinomyces may occur in 

 man, as it does in cattle, through the food, especially 

 when wounds exist in the mouth or other anterior parts 

 of the digestive tract. Since there is a possibility of the 

 transmission of this disease by milk, it is advisable to 

 exclude from dairies all cows with actinomycosis of the 



