ACTINOMYCOSIS. 
26l 
growth; but in such cases I think the flesh ought to be rejected 
on the general principle that any animal affected with a disease 
that so seriously impairs nutrition or destroys the tissues already 
formed to such an exte'nt as to produce emaciation ought to be 
rejected as unfit for human food as long as that condition exists 
unremedied. Having said so much in regard to the sanitary 
question as it relates to animals with this germ affecting them, 
we turn now to the treatment, for here is where the financial 
consideration commences. 
This disease, involving as it does, great loss to the cattle- 
raisers of this country, has until recently been regarded by the 
veterinary profession as incurable, and is so regarded to-day by 
that great array of would-be-veterinarians, and many others 
who ought to know better. 
Treatment of these cases consists of internal administration 
and external application of medicines, with, in some cases, the 
free use of the knife. 
The internal treatment consists in the daily administration 
of from 3 ii to 3 iii of potassium iodide, until iodism is pro¬ 
duced, and then a dose of some laxative to regulate the bowels, 
together with two or three days rest, when the treatment is 
again to be repeated with intervals between until the tumor 
shows signs of diminishing, when the treatment may be grad¬ 
ually decreased, but in most cases must be continued until the 
tumor has nearly or quite disappeared, for in some cases where 
an apparent recovery has taken place, a few months later, to 
my surprise, the tumor again began to develop quite rapidly. 
Some few cases will be found where the growth does not seem 
to be affected by potassium iodide in the least, and with such it 
would be well to discontinue treatment in from four to six 
weeks if no signs of iodism appear, and the treatment has been 
increased to 3 iv daily. 
Successful treatment by external application requires that 
the disease be early detected and that the swollen surface be 
repeatedly blistered, or subjected to the stimulating effects of 
such agents as soft soap and turpentine. Treatment by evacu- 
