Disease from Vegetable Fungus.
This disease belongs properly to animals, and is caused by a fungus growth[1] being established in the tissues and causing irritation and suppuration. Man cannot easily catch the disease directly from animals, the fungus requiring nourishment from vegetable fibre[2] before it is dangerous to human beings; for that reason persons much about horses or cattle may become afflicted by the habit of eating bits of straws or hay taken from the manger. The fungus is made up of masses of very small particles, and altogether looks like a minute yellow chrysanthemum. The spores may get into the stomach or intestines or the lungs and cause fatal abscesses. Usually they are confined to the tissues beneath the jaw. Abscesses formed have a tendency to open outward. If they can be evacuated and the sacs thoroughly cleansed, recovery will follow; but if they are too deeply internal to be accessible the case is hopeless. Treatment consists of outward applications of compound tincture of myrrh, and the free internal use of composition infusion.[1] Actinomycosis was assumed to be a mycosis (fungal infection) because the bacteria responsible formed fungus-like colonies.
[2] Actinomycosis cannot survive outside mammalian hosts.