- Email: [email protected]
The treatment of actinomycosis
EllITORIAL .\R I'ICLES.
centuries, and, so far as bone spavin is concerned, are apparently satisfactory. I have had no success in dividing the slip of the flexor metatarsi, and still less in directly attacking the interior of the joint in articular disease. It is articular disease which is at present our opprobrium-such cases up to the present are perfectly hopeless. \Vhen we can learn to, attack the interior of joints with the same impunity as the human surgeon is capable of doing, we may probably be able to arrest the destructive change and set up a reparative one. A spavined hock is never as big as it looks; much of what appears to be bone during life is found after death to be thickened ligamentous material. So marked at times is this that it is often impossible to believe that the bones after boiling can represent the joint we saw during life. I cannot conclude this section of my communication without offering my best thanks to my late colleague, Asst.-Professor Butler, A.V.D., for the care, patience, and trouble he has bestowed in photographing the material which illustrates this paper. (To be (olltiHued.)
EDITORIAL .
ARTI eLES .
--0--
THE TREATMENT OF ACTINOMYCOSIS.
IN an article on the above subject which appeared in this Journal for December last (p. 348) reference was made to the successful treatment of a heifer affected with actinomycosis by means of the internal administration of iodide of potassium. This animal was under treatment in the College Hospital from the I9th of October to the 30th of November, and at the date when the article referred to was written (23rd December) the tongue had reacquired its normal character, save that a little distortion still remained at its tip. This case was cited in evidence of the curability of actinomycosis by means of Thomassen's treatment with iodide of potassium. We think it only fair to give the same publicity to the fact that the cure was not complete. The heifer was retained at the College to serve for students' exercises, and up till the 3rd of April it showed no symptoms of returning tongue disease. On that date, however, it was observed that the animal frothed at the mouth while feeding, and when the mouth was examined it was discovered that there was an unmistakable relapse. The induration of the lower third of the tongue had returned, and the mucous membrane was extensively ulcerated over the indurated part. Treatment with iodide of potassium was resumed on the 5th of April, and between that date and the 29th of the same month the
EDITORIAL ARTICLES.
animal received in all upwards of I lb. of the salt. During this period the improvement was just as rapid as it was in the first instance, the indurated portion of the tongue speedily reacquiring its normal softness, and the abrasions of the mucous membrane healing up. At the present time (20th June) there are no indications of a second relapse. In one sense it was hardly necessary to record this partial failure of the iodide treatment, for the absolute curability of actinomycosis by this method has already been proved in numerous cases. And even should a second relapse occur in this heifer, the case would still deserve to be placed to the credit of the iodide treatment. When first brought to the college the heifer was in an emaciated condition, practically unable to masticate, and rapidly losing flesh; and by the internal administration of the iodide the disease was cured to the extent that mastication could be normally performed, and the animal speedily became fat. MISCHIEVOUS PATHOLOGICAL TERMS.
IT has been well said that human beings when they encounter a new phenomenon are affected in two different ways. Some have no other impulse than to coin a new name, and when they have thus mentally labelled the thing its subsequent reappearance excites neither surprise nor curiosity. On the other hand there are people who when they witness a new phenomenon are not satisfied by merely naming it, but have a natural curiosity to know the cause of it, this curiosity returning every time the phenomenon is re-encountered and being in no way allayed through their ability to name it, and recognise it as identical with one seen before. These two different habits of mind are well illustrated by the various ways in which new or at least obscure diseases are regarded. Take, for example, what is termed purpura h~morrhagica in the horse. Some-it is to be feared the majority-of veterinary surgeons do not entertain regarding that disease those feelings of surprise and curiosity which are common and natural when we are brought face to face with an affection that we have never before seen or read about. But, it will be said, that description does not apply to purpura; and it is no doubt true that the disease is not a new one. Those who have seen one case can readily recognise and name the next one, but that is not a satisfactory reason for indifference as to the real nature of the disease, which is still quite unkno\vn. The other habit of mind is illustrated in the practitioner who does not allow his mind to be lulled by his ability to recognise the disease as one of not infrequent occurrence, and who at every fresh case is prompted to search for its cause. The habit of naming a disease from some prominent symptom, and
centuries, and, so far as bone spavin is concerned, are apparently satisfactory. I have had no success in dividing the slip of the flexor metatarsi, and still less in directly attacking the interior of the joint in articular disease. It is articular disease which is at present our opprobrium-such cases up to the present are perfectly hopeless. \Vhen we can learn to, attack the interior of joints with the same impunity as the human surgeon is capable of doing, we may probably be able to arrest the destructive change and set up a reparative one. A spavined hock is never as big as it looks; much of what appears to be bone during life is found after death to be thickened ligamentous material. So marked at times is this that it is often impossible to believe that the bones after boiling can represent the joint we saw during life. I cannot conclude this section of my communication without offering my best thanks to my late colleague, Asst.-Professor Butler, A.V.D., for the care, patience, and trouble he has bestowed in photographing the material which illustrates this paper. (To be (olltiHued.)
