ACTINOMYCOSIS OF THE TONGUE. 
17 
The affected oxen can chew but little or not at all. They certainly 
attempt to take food but chew slowly and let fall most of what is grasped; 
on the other hand they can swallow fluids. Salivation soon sets in and 
the manger is often covered with foamy saliva. The tongue feels hard 
and rigid ; but is smooth and not painful on manipulation. 
In well-developed cases and in full-grown cattle the prognosis is 
unfavourable. Such animals had best be slaughtered. Under opposite 
circumstances something can be done. Early treatment in young 
animals is usually completely successful. Older animals are usually 
incurable. As in actinomycosis, iodide of potassium is given in full 
doses and the tongue is painted with tincture of iodine, if necessary 
after scarification. 
(b) actinomycosis of the tongue, glossitis actinomycotica. 
This disease is very common, and in horses the number of recorded 
cases increases. Certain localities seem particularly affected. France 
appears nearly exempt, but Russia, Denmark, America and North 
Africa furnish numerous cases. The disease is fairly common in 
Germany, 9‘1 per cent, of the total number of oxen slaughtered in 
Berlin showing it. 
The changes in the tongue consist in chronic proliferation of the con¬ 
nective tissue, which exhibits numerous granulating centres. In these 
the specific fungi are embedded. Sometimes the centres suppurate. 
The swellings and abscesses usually rise above the general surface of 
the tongue and are readily visible. Sometimes the appearances consist 
in ulceration of the base of the tongue just in front of the swelling. 
Though such lesions are often due to actinomycosis their true nature is 
not usually recognised. 
Appearances and Progress. The tongue gradually becomes thicker 
and larger, especially at its base, and, on account of its stiffness, feeding is 
rendered difficult, whilst in swallowing, the head and neck are abnormally 
extended. Salivation frequently exists, and difficulty in breathing may 
appear, particularly during mastication and swallowing. At the same 
time respiration becomes audible, whistling or rattling. These symptoms 
slowly becoming aggravated, the mouth is examined, and the tongue 
found thickened, its base being unusually stiff and hard.. The veins are 
abnormally large, and the surface has a dark blue coloui, as in sti angu¬ 
lation, but acute inflammatory symptoms (pain and oedema) are absent. 
Hard swellings, which vary from the size of a pea to that of a pigeon s 
egg, are occasionally visible on the surface, and may show signs of 
ulceration. They are best felt when the tongue is allowed to glide 
through the hand. Zschokke states that these swellings lie immediately 
