536 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pul). Doc. 



but the fungus is thought to be on the grain or straw, and it 

 is from this source that the aflfected animal is generally 

 thought to acquire it. 



Most commonly the primary seat of the disease is in the 

 jaw, starting in the alveolus of a tooth. The actinomyces 

 frequently find lodgement in the cavities caused by the shed- 

 ding of the temporary or milk teeth before the permanent 

 teeth make their appearance. In time a large bunch may 

 develop on the face or jaw, and it was because of the nature 

 of the changes set up in the bone that the disease got its 

 former name of Osteo Sarcoma. 



After the breaking down of the enlargement, it is possible 

 that an animal may swallow some of the discharge contain- 

 ing the little yellow granules or fungous growths, and in this 

 way secondary infection may take place. The actinomyces 

 may also be absorbed or find lodgement in other organs of 

 the body. For example, it seems to be possible for the fun- 

 gous growth to gain an entrance at the opening of the milk 

 duct and find lodgement in the udder. Three cases of what 

 appear to be infection in this way have come under the 

 observation of one of the members of the Board. 



The first occurred some years ago, in New Hampshire, 

 under the following circumstances : a heifer was noticed to 

 be sufiering from the form of actinomycosis known as " lump- 

 jaw ; " this was discharging freely, and at this time she was 

 kept in a box stall in the farm hospital ; she was finally 

 destroyed. Shortly afterwards a sow with her litter of pigs 

 was placed in this box, and before her pigs were weaned an 

 enlargement began to develop on the left hind portion of the 

 udder. It gradually grew larger, and finally broke and dis- 

 charged ; and because of this, the pigs were weaned and she 

 was destroyed. The post-mortem examination showed no 

 trace of disease except in this portion of the udder, and 

 microscopical examination showed a beautiful specimen of 

 the ray fungus, or actinomyces. The disease in this case 

 was only present in the udder, the fungus probably finding 

 its entrance through the milk duct, the active condition of 

 this organ aiding its development. 



The second case occurred in a Lawrence cow ; it was 

 quarantined under suspicion of having tuberculosis of the 



