1 Mar.,1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 209 
Several of the cases of more than passing interest are here well worthy of 
recording :— 
Mr. E. Stanley, Chief Veterinary Surgeon to the Board of Health, Sydney, 
during his usual inspection of the saleyards in and around Sydney on 
one occasion, informed me that he had a splendid case of tuberculosis in the 
udder of a cow which had been recently consigned for sale from a ladies’ 
college on account of the gradual diminution of the supply of milk. A physical 
examination revealed the fact that only the right anterior quarter of the mam- 
mary gland was sound, while the other three quarters were more or less 
indurated. The animal was condemned and killed for tuberculosis, and on 
post-mortem examination the original opinion was maintained. The next step 
was to confirm or otherwise this diagnosis by microscopical examination of the 
diseased parts of the udder, which work the Board of Health entrusted to 
me. J worked away cutting sections and examining specimens with the 
microscope for three days, but, although I could find all the necessery histo- 
logical elements of tubercle, I failed to discover a single tubercle bacillus. Mr. 
Stanley suggesting that the staining reagents might have deteriorated, I there- 
fore made up another fresh lot of stains, and then prepared another series of 
specimens, which we, independently, carefully examined, but with the same 
negative result as before. After this somewhat lengthy and tedious micro- 
scopical examination it was resolved as a last resource to cut up into slices that 
portion of the gland which was intended to be preserved as a museum specimen, 
with the hope of throwing a little extra light on the nature of what now 
appeared to be a mysterious disease. My efforts were at last rewarded by the 
fact that I discovered on the cut surfaces of two of the slices several little hard, 
dark-brown coloured grains, each about the size of a pin’s head. These grains 
were placed ona micro-slide, and on adding a little drop of hydrochloric acid 
they immediately began to effervesce, thus demonstrating their calcareous 
nature. When the effervescence had ceased a little glycerine was added, and 
the specimen examined under the microscope, when to my astonishment what 
was supposed to be acase of tuberculosis now proved to be one of actinomycosis, 
for I readily detected the presence of characteristic clubs of the actinomyces 
fungus, while the calcareous condition of the little fungus-tufts at once 
explained that the micro-organisms were undergoing degenerative changes 
which would readily account for their scarcity in the indurated tissues. 
The second case I wish to bring under notice is that of a high-class 
pedigree bull belonging to a well-known breeder in this colony. The owner ~ 
came to me and stated he believed that this valuable animal, which he had only 
recently imported, was affected with tubercular tumours in the lower region 0 
the throat, which if it should be true would mean the immediate destruction of 
the animal, and perhaps a claim for compensation against the original owner 0 
the animal in England. During the cold weather the animal, which was 
extremely quiet and good-tempered, was kept in a stable with a halter round 
its neck. Apparently by continual friction of the rope, the skin of the neck 
got rubbed so much immediately above one of the tumours as to cause an open 
sore, which gradually increased in size. In the course of a few weeks one of 
the tumuurs commenced to disconnect itself from the surrounding sub- 
cutaneous tissues, and eventually sloughed out. The tumour, which was about 
the size of an orange and very firm in consistency, was forwarded to me for 
microscopical examination, which proved as difficult a task as in the previous 
case. However, after repeated examinations I was again successful in demon- 
strating that the tumour was one of actinomycotic origin, and, as in the case 
of the mammary gland, the fungus was undergoing calcareous degeneration. 
The second tumour was subsequently removed by operation, and on micro- 
scopical examination turned out to be, as was anticipated, of the same character 
as the first tumour. Although this event took place two years ago, the animal 
has never exhibited any further manifestation of this disease; in fact, at the 
present time, Lam informed, he is a perfeét picture of health. Needless to 
‘say the owner was more than gratified at the result of these examinations, and 
