2l6 ACTINOMYCOSIS 



giving rise to a great overgrowth of connective tissue. M3'- 

 cetoma almost invariably attacks the hand or foot and accord- 

 ing to Carter there are no secondary deposits in the viscera. 

 In actinomycosis the extremities are rarely attacked and the 

 viscera are often the seat of the disease ; further the mycetoma 

 is a disease of hot climates while actinomycosis is a disease of 

 the temperate latitudes. The fungus of the two affections 

 seem to be closely related but as yet their identity has not 

 been established. 



§168. Specific treatment. The investigations of Thomas- 

 sen, Nocard, and Norgaard and the trials of a large number of 

 veterinarians have proved ver\- conclusively' the specific, cura- 

 tive effect of iodide of potassium. According to Salmon the 

 iodide of potassium is given in doses of from i J-^ to 2\^ drams 

 dissolved in water and administered in a drench, once a day. 

 The dose should var)' somewhat with the size of the animal 

 and with the effects that are jiroduced. If the dose is sufii- 

 cientl>' large there appear signs of iodism in the course of a 

 week or ten days. The skin becomes scurfy, the eyes mois- 

 tened, nasal catarrh and loss of appetite. When these symp- 

 toms appear the medicine may be suspended for a few days 

 and afterwards resumed in the same dose. The cure recjuires 

 from three to six weeks treatment. Some animals do not im- 

 prove with the administration of iodide of potassium and 

 these are generally the ones which show no signs of iodism. 



If there is no sign of improvement after the animals have 

 been treated four or five weeks and the medicine has been 

 given in as large doses as appear desirable, it is an indication 

 that the particular animal is not susceptible to the curative 

 effects of the drug and the treatment should be abandoned. 



It is not, however, advisable to administer iodide of potas- 

 sium to milch cows, as it will considerably reduce the milk 

 secretion or stop it altogether. Furthermore, a great part of 

 the drug is excreted through the milk making it unfit for use. 

 It should not be given to animals in advanced pregnancy, as 

 there is danger of producing abortion. 



S 169. Sanitary considerations. The literature upon 

 this subject is largely to the effect that actinomycosis is rarely 



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