456 A MANUAL OF BACTERIOLOGY 



importance to distinguish actinomycosis from tuberculosis, 

 for in many cases of the former, both in man and in animals, 

 iodide of potassium exerts a specific curative action. 

 Vaccine treatment has also been employed with a certain 

 amount of success. 



By some several species of Actinomyces are believed to exist, 

 but Homer Wright x considers that but one species of micro- 

 organism is the etiological agent, both in man and animals, the 

 A. bovis. Pinoy regards Actinomycosis in man as caused by several 

 fungi (Nocardia, Indiella, Colmistreptothrix). 



" 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 due to the S. Nocardii. 



Clinical Examination 



1. Pour out the pus or discharge into a large capsule or Petri 

 dish so that it forms a thin layer, look for any yellowish or other 

 granules, pick them out with a needle, and place on a clean slide 

 in a drop of 50 per cent, glycerin. If no granules can be found, a 

 little of the discharge may be spread on a slide with a drop of 50 per 

 cent, glycerin. Cover with a cover-glass, and apply a little pressure. 

 Examine with a f-in. objective. If any actinomycotic tufts are 

 present they will be seen as yellowish or pale brownish, spheroidal, 

 ovoid, or reniform masses, and with a ^-in. objective will be found 

 to have a radiating structure from the presence of the clubs. 



2. Stain films of the discharge, by Gram's method, with eosin. 

 The actinomycotic tufts will generally be found to consist of little 

 masses of tangled filaments stained violet, and surrounded by a 

 pink zone which has an indistinct radiating structure. 



N.B. In most instances the clubs in Actinomycosis hominis do 

 not stain by Gram's method. The reverse is the case in Actino- 

 mycosis bovis. 



3. Sections of actinomycotic tissue are best prepared by the 

 paraffin method. If frozen, the actinomycotic nodules are very 

 apt to fall out. Sections may be stained by any of the following 

 ways : 



(a) By Gram's method, with eosin or orange-rubin. 



(6) With the Ehrlich-Biondi triple stain. Stain for from half an 



1 Journ. Med. Research. 1905. 



