454 CHRONIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES 



udder, spermatic cord of castrated animals, vagina, and ma 

 metastasis the liver, spleen, muscle, and brain. A generaliza- 

 tion of the process is, however, rare. 



Symptoms. — Cattle. — Actinomycosis in cattle usually 

 appears in one of the following forms: (a) Enlargements 

 about the head particularly in the neighborhood of the 

 lower jaw (angle and between rami) and in the parotid 

 region — the so-called actinomycoma. (b) An affection of the 

 tongue, (c) Disease of the lips, (d) In the form of growths 

 in the mouth, pharynx, and larynx. 



(a) In young cattle the enlargement may appear as an 

 abscess which, when evacuated, is found to contain, mingled 

 with the pus, numbers of pale or sulphur-yellow-colored 

 granules (fungi). Such an enlargement presents the char- 

 acteristics of a subacute abscess. The connective-tissue 

 growths are firm, non-sensitive, movable, the overlying skin 

 partially adherent; their development is slow. In time 

 they undergo puriform softening and perforate at one or 

 more points. Out of the sinuses is discharged a viscid, 

 mucopurulent exudate. If the bone is involved, the infection 

 leads to periostitis, rarefying osteitis and osteomyelitis. 

 The enlargement is hard, non-movable, somewhat sensitive 

 and usually involves one or more of the premolar teeth; it 

 also tends to perforate. At first several openings appear 

 which later merge into one large, crater-like cavity from which 

 issues a foul smelling, discolored discharge. 



(fe) If the tongue is seriously involved, prehension and 

 mastication are interfered with. It will be noted in the 

 earlier stages that the patient does not lick the corners of 

 the manger or feed-box clean, as the tongue is stiff and 

 cannot be protruded sufficiently. There is more or less 

 ptyalism and a gradual decline in the condition of the animal 

 is observed. If proper treatment is not given, the animal 

 may become reduced to a skeleton. On opening the mouth 

 the changes seen in the tongue will depend upon whether the 

 organ is diffusely infiltrated or the process confined to iso- 

 lated areas. In the former case, the tongue appears larger 

 than normal, is stiff, moved very little, and feels firm or 

 hard. The organ may become entirely useless to the animal 



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