ACTINOMYCOSIS 267 
It is stated by Salmon that in England the disease appears most 
often in the tongue, in Denmark the soft parts of the head are affected 
most frequently, while in some parts of Germany it is more commonly 
found in the pharynx. In the United States it usually appears in the 
lower jaw. In man as in cattle, the appearance of the lesions varies 
according to the part infected. In some cases the lesions closely 
resemble those of chronic inflammation but in others, such as the liver 
or skin, they are often characteristic. In the lungs the lesions have 
frequently been mistaken for tubercle. Usually the disease affects the 
head and if the maxillary bones are attacked the teeth are usually lost. 
Actinomycosis in swine. Actinomycosis appears in this species in 
the lower jaw, larynx, lungs, wounds caused by castration, in the 
mammary gland, muscles and bones. The character of the lesions 
does not differ to any marked extent in swine from those in cattle or 
man. In case of bone infection purulent cavities and sinuses are 
formed in which the yellow granules of the fungus occur. It is 
reported that occasionally pigs suffer from generalized actinomycosis. 
Duncker has found in the muscles of the pig a variety of the ray 
fungus which has been called Actinomyces muscolorum suis, to dis- 
tinguish it if possible from the bovine species. Its relation to the 
Actinomyces bovis has not been clearly determined. It is reported 
to have been found frequently. 
Actinomycosis in horses and sheep. In the horse, actinomycosis of 
the bones, tongue, trachea, spermatic cord and submaxillary glands 
has been observed. The disease is reported to have been mistaken 
for glanders. The affection known as scirrhous cord seems to be due 
in rare cases to an infection by the ray fungus. One such case has 
occurred in the clinic of this institution. A very few cases of this 
disease have been reported in sheep. 
Diagnosis. Actinomycosis is to be diagnosed by the symptoms, 
lesions and the finding of the specific organism in the affected tissues 
or in the discharges from them. The presence of the organism in the 
discharges can often be determined by the use of a good hand lens. 
At other times a regular microscopic examination is necessary.* 
In the tissues it is necessary in most cases to make sections for the 
examination. 
*In preparing the purulent discharges for a microscopic examination it is usually 
sufficient to crush one or more of the yellow granules between a slide and cover-glass. 
It is of advantage to wash it with a dilute solution of caustic soda to clear away the pus 
cells. The rosettes are easily recognized with a low magnification. 
