Actinomycosis.

white, moist-looking at first, and soon becoming ulcerous. Subsequently, the tongue becomes slowly hard and swollen, and eventually hangs from the mouth. These nodules may be single, or in clusters.

When in the jaw, the lower is most frequently seized, at a spot corresponding to the roots of the third or fourth grinder, first appearing a small swelling, which grows in some cases rapidly, until in a few months the larger portion of the jaw is invaded.

The disease also appears in the fauces, larynx, nasal chambers, œsophagus, stomach and intestinal canal, lungs, udder, and skin, and always in the nodular, or turmorous form.

In man, the disease commences in the soft parts, as fungoid, suppurating granulations, which ulcerate, and finally proceed to the bones, inducing in the latter, caries or necrosis, with everlasting chronic suppuration, says Bodamer, Physician in Chief to Philadelphia German Hospital, and sometimes leading to hyperostosis of the affected bones. Most commonly, the disease seems to commence as a pleurisy, which takes a chronic course, terminating in ulceration of the adjoining bones, viz.: the vertebral column and ribs.

The most important point for consideration is, that the disease is transmissible from animals to man, and this has been demonstrated beyond question. Maydl reports a case in 1889, in which a veterinarian engaged in meat inspection, was required to examine a large number of cattle passes. In doing this, he moistened the volar (palm) of the right thumb with his tongue. Some time after, he felt a soreness in the tongue. In a few days there formed a small lump about the size of a pea, which in two months, increased to the size of a bean, and when opened contained pus and actimony co

sis granules.

Another case is mentioned where a coachman affected with actinomycosis of the jaw, communicated the disease to his wife.

Dr. Bryce, secretary of the Ontario Provincial Board of Health, reports a case investigated in 1890, in which the disease was communicated to a child, from cow's milk from which it was raised, the cow being a calf of a cow that had the disease of the jaw when pregnant with and raising this calf. The growth upon the child consisted of a wen-like structure about two inches in diameter, situated upon the anterior portion of the upper jaw. The interior of

Actinomycosis.

the wen was of spongy nature, filled with small cavities, which were filled with granular pus. The microscope dislosed the presence of the parasite, or typical ray fungus in the pus granules.

Recent investigation and observation has disclosed many instances of this disease in man. Prof. Crookshank, of London, says he has transplanted the disease from man to a calf.

The fungus is allied to the common green mould which grows on jam, paste, damp leather, etc. It is found in the husks or chaff of grain; in smut of corn, hence it has been observed that the disease. is most frequent after cattle have been fed on straw, barley and chaff, straw being, as well known, so often mouldy. It is also believed to exist in wild rye, a pest which is rapidly spreading over the prairies of this State. In fact, it is the general opinion of the best observers, that it has its origin in the cereals.

It differs from all the ordinary green moulds, in the radiating of the mycelia or tendrils, and has been given the name actinomyces. It occurs as small globular masses, about the size of a pin-head, usually of pale yellow color, sometimes white, brown, green or speckled. Each mass consists of a central core of closely Woven threads, from which radiate a multitude of filaments which swell out at their ends into club-shaped bodies; these form the outer part of the mass as shown in Figures 1 and 5. In man, the clubbed bodies are commonly absent, and the growth consists of radiating filaments alone.

When closely examined, many of the club-shaped cells, toward the periphery, will be found standing out prominently from the

others.

Here and there are fine, pale, faintly shining, single mycelium threads springing from the depths of the tuft, and appearing beyond the margin (Fig. 2, a). Another tuft, or portion of one,

Actinomycosis.

mainly consists of such mycelium or hyphen-threads (Fig. 2, b). Very exceptionally, there are seen at the peripheral end of these fine threads a delicate, pear-shaped expansion (Fig. 2, c); and among them are larger pear-shaped clubs or cells, often crowded together (Fig. 2, d); while not

unfrequently are noticed isolated, and general small tufts, which appear to be composed only of the very finest mycelia, which Harz believed aborted forms, but which Johne considers young growths. Within the zone of the tuft (Fig. 1), and especially toward the center, are not only the upper surfaces, or ends of the larger clubshaped cells visible, but also small shining corpuscles, which resemble micrococci. (Fig. 2, e). In the center of the tuft, in addition, are extremely fine, but not numerous, myceliæ; and Fig. 3. Mycelium and beyond these, passing direct toward the periphery, Conidia of the Acti are many mycelia, with their extremity expanding into a long pear-shaped body (Fig. 2, c), which has received the name of Conidium, and of which there is one for each thread, as shown in Fig. 3.

nomyces.

