BY C. E. BARNARD, M.D. 



257 



There can be no doubt that, in whatever way the 

 actinoniyces are taken into the human system, whether by 

 injection, inhalation, or inoculation, there is every liability of 

 their growing and multiplying to the injury of the patient. 



The fungus may find entrance by wounds and abrasions of 

 the mucous membrane of the mouth and alimentary system, in 

 a similar manner that other micro-organisms have been proved 

 to enter. 



Wherever they find a lodgment they proceed at once to 

 develop, forming mycelial threads and spores ; and just as in 

 the case of similar parasites, they set free, in the vicinity of 

 the parent fungus, spores, which give rise to fresh individuals. 

 These spores are carried about by wandering cells, and in this 

 way they give rise to fresh centres of growth. Although it 

 may be well understood how the actinomyces increase and 

 multiply inside the animal system, when once introduced, 

 there is some difficulty in ascertaining the mode of infection 

 from without. 



As the most common seats of the disease in cattle are the 

 tongue and jaws, this fact seems to point to lesions in this 

 region as being the mode of entrance of the actinomyces ; 

 and where the lungs are alone affected probably the minute 

 fungus has been inhaled. And as it has been observed that 

 the fungus prevails on some pastures to an unusual extent, it 

 is natural to suppose that the animals have acquired the 

 disease through grazing on such sharp-pointed grasses as 

 wound the mucous membrane of the mouth, such as the 

 spear grass, and also briars, gorse, etc. 



In whatever way the disease is propagated, there should be 

 no hesitation in arriving at the conclusion that all possible 

 endeavours should be made to prevent the spread of the 

 disease to man, and to lessen the risk of infection by the most 

 obvious methods, such as the destruction of infected animals, 

 and the prohibition of the diseased meat from being used as 

 food. Every animal suffering from the disease is a menace not 

 only to its fellows in the same field, but also to the human 

 beings brought into contact with it. 



One may compare this disease to leprosy, which is caused 

 by a microscopic bacillus, and which is highly infectious by 

 contact ; and as a practical consequence of this infectivity the 

 leper is kept isolated from others. 



Mr. Park, when recently in Queensland, made some inquiries 

 as to the extent to which this cancerous disease prevailed 

 there, and ascertained that cases of human Actinomycosis 

 were frequently met with, more especially on those runs 

 where the cattle were similarly affected. It is believed, upon 

 medical authority, that many of the cases of cancer occurring 



