ACTINOMYCOSIS. 447 



Ponfick thus summarised these experiments with the bovine 

 fungus : — 



1. Rabbits and dogs possess a marked immunity from actino- 

 mycosis, whether pieces of tumour or isolated grains are administered 

 by feeding, or by inoculation in the serous cavities, in the subcutaneous 

 or submucous tissue, or by intravenous injection. 



2. The most common subject of actinomycosis, the cow, possesses 

 a not less marked susceptibiUty to the artificial production of the 

 disease. By feeding, an infection was not obtained, probably 

 because the mucous membrane had not been injured ; but by 

 inoculation, on the contrary, an independent growth of fresh 

 neoplasms was produced in the subcutaneous and intermuscular 

 tissues, occasionally in the submucous tissue, and in a decided 

 manner in the abdominal cavity. Clear evidence of this growth 

 is obtained in some cases within a month, or after three or 

 four months. 



3. By intravenous injection, also, it is possible in a few months 

 to cause typical new growths in the lungs. 



Madura Disease. 



Mycetoma, or Madura foot, is a chronic local disease, attacking 

 chiefly the hands and feet, and having considerable resemblance to 

 actinomycosis. It is a disease of tropical climates, and is commonly 

 known as the " fungus-foot disease " of India. A small tumour forms 

 on the hand or foot, which after a year or two suppurates and 

 bursts, leaving one or more sinuses, from which peculiar black 

 particles, or white or pinkish roe-like bodies, are discharged. 



The disease in the foot may commence in the big toe and spread 

 upwards, involving the leg as far as the knee, and even the thigh. 

 In a typical case the foot is enlarged and painful, and later there 

 are several sinuses from which a purulent and blood-stained discharge 

 can be expressed, containing the characteristic particles. 



According to Bocarro all early growths are superficial. Dissec- 

 tion of the growths during an operation, or sections made through 

 the diseased tissues after excision or amputation, show that the 

 disease begins generally in the loose cellular tissue, generally the 

 subcutaneous tissue, and thence extends along the sheath of muscles 

 and tendons to other soft tissues, and finally the bones. 



There are several facts in connection with the causation of the 

 disease, which are of great interest when it is compared to actino- 

 mycosis in cattle. Bocarro states that the disease originates in 



