ACTINOMYCOSIS. 42^ 



or lumbar vertebrae ; a swelling appears of a livid colour, and if 

 punctured no fluid escapes, but if allowed to make its own way to the 

 surface, the skin gives way, a muco-purulent discharge mixed with 

 pieces of the growth escapes, and the fungi can readily be recognised. 



(III.) Invasion of the Digestive Tract. — In a case under Chiari, 

 death, with general marasmus, took place at the age of thirty-four, 

 after two years' illness. The mucous membrane of the intestines was 

 almost completely covered with whitish patches, raised in the centre, 

 and covered with yellow and brown granules closely adherent to 

 the adjacent tissues. The teeth were carious. 



Small nodules about the ^ze of a pea may be found in the sub- 

 mucous tissue, and in the mucous membrane itself. They soften 

 and form ulcers with undermined edges, the base reaching the 

 muscular layer. They may undergo cicatrisation, but generally 

 the disease extends through the peritoneum to the abdominal cavity,- 

 and perforates the bladder or the intestines, or makes its way through 

 the abdominal wall. Symptoms are either a,bsent or not character- 

 istic. The fungus may sometimes be found in the evacuations, or 

 by exploratory puncture. 



(IV.) Undetermined. — In, addition there are a number of recorded 

 cases presenting very varied symptoms and anatomical relations, in 

 which it has not been possible to satisfactorily determine the path 

 of infection. Delepine has described a most interesting case of an 

 actinomycotic tumour of the brain. 



Manifestations of Actinomycosis in Cattle. 



(I.) In the Digestive system we find the disease attacking : — 



(a) The lips, gums, buccal mucous membrane and palate, and 

 appearing as nodules, wart-like growths, or ulcers. The nodules 

 and ulceration of the palate were well shown in a specimen sent to- 

 the author for examination, under suspicion of being the result of 

 severe foot and mouth disease. 



{b) The upper and loioer jaw, where it probably originates in 

 carious teeth, and extending and invading the neighbouring cavities 

 and sinuses destroys the tissues with which it comes in contact,, 

 expanding the bones into thin plates or reducing them to the 

 appearance of pumice-stone. 



(c) The tongue, where we see it most commonly in the form of 

 nodules or wart-like patches under the mucous membrane, with a 

 special tendency to ulcerate, through the irritation of the teeth. These 

 nodules may extend into the deep muscles, and often collect in row& 



