8 
J. SCOTT. 
experiments, that the disease is capable of being transmitted 
by inoculation from one animal to another. Hence, if the mor¬ 
bific material transplanted from a diseased to a healthy animal 
will produce the characteristic lesions of the natural malady, 
there can scarcely be any reason to deny the possibility of its 
being transmitted accidently, or by cohabitation. And it is 
the general opinion at the present time, of nearly all parties 
who have investigated the subject to any extent, that it is a 
contagious disease, and not only transmissible from one ani¬ 
mal to another, but also from animals to men. 
The disease is caused by the invasion of a vegetable or 
mould fungus, but differing from all other known fungi in the 
radiating arrangement of the mycelia composing it. From its 
radiating structure, and its being found at first in the ox 
tribe, it received the name actinomyces, and it is the only 
fungus belonging to the class of moulds that has been found 
in the interior of animal tissues. 
The fungus itself is of a pale yellow color, varying in size 
from that of a linseed down, until it can hardly be detected 
by the unaided eye. They may be found singly but more 
generally in groups or tufts. 
In the actinomycotic tumors they are constantly found, 
and from their irritating and disintegrating influences set up 
destructive processes in the tissues, which sooner or later, 
end in death, unless the fungus loses its power or is removed. 
By the section of an actinomycotic tumor the typical char¬ 
acter of the fungus is best displayed. Imbedded in the fibrous 
stroma of the growth are noticed various sized nodules of a 
cheesy softness, in the centre of which are the characteristic 
yellow particles which are the actinomyces, often projecting 
above the cut surface enough so that by passing the finger 
over it they can be distinctly felt, being of a slightly harder 
consistence than the surrounding tissue. 
As to the manner in which, and the channel by which the 
fungus enters the body and invades the tissues, there is yet no 
satisfactory evidence. It is, however, probable that it enters 
in the form of spores, through a wound or abrasion, or even 
by means of the delicate mucous follicles of the membrane 
