332 



Actinomycosis. 



[august, 



of the mouth and tongue, caused by hard straws or barley 

 awns, as well as the teething troubles of young animals, pre- 

 dispose cattle to this disease by. favouring the entrance of the 

 actinomyces to the tissues. 



Symptoms. — The disease is usually local, that is, it is confined 

 to one organ of the body, and the symptoms are largely 

 determined by the part attacked. Nodules of varying sizes 

 often form on the skin of the head and neck, at times these 

 are firm to the touch, while sometimes the skin is broken 

 and the nodules are granular, soft, yellowish in colour, and 

 covered by a crust. The skin covering the lips, being very 

 liable to injury, is frequently attacked. The lips then become 

 hard and enlarged to such an extent that food is gathered 

 with difficulty. 



The tongue, however, is the commonest seat of the disease. 

 The presence of the actinomyces in this organ excites a growth 

 of fibrous tissues, causing the tongue to become hard and 

 immobile, hence the name " wooden tongue." 



This gives rise to a constant dribbling of saliva and 

 quidding of the food, which causes the mouth to be 

 examined. The hardness and painfulness of the tongue and 

 the presence of ulcers at its base, render this form of the 

 disease easy of diagnosis. ■ 



At times tumours can be felt under the skins in the muscles 

 of the cheeks. Both jaw bones, but usually the lower one, 

 may be invaded by the actinomyces from the soft tissues- of 

 the mouth and possibly through the sockets of the teeth. 

 Great swelling of the attacked bone is noticed, and the head 

 sometimes swells to a great size. Pus collects in cavities in 

 the bone, eventually breaking through the skin, and forms 

 wounds which constantly discharge. 



In this condition the jaw is easily fractured and the teeth 

 drop out. 



A very common form is met with when the glands of the, 

 neck are affected — a swelling or " wen " appears between 

 the angles of the jaw, which steadily increases in size until 

 oreathing and swallowing are interfered with. These tumours, 

 often burst and discharge a characteristic, granular, yellow pus: 



The presence of tumours (polypi) attached to the mucous 

 membrane of the mouth and the back of the throat can 



