GLANDERS— MALLEUS 417 



a protrusion of the latter which resembles slightly an actino- 

 mycoma. Actinomycosis of the larynx or pharynx might be 

 easily confused with tuberculosis. However, the affection of 

 the corresponding lymph glands which occurs in the latter 

 and rarely, if ever, in the former and the use of the tuberculin 

 test should suffice for differentiation. 



Course and Prognosis. — The course in actinomycosis is 

 chronic, the disease gradually ' progressing' from month to 

 month until it terminates fatally. A few cases which are 

 mild may recover spontaneously. As a rule, where bone is 

 not involved and the location of the lesion permits of opera- 

 tion, surgical intervention produces a cure; or if taken early 

 and the lesion is internal (tongue, pharynx) or external 

 healing is possible through the use of iodin. 



Treatment. — Superficial actinomycomas are treated sur- 

 gically by extirpation and subsequent cauterization or tinc- 

 ture of iodin applied to the wound. Bone enlargements 

 are usually incurable. Tongue and throat lesions and in- 

 operable actinomycomas are successfully treated with iodin 

 in the form of iodid of potash. This is administered in doses 

 of 2J drams per day for each 1000 pounds animal. Each 

 dose of iodid of potash is dissolved in a pint of water and 

 given as a drench, repeated daily for ten days or two weeks 

 or until symptoms of iodism appear (discharge from nose 

 and eyes, peeling off of superficial layers of skin, loss of 

 appetite). The use of the drug is then discontinued until 

 all symptoms of iodism subside, when it may be again ad- 

 ministered. It usually requires from three to four weeks to 

 produce a cure. A few animals show no reaction to the 

 treatment. These had best be slaughtered. In addition it 

 is recommended to paint the tumors with tincture of iodin 

 or to inject into them Lugol's solution. With the iodin 

 treatment on the average about 75 per cent, of the cases 

 recover. 



GLANDERS. MALLEUS. 



Definition. — Glanders is a contagious, usually chronic 

 infectious disease of horses, asses, and mules. It is char- 

 acterized by the formation of nodules which tend to degen- 

 27 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



