156 THE MORE CHRONIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES 



found. This is the chief source of material by which the 

 diagnosis is made. The large tumors ulcerate through the 

 skin at times and present sloughing areas. This is the manner 

 also in which the infecting germ leaves the body. In diag- 

 nosticating the disease one of the small granules in the pus 

 is taken, crushed beneath a glass, and examined directly 

 under the microscope for the ray fungus. The specimen 

 may also be stained. 



Infective material from abscesses or ulcers or the sputum 

 should be burned. Chemical destruction is less reliable. 

 Ordinary care of the hands will suffice as a protection, but 

 no lack of care is justifiable. It is not a very infectious dis- 

 ease, but a serious one and one of long duration. The pecu- 

 liar changes in this disease are due to the life and growth of 

 the fungus as a foreign body and probably not to any peculiar 

 toxin. No immunity or peculiar blood changes follow an 

 attack. The treatment is surgical and medical, the latter 

 being confined to the use of potassium iodide. 



Morphology and General Characteristics. The organism of 

 actinomycosis is in the form of interwoven threads, radiat- 

 ing from a center, having thickened or bulbous ends. These 

 ends are important, as they assist in species determination 

 and possibly have something to do with multiplication of 

 the germ. The threads are about 7 5 1 to 50 ooo inch wide, 

 their length being very variable. The bulbs measure from 

 eoooo to 30*00 inch in width and vary in length. They 

 grow with reasonable freedom in the laboratory, especially 

 upon media containing animal substances such as blood 

 serum. Their optimum temperature is 40 C. or 102 F. 

 They are killed at 75 C. or 167 F. exposed ten minutes. 

 They resist drying for a long time. They are extremely 

 resistant to chemical disinfectants. Not all animals are 

 susceptible to actinomycosis, but those contracting it present 

 about the same type of lesions. Nothing in their blood 

 serum is of any value in treatment of human beings. Vaccines 

 are not used. 



