256 NOTES ON ACTINOMYCOSIS, ETC. 



Park showed it to the best authorities in London, who con- 

 firmed the diagnosis, and were much interested in the 

 discovery. 



Sections of the specimens referred to are now on the table 

 for inspection, when members will be enabled to examine by 

 the microscope the peculiar ray-fungus that is associated with 

 the disease in question. 



The fungus tufts vary in size from a pin's point to a pin's 

 head, and may be readily seen with the low power of the 

 microscope ; but it requires a high power to distinguish the 

 characteristic club-shaped bodies which are arranged in the 

 form of a rosette, or in a radiate manner. When thin 

 sections are cut the larger tufts drop out, leaving round 

 vacant places which give the specimen a reticulated 

 appearance. 



Appropriate staining brings out very prominently three 

 different elements which are easily distinguishable under the 

 higher power ; first minute granules, or micro-cocci ; second, 

 fine threads of mycelium ; third, disposed in a radiate manner 

 round the edge of the tufts, larger ovate or club-shaped 

 bodies. 



These three elements are not always to be found in the 

 same specimen, and frequently the clubs are not seen, or 

 possibly are not brought out in the staining ; but when found 

 they are deemed to be the characteristic element of the 

 darasite. The discovery of this parasitic fungus has been 

 the starting point for many valuable investigations ; and it is 

 surprising to find how many obscure diseases there are whose 

 origin may be traced to the presence of this vegetable 

 parasite, and many diseased organs thought to be suffering 

 from tuberculosis have been found to contain the actinomyces, 

 and not the tubercle bacillus. 



Our chief interest in the fungus is centred in the fact that 

 identically the same parasite as is found in the lower animals 

 is discovered to be the cause of similar diseases in the human 

 subject. Several well-authenticated cases have been published 

 of undoubted Actinomycosis in human beings having a fatal 

 termination. How these patients became inoculated with 

 this disease it is difficult to say. 



It has been shown by experiment that the introduction of 

 the fungus by inoculation into a calf has produced swellings 

 which contained the characteristic clubs of the fungus, thus 

 suggesting that this disease can be transmitted by direct 

 inoculation. 



Many similar experiments have been made with a view to 

 prove the transmissibility of this vegetable parasite from 

 animal to animal, and in the majority of cases with a positive 

 result. 



