THE ACTINOBACILLUS 549 



pigs have been infected by intraperitoneal inoculation. 

 Much calcification sometimes occurs in the nodules, 

 particularly in swine. The mode of infection is uncertain, 

 but it is generally believed that the organism occurs on 

 grasses or grain and gains access to the tissues through 

 some abrasion. 



" Farcin des bceufs," a disease of cattle occurring in 

 Guadeloupe, and characterised by infection first of the 

 skin and afterwards of the lymphatic glands and viscera, 

 is caused by Nocardia farcinica. The organism is a strict 

 aerobe, forms yellowish-white grains and is without 

 sheath. 



In Argentina, Lignieres and Spitz described a form of 

 actinomycosis of cattle caused by a Gram-negative 

 bacillus-like organism, the Actinobacillus . Griffith 1 has 

 shown that this condition is frequent in cattle in this 

 country. The organism grows well aerobically and 

 anaerobically on various media, does not liquefy gelatin 

 or serum, and is pathogenic for many animals. One case 

 of human infection with this organism has been described 

 in the Argentine. The organism was obtained from the 

 cerebro-spinal fluid and on glucose peptone formed 

 clubs, and this being so, its name becomes Nocardia 

 lignieresi. 



Actinomycosis in man (Actinomycosis hominis) is usually 

 associated with suppuration, is frequently mistaken for 

 tuberculosis, and may occur in almost any part of the 

 body jaw, lungs, liver, intestine, skin and pelvic organs. 

 If a little of the pus be examined it will probably contain 

 tiny yellowish or sulphur-yellow granules, which, micro- 

 scopically, are found to consist of tufts of fine tangled 

 filaments, the ends of which may be continued into little 

 swellings or clubs. In teased-up specimens, or in sections 

 stained by Gram's method, an appearance is observed 



1 Journ. -of Hygiene, vol. xv. 1916, p. 195. 



