282 SPECIFIC DISEASES. 



in cattle under the name of "lump-jaw," but in sheep its pres- 

 ence is very rare, and when occurring in them is generally found 

 located in the soft tissues of the mouth; the writer remembers 

 one case, however, where the lungs were affected. 



The presence of the fungus in the tissues of the body acts as 

 an irritant, causing excessive cell proliferation in the immediate 

 surroundings, resulting in a tumor formation, the swelling being 

 composed of fibrous tissue, which exhibits a tendency to granu- 

 late, and finally break down, forming a large firm mass with one 

 or more centers of suppuration. The liquid pus from the tumor 

 contains small, yellowish, cheesey granules, which, if properly 

 treated under the microscope, will prove to be colonies of ac- 

 tinomyces. 



While actinomycosis generally locates itself in the tissues 

 of the upper or lower jaw, still the tumors may be found in any 

 part of the animal economy. The fungus being a common para- 

 site of certain grasses and grains, on being taken into the animal's 

 mouth along with the fodder, causes actinomycosis principally by 

 direct inoculation; should the sheep have a hollow tooth or 

 abrasion of the mucous membrane of the mouth, its localization in 

 that part of the system can readily be understood, and this ac- 

 counts for those pa-rts being more frequently the seat of the tumor 

 than the internal organs. The internal organs, such as the liver, 

 spleen, etc., must evidently, when affected, become so through 

 the media of the blood supply, and the fact that these organs at 

 times are the seat of this disease would go to prove the danger 

 attendant to actinomycotic infection. 



Actinomycosis occurs in the human family, cattle, sheep, 

 swine, etc. This being the case, the flesh of animals suffering 

 from the disease should be viewed with suspicion. "When once 

 the disease has obtained a firm foothold, medicinal treatment is 

 of no avail, and the subject had better be destroyed. 



