3o8 



ACTINOMYCOSIS 



usually composed of a dense layer of fibrous connective tissue. 

 Extending from the periphery toward the center, the tissue 

 becomes less dense and is composed largely of epithelioid cells. 

 In the softer tissue there are often cavities of greater or less 

 size filled with a viscid purulent substance in which the small, 

 yellowish granules of the ray fu«|ys can be found. If this 

 pus is spread in a thin layer on a sjjllboth surface granules com- 

 posed of the "ray fungus" can often be seen with the unaided 



Fig. 75. Photograph of a section through an actinomycotic jaw ; (a) 

 tooth, (b) bone, (c) actinomycotic tissue. 



eye. These pus cavities are usually connected with each other 

 by small sinuses but sometimes they are separated by bands of 

 fibrous tissue. 



If the disease is in the bone, usually in the head, as it is 

 when the specific organism gains entrance and begins to grow 

 in the interior of the jaw, the bone tissue about the organism 

 becomes in places disintegrated and absorbed and pockets are 

 formed containing the fungus. While the interior of the bone 

 is being broken down and absorbed by the action of the acti- 



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