Actinomyco'sis

Actinomyco'sis (Gr. aktis, 'a ray,' and mykēs, 'a mushroom'), the name now given to a disease long known to occur in cattle, but confounded with tubercle or sarcoma. In 1877 Bollinger of Munich showed that little yellow grains are always present, consisting of a minute fungus, with its mycelium arranged in a radiate manner. To this fungus he gave the name Actinomyces; and further observation has confirmed his view that it is the cause of the disease. Actinomycosis is most common in cattle, occurs also in pigs, and (rarely) in man. It consists of tumours, sometimes of large size, formed of inflammatory material deposited round numerous grains of the fungus. They frequently suppurate and break down. In cattle they occur usually in the jaws, mouth, and stomach; in man in the neck, lungs, and adjacent parts.