ACTINOMYCOSIS.
—Called lumpy jaw, because of the frequency of the swelling located on the jaw. It is due to the entrance of a specific organism, a fungus, into the tissues. This causes an inflammation, with an increase in the amount of tissue, as shown by the enlargement and in which an abscess is formed. Adult cattle are the only animals commonly affected with this disease, but occasionally nearly all classes of domestic animals may be affected. A number of cases have also been reported in man, but the disease in cattle, being localized to a small region of body, usually the head, there is little danger of transmission from animal to man in eating beef.
LUMPY JAW
An exterior view showing location of lumpy jaw.
The symptoms are recognized by the characteristic tumor, usually observed on the jaw, either of the bone or of the soft tissues in that vicinity. It may, however, affect the tongue, or, in fact, nearly any of the organs of the body. Its development is more or less of a slow, constant growth, beginning with a very small nodule, but, when allowed to run its course, may reach the size of a cocoanut, or larger. On reaching some size, it usually ruptures and from it discharges a thick, yellowish pus. It is to be distinguished very largely by its commonly affecting cattle, its location, its slow growth and its firm, hard consistency, and finally a discharge of pus from it.
Treatment consists, if of small size in the soft tissues, of complete excision by the knife. But, if of larger size, or when the bone or large blood vessels are involved, recourse should be had to the internal administration of iodide of potash from one to two teaspoonfuls in a drench of a quart of water, or, in some instances, it may be given in the drinking water once daily. This should be continued for a week or ten days, when the treatment should be discontinued for a like time, and, if necessary, repeated several times.