446 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



are annually published. Its possible bearing on public health has, 

 however, given the disease a place in the public mind which it hardly 

 deserves. 



It has already been stated that the actinomyces fungus found in 

 human disease is considered by authorities the same as that occurring 

 in bovine affections. It is therefore of interest to conclude this 

 article with a brief discussion of the disease in man and its relation 

 to actinomycosis in cattle. 



In man the location of the disease process corresponds fairly well 

 to that in cattle. The majority of cases which have been reported 

 in different parts of the world — and they are now rather numerous — 

 indicate disease of the face. The skin, tongue, or the jawbones may 

 become affected, and by a very slow process it may extend downward 

 upon the neck and even into the cavity of the chest. In many cases 

 the teeth have been found in a state of more or less advanced decay 

 and ulceration. In a few cases disease of the lungs was observed 

 Avithout coexisting disease of the bones or soft parts of the head. In 

 such cases the fungus must have been inhaled. The disease of the 

 lungs after a time extends upon the chest wall, where it may corrode 

 the ribs and work its way through the muscles and the skin. An 

 abscess is thus formed discharging pus containing actinomyces grains. 

 Disease of the digestive organs caused by this fungus has also been 

 cbserved in a few instances. 



Granting the identity of the disease in man and cattle, the question 

 has been raised whether cattle are responsible for its occurrence in 

 man. Any transmission of the infectious agent may be conceived of 

 as taking place during the life of the animal and from the meat after 

 slaughter. That human beings have contracted actinomycosis by 

 coming in contact with diseased cattle is not shown by the cases that 

 have been reported, for the occupations of most of the patients did 

 not bring them into any relation whatever with cattle. Wliile the 

 possibility of such direct transmission is not denied, nevertheless it 

 must be considered as extremely rare. Practically the same position 

 is maintained at present by most authorities as regards the trans- 

 mission of the disease to man by eating meat. Israel, who has studied 

 this question carefully, found the disease in Jews who never ate pork,^ 

 and who likewise were protected from bovine actinomycosis by the 

 rigorous meat inspection practiced by that race. Furthermore, it 

 must be borne in mind that actinomycosis is a local disease, causing 

 great destruction of tissue where the fungus multiplies, but which 

 very rarely becomes generally disseminated over the body from the 

 original disease focus. The fungus is found only in places where the 

 disease process is manifest to the eye or becomes so in a very short 

 time after the lodgment of the fungus. Only the greatest negligence 



1 Hogs are subject to actinomycosis. 



