XIV, 1 Merrill and Wade: The Validity of Discomyces 63 
valid over Streptothrix Cohn (1875) by Winter (1884) and 
other systematists, the distinction not being understood. The 
organism of actinomycosis was informally assigned to this genus 
by Bostroem, Baumgarten, and others, formally by Migula 
(1895). Cladothrix Cohn is a different type of organism and 
the name is, therefore, inapplicable. 
Streptothrix Cohn (1875), non Corda (1839). This name was 
applied by Cohn to a true-branching organism but was placed 
in his classification as doubtfully synonymous with Cladothrix. 
The resemblance of the fungus of actinomycosis in man to it 
was noted by Israel (1878) ; the name was adopted in 1890 by 
Almquist and by Gasperini for nonpathogenic air organisms, and 
in 1891 it was adopted by Rossi-Doria for that of actinomycosis. 
For a time this was probably the most widely used name for 
the group. At present it is frequently applied to the group 
minus the organism of actinomycosis. It is unquestionably in- 
valid in either connection because previously applied by Corda 
(1839) to an organism distinct from those under consideration. 
Actinomyces Harz (1877) non Actinomyce Meyen (1827). 
This name was applied by Harz to the fungus of “lumpy jaw” 
of cattle, by Gasperini (1894) to the entire group, replacing 
Streptothrix, and accepted in this application by Berestnew 
(1897), Lachner-Sandoval (1898), and others. 
It is now used by many writers, particularly the German and 
the American, as a valid name for the organism of actinomycosis 
only; it is seldom used in the more general sense. As is shown 
below, this name is invalid because published in connection "with , 
an entirely different organism by Meyen (1827). 
Bacterium Ehrenberg 1830. Affanassiew (1888) is said for 
a time to have called the organism of actinomycosis Bacterium 
actinocladothrix. This designation is manifestly inapplicable. 
Actinocladothrix Affanassiew and Schultz (1889). This was 
proposed as a generic name by Affanassiew and Schultz in 1889 
for the organism of actinomycosis. It did not receive the con- 
sideration to which, being of even date with the widely adopted 
Nocar dia, it was certainly entitled. 
Micromyces Grtiber (1891). This name was applied by Gruber 
to an Actinomyces-\Wie organism that he called M. hofmanni. 
This organism cannot be distinguished from the general group 
under consideration. 
Oospora Wallroth (1833). This was adopted by Sauvageau 
and Radais (1892), who concluded that the group belonged to 
Wallroth’s genus. Lehmann and Neumann (1896) adopted this 
view, but later abandoned it, Lachner and Sandoval (1898) 
162323 5 
