INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF CATTLE. 457 



■would allow the actually diseased parts to be sold and consumed. 

 Finally, this parasite, like all others, would be destroyed in the proc- 

 ess of cooking. The majority of authorities thus do not believe that 

 actinomycosis in man is directly traceable to the disease in animals, 

 but are of the opinion that both man and animals are infected from 

 a third source. This source has already been discussed above. How 

 far these views may be modified by further and more telling investi- 

 gations of the parasitic fungus itself no one can predict. There are 

 still wide gaps in our knowledge, and the above presentation simply 

 summarizes the prevailing views, from which there are, of course, dis- 

 senters An attempt to give the views of both sides on this question 

 would necessitate the summarizing and impartial discussion of all 

 the experiments thus far made — a task entirely bej^ond the scope of 

 the present work. 



Whether an animal affected with actinomycosis should be used for 

 human food after all diseased organs and tissues have been thoroughly 

 ?"emoved is a question the answer to which depends on a variety of 

 circumstances. Among these may be mentioned the thoroughness 

 of the meat inspection itself, which allows no really diseased animal 

 to pass muster; the extent of the disease, and the general condition 

 of the animal affected. 



If the tumors in the carcass are small, and not generalized, the 

 affected parts should be destroyed and the remainder may be used 

 for human food. AVhen, however, the disease is sufficiently developed 

 to cause large swellings and abscesses which are freely discharging 

 pus into the alimentary canal, and when the general health of the 

 animal is affected, the carcass should be condemned, as the meat is 

 not in a proper condition for food. The carcass should also be de- 

 stroyed when the lungs or internal lymphatic glands are affected, or 

 when there are a large number of centers of disease scattered through- 

 cut the body. 



ANTHRAX. 



Anthrax, or charbon, may be defined as an infectious disease which 

 is caused by specific bacteria, known as anthrax bacilli, and which is 

 more or less restricted by conditions of soil and moisture to definite 

 geographical localities. While it is chiefly limited to cattle and sheep, 

 it may be transmitted to goats, horses, cats, and certain kinds of 

 game. Smaller animals, such as mice, rabbits, and guinea pigs, 

 speedily succumb to inoculation. Dogs and hogs are slightly sus- 

 ceptible, while fowls are practically immune. The variety of domes- 

 ticated animals which it may attack renders it one of the most dreaded 

 scourges of animal life. It may even attack man. Of this more will 

 be stated further on. 



Cause. — The cause of anthrax is a microscopic organism known as 

 the anthrax bacillus. (See PI. XXIX, fig. 7.) In form it is cylindri- 



