134 Annual Report of the Royal Veterinary College. 
has been effected by severe scarification followed by the application 
of a strong counter-irritant, such as iodine or carbolic acid. A few 
years ago Professor Thomassen, of the Utrecht Veterinary College, 
reported that he had obtained great success in the treatment of 
actinomycosis by the internal administration of iodide of potas- 
sium, combined with the application of tincture of iodine to the 
affected tongue. This statement did not attract much attention, 
probably because the success obtained was placed entirely to the credit 
of the local iodine treatment. Subsequently, however, Thomassen 
reported that he had entirely abandoned the latter, and limited the 
treatment to the internal administration of the iodide, and that a 
cure had been effected in every case. More recently, experiments made 
at the Paris Veterinary College by Professor Nocard corroborated 
Thomassen’s statement regarding the curative effects of iodide of 
potassium in actinomycosis, and it was therefore deemed desirable 
to test the matter at the Poyal Veterinary College. Unfortunately 
only one animal has yet been obtained for experiment, but in that 
case the result was so striking as to warrant its early publication. 
This animal — a heifer aged two years and eight months — was 
admitted to the College Infirmary on October 17, 1892. At that 
time her tongue presented the unmistakable appearance of acti- 
nomycosis. The disease had its seat in the lower part of the tongue, 
which was double the normal thickness, distorted in shape, covered 
with shallow abrasions, and extremely hard to the touch. Saliva 
was constantly dribbling from the animal’s mouth, mastication ap- 
peared to be very painful, and the general condition was poor. 
Treatment with iodide of potassium was begun on October 15, one 
drachm being given twice daily in water. The animal was fed on 
mashes, but was also allowed hay, of which it took only a little. 
During the first ten days of this treatment there was no noticeable 
improvement in the condition of the tongue, but the heifer began to 
feed better. On October 31 it was noted for the first time that the 
indurated part of the tongue felt softer to the touch, and a few days 
later it was observed that the abrasions were healing. On November 
16 the dose of iodide was raised to two drachms (twice daily), and 
on November 22 to three drachms. The latter doses were continued 
till November 30, when the medicine was stopped. During the 
whole period of treatment the condition of the tongue steadily im- 
proved, as did also the appetite and the general condition, save that 
the skin became covered with a most copious scurf. By the end of 
December the animal could be pronounced cured, and there has not 
since been any evidence of the disease recurring. 
The result in this case accordingly fully bears out Thomassen’s 
statements regarding the absolute curability of actinomycosis. This 
effect of iodide of potassium must be pronounced remarkable, and 
the discovery is important, not only because it places a hitherto in- 
tractable disease among the list of curable affections, but also because 
it revives a hope that medicinal remedies may yet be discovered in 
the case of other bacterial diseases for which at the present time no 
cure is known. 