EDITORIAL .
ARTI eLES .
--0--
THE TREATMENT OF ACTINOMYCOSIS.
IN an article on the above subject which appeared in this Journal for December last (p. 348) reference was made to the successful treatment of a heifer affected with actinomycosis by means of the internal administration of iodide of potassium. This animal was under treatment in the College Hospital from the I9th of October to the 30th of November, and at the date when the article referred to was written (23rd December) the tongue had reacquired its normal character, save that a little distortion still remained at its tip. This case was cited in evidence of the curability of actinomycosis by means of Thomassen's treatment with iodide of potassium. We think it only fair to give the same publicity to the fact that the cure was not complete. The heifer was retained at the College to serve for students' exercises, and up till the 3rd of April it showed no symptoms of returning tongue disease. On that date, however, it was observed that the animal frothed at the mouth while feeding, and when the mouth was examined it was discovered that there was an unmistakable relapse. The induration of the lower third of the tongue had returned, and the mucous membrane was extensively ulcerated over the indurated part. Treatment with iodide of potassium was resumed on the 5th of April, and between that date and the 29th of the same month the
EDITORIAL ARTICLES.
animal received in all upwards of I lb. of the salt. During this period the improvement was just as rapid as it was in the first instance, the indurated portion of the tongue speedily reacquiring its normal softness, and the abrasions of the mucous membrane healing up. At the present time (20th June) there are no indications of a second relapse. In one sense it was hardly necessary to record this partial failure of the iodide treatment, for the absolute curability of actinomycosis by this method has already been proved in numerous cases. And even should a second relapse occur in this heifer, the case would still deserve to be placed to the credit of the iodide treatment. When first brought to the college the heifer was in an emaciated condition, practically unable to masticate, and rapidly losing flesh; and by the internal administration of the iodide the disease was cured to the extent that mastication could be normally performed, and the animal speedily became fat. MISCHIEVOUS PATHOLOGICAL TERMS.
IT has been well said that human beings when they encounter a new phenomenon are affected in two different ways. Some have no other impulse than to coin a new name, and when they have thus mentally labelled the thing its subsequent reappearance excites neither surprise nor curiosity. On the other hand there are people who when they witness a new phenomenon are not satisfied by merely naming it, but have a natural curiosity to know the cause of it, this curiosity returning every time the phenomenon is re-encountered and being in no way allayed through their ability to name it, and recognise it as identical with one seen before. These two different habits of mind are well illustrated by the various ways in which new or at least obscure diseases are regarded. Take, for example, what is termed purpura h~morrhagica in the horse. Some-it is to be feared the majority-of veterinary surgeons do not entertain regarding that disease those feelings of surprise and curiosity which are common and natural when we are brought face to face with an affection that we have never before seen or read about. But, it will be said, that description does not apply to purpura; and it is no doubt true that the disease is not a new one. Those who have seen one case can readily recognise and name the next one, but that is not a satisfactory reason for indifference as to the real nature of the disease, which is still quite unkno\vn. The other habit of mind is illustrated in the practitioner who does not allow his mind to be lulled by his ability to recognise the disease as one of not infrequent occurrence, and who at every fresh case is prompted to search for its cause. The habit of naming a disease from some prominent symptom, and