INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF CATTLE. 455 



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

 however, given this 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 

 ill bovine affections. It is therefore of interest to conclude this article 

 with a brief discussion of the disease in man and its relation to acti- 

 nomycosis in cattle. 



In man the location of the disease process corresponds fairly well 

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

 in different parts of the w^orld — and they are now quite 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 

 without 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. Here 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 

 observed in a few instances. 



Granting the identitj' of the disease in man and cattle, the question 

 has been raised whether cattle are responsible for the disease in man. 

 Any transmission of the infectious agent may be conceived of as 

 tiUving place during the life of the animal and after slaughter from 

 the meat. That human beings have contracted actinomycosis by 

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

 have hitherto been reported, for the occupations of most of the 

 patients did not bring them into any relation whatever with cattle. 

 AAliile the possibility of such direct transmission is not denied, never- 

 theless it must be considered extremely rare. Practically the same 

 jxisition is maintained at present by most authorities as regards the 

 transmission 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 by the rigorous meat in- 

 spection practiced bj' their sect from bovine actinomycosis. Further- 

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

 causing great destruction of tissue where the fungus multiplies, but 

 very rarely becoming 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 



Hogs are subject to actinomycosis. 



