National Republican., 1883-05-28
ACKNOWLEDGES
The Name Of Newly Discovered and Very
Deadly Form Of Lung Disease.
Its Nature Described and Explained by
Prof. Taylor and DIR. salmon.


Prof Thomas Taylor presented paper on
"Actinomykosis the Fungus Growth on the
Throat and Lungs" lie illustrated il with
photographs of enlarged microscopic views of
the fungus in different shapes of develop
mcnt. He said: The fungus actinomyces Is
supposed to be the cause of a deadly disease
named by the Germans actinomykosis. This
disease is closely allied to tuberculosis, and is
sometimes confounded with it.. II produces
large tubercles on the trachea, consolidates
the lungs, depositing calcareous cartilagnous
nodules, death ensuing by asphyxia.
Tho thoracic viscera of a Newfound dog
which died of an unknown disease was sent
TO DIR. Taylor for microscopic examination.
The base of the trachea was covered with
largo tuberces, some of them an inch in
diameter The two principal lobes of tho
lung were white and consolidated, and u soft,
gelatinous substance, about half an inch in
diameter and three inches III length. extended
from the largest tubercle of the trachea to the
apex of tho right lung.
On examining q portion Of this gelatinous
body under the microscope DR.. Taylor found
It to consist of the mycelum or spawn of a
fungus, hitherto undescribed in mycological
works. The fungus exhibited now and pecu-
liar points of Interest. Its cell structure was Of
tho most varied character each individual
cell having yellow colored patch within it.
Branching out from the mycelium, or spawn,
were numerous stalks or pedicles bearing the
fruit of this fungus, having the appearance
under the microscope of tiny forest of micro
scopic mushrooms, each of these mushroom
like forms being not over one-thousaudth Of
an inch in diameter. On examining the
bronchi of the lungs traces were found of
branches of the mycelium. 1t then occurred
TO the doctor that he wight be able to culti-
yate this fungus from this spawn, and thereby
obtain a life history of this microscopic
plant. This he succeeded in doing and dis
.aN.. =
growth. He found also by experiments that
every stage of its growth had tho power of re-
production. DR.. Taylor illustrated his re-
marks by drawings and photographs and
mounted slides of the fungus in its various
stages shown by microscopes of high power.
In conclusion DR.. Taylor stated that only
two dogs-one in Germany, the other in this
city-are known to have been affected with
this disease.
DIR. Salmon followed Prof. Taylor in a
sketch of the pathology of the disease.
My remarks he said, are intended to be
suggestive rather than to bring up all the de
tails that have been observed in connection
with the subject.
There are u number of reasons why this
fungus and this disease are peculiarly inter
esting. In the first place, il is another addi-
tion to the list of germ diseases The pres
once of this fungus in all cases of disease of u
certain character in various parts of the
affected parts, together with the fact that the
trouble may be communicated from one AMI.
NAL to another by inoculation, are the chief
points which connect this organism with the
causation of the disease.
It is interesting also because of the variety
of LESSONS which are produced The actino-
myccs bowls was first found i'll a tumor which
grows ON the lower jaw Of cattle. The tumor
was formerly considered by some to be of a
cancerous nature and by others to be form
of scroiula. 1t progresses until it reaches an
enormous size, and generally proves fatal.
Since then it has been found in dis
case of the tongue that had been sup
posed to be of tuberculous nature; it has been
found in polypi and submucous swellings in
the pharynX, esophagus, stomach, intestines,
in the mammary glands, in the heart, in alb
scesses Of the bones of the neck and in q form
of tubercle of the lungs.
While there are number of fungi which
attack the animal body, such as the trycophy-
ton tonsurans, achorion schouleini micro
sporon adouinii. and oidium batracoss, these
all grow ON the surface or near the surface of
the body, and the diseases which they pro-
duce are treated with good prospect of sue
cess. The actinomyces, on the other hand
penetrate the tissues and even carries its de-
struction to the very interior of the bones.
In this ability to multiply itself in the vital
organs of the body IL, so far as we know, diff
fcrs from all other fungi.
Although it grows in the deepest organs of
the body the lesions produced are Of local
nature. 1t does not multiply in all parts of
the body nj once, nor i'll the circulating
LIQUIDS, as does the germs of some contagious
fcvers; but IL is generally confined to par
tcular organ, in which it forms swelling
or tumor of n progressive nature which usu-
ally ends in death. In this respect il forms
connecting link between the diseases pro-
duced by fungi and by bacteria. While the
lattar in pertnin liSpnspg inultiply In all tho
liquids of the body, there are other cases in
which they are unable to penetrate be-
yond the. affected organ, or at least
not until the last stages of disease This is
true with the virus of black quarter; it is
also true with that of pleuro- pneumonia,
though IL is not certainly known that the
latter is bacterial disease. With each of
these troubles the virus introduced into the
connective tissues causes a fatal disease while
il injected directly into the blood vessels it
produces mild type of fever, always ending
in recovery.
This fungus is also interesting because OF
the number of distinct species which IL at
Ntacks. Sixteen eases in the human subject
have already been recorded, while 1t is known
to\etiect horses cattle, swine and dogs
10 the Investigation of contagious diseases
this subject Is peculiarly interesting at pres
ent, because the LESSONS so closely resemble
those of tuberculosis and scroiula. The new
views in regard to the contagiousness OF
tuberculosis and its parasitic origin have been
chiefly combalted by those who consider all
tubercles TO be pathologically identical, while
the truth seems TO be that the same appear
ance may be produced by variety of causes.
Thus, but n few months ago French invosti-
CATION described form of tubercles that was
even microscopically identical with what is
known as true tubercle, with the single eX-
ueption that at the center of each granulatiOn
was found the microscopic egg of Il nematode
worm And in the disease under considera-
tion we have another variety of tubercle that
seems TO differ only in that the center Of each
granulation consists of a tuft of the actino-
Inyces fungus.
1t seems probable therefore, that what has
heretofore been looked upon as single dis
ease may be divisible into a number of dis
partial explanation of the discrepancies in
the results Of different Investigators,
am led to the conclusion from these facts
that what is pronounced to be tubercle and
tuberculosis may arise from widely different
causes, and that, consequently, tu6erculou'
products may have widely different degrees OF
infectiousness. At all events actinomykosls
is communicable disease, and the actino'
myces is a most dangerous fungus
Since this organism multiplies locally 1t is
evident that, as a rule, IL gains entrance to
the body near the seat OF the resulting
disease. slight wound, an abrasion, O
scratch, evon, may be sufficient for its lodg'
ment; while IL seems probable that II may, al
least in certain cases, vcgetate ON the moist
mucous membrane, even when uninjured,
and send its mycelium into the tissues be-
4. L.. Il s... m a.