invedi(jcdions in 1888 /«/• the Iiui/al Agrlcnlttiml Sucielij. 319 
to the siiuitary conditions of stock iu their districts. From the 
silence of the majority it may be concluded that their assistance 
had not been sought by the members of the Society. 
Experimental Inquiries into the Nature of certain 
Diseases. 
Among the cases of disease of cattle, sheep, and swine which 
were under observation during the past year, there were some 
which require special notice. 
Aclinomycosis. 
This is a very common disease of the lower animals, especially 
cattle, and also occurs in man. 
In June 1887 a member of the Society applied for advice 
concerning a disease which occurred every season in his herd in 
Norfolk. The affection was described as a form of the disease 
familiarly known as " wens," or in Scotland as " clyers." 
From time immemorial, tumours in the throat and other 
parts of the body have been recognised as scrofulous or tuber- 
culous, and their existence has been accepted as evidence of 
tuberculosis. From the account which the member who applied for 
advice gave of the disease in his herd, actinomycosis was sus- 
pected ; and as Pi'ofessor Crookshank of King's College was then 
engaged in investigating the disease iu man, his attentioia was 
called to the cases. Dr. Crookshank visited the farm in Norfolk, 
and gained some valuable information. Some of the diseased 
animals Avere sent to the College, and the suspicion of the exist- 
ence of actinomycosis was at once confirmed. 
To give an idea of the nature of the disease which has long 
been known by the title of actinomycosis, it is necessary to 
explain that the organism which is always found in the diseased 
parts is a fungus Avhich grows in the form of clubs or tufts radiat- 
ing from a centre, as the term literally signifies. The tongue is 
the organ most frequently affected ; but the bones, especially those 
of the jaw, have been often found to be diseased. 
Prof. Dick, of Edinburgh, had his attention called to the 
disease affecting the tongue and throat of cattle in 1833, but he 
did not discover its true nature. By various writers it was 
called scirrhous tongue, cancer, osteo-sarcoma, polypus, tuber- 
cular stomatitis, and diphtheria. On the Continent, especially iu 
Germany, the true nature of the affection was known long before 
it was recognised in this country. In 1882, Dr. G. Fleming 
published au account of the affection, quoting from some of the 
German authorities and referring to cases among animals iu this 
