STREPTOTHRIX ACTINOMYCES BOVIS 103 



wooden tongue, owing to the indurated condition of that organ. It 

 also occurs in the retropharyngeal lymph-glands (Clyers). 



The author recorded in the Veterinary Journal a case in the 

 parotid gland of a young cow in California, which finally obliterated 

 all the bloodvessels, the diseased gland being successfully extirpated. 

 The disease has also been found in the liver, nasal cavities, larynx, 

 lungs, and vertebrae. In the pig the muscles, lungs, mammae, and 

 bones of the cervical and dorsal vertebrae are affected ; a case has also 

 been recorded in the dog ; and cases of actinomycosis of the tongue 

 in the horse are also mentioned. 



Section of a specific tumour reveals an abundance of granulation 

 tissue, studded with soft parts or nodules of various sizes, containing 

 numerous yellow or occasionally colourless grains, the smallest 

 appearing about the size of a grain of sand ; the larger, due to the 

 union of the smaller grains, are of different forms. The grains vary 

 in size from 01 to 1 mm. or more, being frequently cretaceous. 

 The above - mentioned yellow granules are characteristic of an 

 actinomycotic tumour. Ponfick transmitted the disease to other 

 animals by means of those granules. 



Microscopical Appearances. Examined under a low power, the 

 unstained granules appear as dark, finely granular, round or irregular 

 balls. Under a high power and after the specimen is stained, the 

 organism is found to consist of a central zone of very fine filaments, 

 ramified and intermingled in a close network, with a few cocci arranged 

 in the centre, and a peripheral zone consisting of radiating pyriform 

 elements with large swollen or club-shaped extremities, which are either 

 simple or branching. The branches are given off from either the 

 pedicle or the club, and sometimes by subdividing themselves, the whole 

 resembling the capitulum of a daisy (see Photomicrograph, Fig. 32). 



There are other forms of actinomyces which are quite small, the 

 club-like enlargements being absent, and Cornil and Babes describe a 

 special condition of the filaments of the periphery terminating in various 

 slight enlargements bearing conidia. The threads sometimes undergo 

 segmentation, and resemble threads of bacilli. Finally, an agglomera- 

 tion of club forms, consisting of masses of cocci, are sometimes observed. 



Unstained specimens are prepared by squeezing the material under 

 the cover-glass. 



Staining Reactions. It stains best by the Gram method, especially 

 by Giinther's modification (see Technique, 38), also with heated carbol 

 fuchsin. Double staining can be obtained with the Gram method and 

 picro-carmine or saffronine, the threads of the fungi being stained a 

 blue-black colour by the Gram method, while the clubs are stained red 

 with carmine. 



