24 BOTRYOMYCOSIS 



these lesions a species of microorganism which appeared to 

 stand in a causative relation to them. It was first described as 

 Zodgloea pulmonis equi, in 1870, by Bollinger who found it in 

 the nodules in the lungs of a horse. More recently he re- 

 named it Botryococcus ascoformans . Rivolta designated it Dis- 

 comyces equi. Rabe proposed the name Micrococcus botryogenes 

 and Johne has called it M. ascoformans. The results of other 

 investigations throw some doubt upon the specific nature of 

 these lesions. Kitt, Hell, dejong, Gay and others have found 

 in them micrococci which do not differ from M. pyogenes aureus. 

 The writer has failed to find M. ascoformans but has isolated 

 in its stead pyogenic micrococci and streptococci. In one very 

 interesting case of thickened cord, the writer found masses of a 

 fungus resembling that of actinomycosis within the pockets of 

 spongy tissue sprinkled throughout the thickened fibrous cord. 

 Bacteria was not found in this case. 



In the closed abcesses in the connective tissue, pyogenic 

 bacteria have been found, excepting in certain cases of long 

 standing where the cultures give negative results. Investi- 

 gations which have been made into the bacterial flora of the 

 skin of the horse show that pyogenic bacteria are frequently 

 present in the deeper layers of the epidermis, in ducts of glands 

 and about the hair shafts. With the possibility of infection 

 from the integument plus all the other chances of having 

 members of this and other groups of bacteria introduced into 

 the body there seems to be abundant opportunity for infection 

 with a variety of species. The evidence at hand points to the 

 conclusion that botryomycosis is the result of wound infection, 

 and that several species of microorganisms are capable of pro- 

 ducing it, especially the form known as scirrhous cord. 



The source of infection in the cord is to be found in the 

 unsterilized or non- disinfected skin, improperly sterilized in- 

 struments, dressings, and hands of operator. For precautions 

 to be observed in disinfecting the skin see chapter on disinfec- 

 tion. The fact is worthy of note in this connection, that sep- 

 ticemia, peritonitis, and other more distantly localized lesions 

 occasionally follow such infections. 



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