416 CHRONIC INFECTIOUS- DISEASES 



cannot be protruded sufficiently. There is more or *less 

 ptyalism and a gradual decline in the condition of the animal 

 is observed. If proper treatment is not given the animal 

 may become reduced to a skeleton. On opening the mouth 

 the changes seen in the tongue will depend upon whether the 

 organ is diffusely infiltrated or the process confined to iso- 

 lated areas. In the former case the tongue appears larger 

 than normal, is stiff, moved very little, and feels firm or 

 hard. The organ may become entirely useless to the animal 

 (so-called "wooden tongue"). In the second case throughout 

 the tongue, especially along the dorsum, nodules from the 

 size of a shoe-button to a hickory-nut are felt. Occasionally 

 ulceration appears and usually just in front of the dorsal 

 prominence of the tongue. Surrounding the ulcer cavity 

 polypoid growths are often noted. The ulcer may be covered 

 with accumulations of food, hairs, etc., and obscured from 

 view. 



(c) Actinomycosis of the lips, while common in some 

 parts of Europe, is rare in this country. As with the tongue 

 there occurs a proliferation of the connective tissue, especially 

 of the upper lip, which becomes firm and rigid and greatly 

 increased in size. In other cases multiple nodules from the 

 size of a pea to a walnut appear in the connective tissue 

 of the lip. 



(d) Actinomycosis of the pharynx leads to severe dyspnea, 

 dysphagia and swelling in the subparotid region, which in 

 some cases is quite marked. The pharyngeal enlargement 

 may be palpated from without (head extended) or through 

 the mouth. In calves firm growths the size of a fist may be 

 palpated in the thyroid region. They produce dysphagia, 

 dyspnea with wheezy respirations, and general unthriftinessT 

 marked rales may be heard on auscultation over the throat. 



Diagnosis. — The diagnosis of actinomycosis depends upon 

 finding of the ray fungus under the microscope. The 

 lesions described are suggestive. Swellings due to injury 

 might be confused with actinomycomas. However, these 

 appear suddenly, show an inflammatory character and a 

 benign course. Occasionally foreign bodies (bones, shoe 

 soles) may lodge between the teeth and the cheeks, causing 



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