Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 December 1891 — LUMPY JAW. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LUMPY JAW.

Something About the Cattle Disease Which Is Now Attracting Attention. Actinomycosis, or lumpy jaw, is the name of a cattle disease which has been brought prominently before the public by reason of a trial which has been in progress at Peoria, 111. Among the witnesses placed on the stand there have been two or three skilled mlcroscoplste, as many veterinarians, several butchers, and a number of experts in the diseases of cattle. It has been proven beyond a doubt that a number of cattle infected with lumpy jaw were shipped from Peoria to Chicago and slaughtered for domestic purposes; but the main issue in the case was whether the disease is contagious, not among the cattle themselves, but whether jt can be transmitted to human beings. On this point there is a wide divergence of opinion. Ziegler defines the disease as a progressive inflammatory affliction set up by a certain function, the actinomyces', attended with the formation of granulations and fibrous tissue and with suppuration, attacking human beings, cattle and swine, and communicable by inoculation. In almost every case the disease locates itself In the lower jaw. It presents itself as a tumor resembling a sarcoma, and from the swelling has obtained the name among cattlemen of lumpy jaw. There are a number of well-defined cases of actinomycosis mentioned in the medical Journals, and it is claimed that the disease has been transmitted by inoculation from man to the lower animals. It is originally contracted from the same source, but in ninetynine out of a hundred cases the infection is spread from the lower animals. Dr. A. Roulf, a prominent veterinarian, said in regard to the disease: “Actinomycosis is primarily con-

tractcd by cattle while on pasture. The germ is in the grass, and in the course of matication becomes imbedded in the root of the tooth. This forms in time a small abscess, which gradually develops, spreading to the outer surface of the jaw, where it suppurates. Other abscesses follow

this, and before long the entire Jaw becomes one mass of these running sores, and blood poisoning affects the entire body of the animal. Some animals get fat and some poor from the disease. Cooking destroys tho germs, but so many people eat very rare meat that they are in danger of Infection." The Doctor knows of one case, personally where the disease showed it self bn a human being. It first ap-

peared on the woman In the shape of a small abscess of the gum just above the molar teeth. It gradually, developed, and when it hurst she naturally thought it was nothing more than a gumboil. About two months and a half afterward she felt another small lump in precisely the same place, about tho size of a pea. This was by the sudden growth of a number of others, similar to the first, until ultimately tho entire inner mouth on the right side was filled with them. The Illustration abovo Is from a photo of the original.

AN ANIMAL WITH LUMPY JAW.

THE RESULT OF EATING DISEASED MEAT.