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skin or udder [Albiston and Pullar, 1934], around Streptococci [Albiston and
Pullar, 1934], possibly in some Corynebacterial granulomata, around dead
tubercle bacilli [Meyer and Mayer, 1927], around worm eggs (Schistosoma)
and following intravenous injection of tellurium in oily suspensions [Levaditi
and Dimanesco-Nicolau, 1926]. It will be apparent then that for the etiolo-
gical agent one has to search under the peripheral zone of the actino-body.
The causative organism is situated centrally in the young lesion but in older
colonies the most central portion may have undergone degenerative
changes, whereas the middle zone shows what can be interpreted as an. active
vegetative area of the etiological factor. In some cases the micro-organism
may be seen situated just under the peripheral zone or even scattered amongst
the bases of the clubs.
When one takes these facts into consideration there seems little doubt
that with the knowledge of the morphology and staining peculiarities of micro-
organisms one could determine the etiology of the actino-body with some de-
gree of certainty by comparison with other known granulomata with similar
microscopic appearance. Thus the ray-colonies could be etiologically classi-
fied without the need, in every case, of a cultural examination. Indeed,
speaking of true actinomycosis, Colebrook [1931] asserts that a diagnosis of
actinomycosis could thus be given, for in practice " such cultivation is not
absolutely necessary because just as in tuberculosis the demonstration of acid-
fast bacilli is sufficient for a diagnosis which will be correct ninety-nine times
out of a hundred, so in actinomycosis the finding of definite granules visible
to the naked eye and composed of Gram-staining mycelium will make it legiti-
mate to infer the presence of an infection by Actinomyces bovis ". There is
little doubt that a similar view could be taken of other " actinomycotic "
conditions, especially, if we consider the works of Griffith [1916], Bosworth
[1923] and Magnusson [1928].
This brings us on to the subject of nomenclature to be adopted. The
word " actinomycosis " has been in use for a long time and is so closely
connected with research in this direction that by constant but loose usage, it
continues to designate even to-day the entire group of diseases, characterised
by the formation of granules, wherein actino-bodies are found. Various authors
[Colebrook, Bosworth, Davies, Magnusson, M'Fadyean] have from time to titme
suggested revision of terminology but their suggestions have not been uni-
versally adopted, partly on account of the fact that the comprehensive use of
the term " actinomycosis " has become firmly established and partly be-
cause some of the advocates of revised taxonomy have allowed themselves
to adopt the old terminology or have suggested terms which are defective
in expression.
It is well known that until the discovery of the Actinobacillus by Lig¬
nieres and Spitz in 1902, the etiological difference between actinomycosis and
actinobacillosis was not realised. Bollinger [1877], who was the first to give a
scientific account of " actinomycosis ", had before him the diseased jaw-
bone as well as tongue and affected lymph glands of the head. Until 1902,