Fig. 4 illustrates an actinomyces cluster, surrounded by a large number of large cells, taken from the lung of a cow. The actinomyces is said to be the only fungus belonging to that class of moulds that have been found in the interior of animal tissues. The manner in which the fungus invades the tissues, has not been definitely determined, but the weight of authority is that it enters, in the form of spores, through a wound, abrasion, fissure, or even by the delicate mucous follicles of the membrane lining the lips, mouth, pharynx and nostrils-in fact any part of the digestive or respiratory canal.

Hog Cholera.

TREATMENT.

The only treatment of actinomycosis is with cutting instruments, or caustics, the object being the extirpation, or destruction of the spores of the fungus.

THE SANITARY IMPORTANCE.

It having been demonstrated that actinomycosis can be transmitted from one animal to another, and from animals to man, and that the spores of the fungus, alike destructive to man and beast, may invade the body by a trifling scratch or wound, resulting in death, the sanitary importance of this disease is eviFiz. 4. An Actinomyces dent. Those who go about diseased cattle number of large cells. should exercise extreme caution. Whether

or not the meat of animals affected with actinomycosis is fit for food is a mooted question, but upon general hygienic principles it may be safely asserted that the flesh of all diseased animals is unfit for human food, whether the disease be contagious or not. In several countries in Europe the use of flesh of animals affected with actinomycosis is absolutely prohibited. Says Dr. Solomon, of the National Bureau of Ani:nal Industry: "It is difficult to draw a definite line between cases so severe as to make condemnation necessary, and those so mild as not to injure the meat."

HOG CHOLERA.

The extensive outbreaks of hog cholera in Iowa, have suggested the publication of this article compiled from the fourth and fifth annual reports of the National Bureau of Animal Industry of experiments made on the farm of the bureau, and elsewhere.

These reports have demonstrated that the hog cholera and swine plague are caused by two distinct germs, or bacilli, and that they are two different diseases. The latter is so unfrequent, and the tendency is so great to confound the two diseases, it is intended. herein to give information relative to cholera only.

Hog Cholera.

There may be

The two diseases may exist independently. cholera in a herd of swine without the plague, and vice versa. The distinctive feature of the plague is that it affects the lungs, and of cholera, that it affects the intestines, though the intestines are more or less affected when the plague prevails, but lung lesions are rarely

seen.

In either case, treatment is not recommended, for the reason that no specific, nor remedy is known in veterinary or human medicine that will cure ulcerative diseases of the large bowels, except time, careful dieting, rest, and paliation for pain, all of which is impossible to carry out with swine. Of the numberless advertised and alleged specifics and cures, the best were tried and found of no value. The only course recommended is that of prevention.

INDICATIONS OF THE DISEASE.

The presence of the disease is indicated by a cold shivering lasting from a few moments to a few hours; frequent sneezing, followed by loss of appetite, rough appearance of the hair, drooping of the ears, stupidness, attempt to vomit, tendency to root the bedding, to lie down in dark and quiet places, dullness of the eye, often dim, sometimes swelling of the head, eruption on the ears and other parts of the body, dizziness, laborous breathing, vitiated appetite for dung, dirt, and salty substances, accumulation of mucus in inner corner of the eyes, discharges from the nose, fetid and offensive odor of discharges from the bowels, offensive exhalations, diarrheal discharges are semi-fluid, of greyish-green color, and often mixed with blood. In many cases, on the skin on the belly, between the hind legs, behind the ears, and even on the nose, are numerous red spots, which toward the fatal termination, turn purple. As the disease progresses, the animal becomes sluggish, the head droops with the nose near the ground, but usually will be found lying down with the nose hid in the bedding. If there has been no costiveness, about two days before death there will be offensive, fetid discharges, the voice becomes faint and hoarse, the animal is stupid, emaciation increases rapidly, the skin becomes dry, hard, and very unclean, there is a cold, clammy, sweat, and death soon follows with convulsions, or gradually by exhaustion, without struggle.

In chronic cases, or those of longer duration, the animal becomes weak, lies down most of the time, eats but little, and has diarrhoea.