CHAPTEE XXX. 



actinomycosis. — madura disease. 



Actinomycosis. 



Actinomycosis belongs to the class of infective granulomata. It is 

 a chronic inflammatory affection characterised by the presence of a 

 special microphyte, which by irritation produces a neoplasm, composed 

 of roiind cells, epithelioid cells, giant cells, and fibrous tissue. These 

 neoplasms form nodular tumours of various sizes. In some cases 

 there is a tendency to develop very large tumours, and in others to 

 break down early and suppurate. In cattle, cretification takes 

 place in the fungus tufts. Actinomycosis closely resembles tuber- 

 culosis in its histological characters. The disease attacks man, 

 horses, cattle, and pigs. 



Many interesting observations have been made upon the origin 

 ■of this disease in man. Two cases have been recorded in support of 

 the theory of direct infection from the cow. Stelzner described a 

 case of actinomycosis in a man who had had the care of animals, 

 some of which had suppurating glands. Hacker had a case of 

 actinomycosis of the tongue in a man who had charge of cows, one 

 of which had a tumour of the jaw which he had opened. On the 

 other hand, Moosbrugger found that out of 75 cases, 54 were in men, 

 and 21 in women, including 2 children. In 11 of these men the 

 occupation was not stated. In 33 their occupation did not bring 

 them into contact with diseased animals ; they were, for example, 

 miUers, glaziers, tailors, shop people, and students. Only 10 cases 

 occurred among farmers, peasants, and farm-labourers, and in only 

 one case out of the 10, had the patient been brought into contact 

 with diseased animals. 



Out of the 21 women, there were only 4 peasants, and none 

 of them had been associated with diseased cattle. 



Infection by the flesh of diseased animals has also been dis- 

 ■cussed. But there is no evidence of prevalence of the disease 



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