Actinomycosis of the colon, liver, and lung / by R.F.C. Leith.

  • Leith, R. F. C. (Robert Fraser Calder)
Date:
[1894?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Actinomycosis of the colon, liver, and lung / by R.F.C. Leith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    outside them, the connecth^e-tissue cells are now arranged with their long axes, tangential to the margin, and, joining one another by their ends, form a number of concentric lines like a capsule around the follicle. Leucocytes may be present in small numbers among the other cells. Later, the leucocytes generally, though not invariably, multiply greatly so as to distend the follicle, whose walls gradually undergo at the same time some liquefying process, and thus an abscess cavity results. Various stages in the transformation of the follicles are to be seen. They may remain apart, or open into one another, and occasionally an abscess is seen invading a follicle in which no abscess formation has yet taken place. The resemblance of the follicle of actinomycosis to that of tuberculosis is too striking to require to be pointed out. It has been discussed by Samter,^ who regards them as almost identical in method of production and structure. He and others have recorded 1 or 2 cases of combined tuberculosis and actinomycosis, but, so far as I can find, in none of them were the specific organisms of both diseases demonstrated to be present. In his paper, page 294, Samter mentions that in his case staining for the tubercle bacillus gave negative results. In the absence of such proof we cannot regard the combination as proved. His comparison between the two diseases is re- stricted, and leaves many interesting points unnoticed ; more- over, I am not able to agree with him enth'ely. The question is an interesting one, but I shall content myself with a mere passing reference to some of the more interesting points I have observed. The parasite in both diseases reacts upon the tissue cells, converting them into epitheloid and giant cells ; m both it is found within the giant cells; in both there is a great tendency for accompanying organisms to set up irritative conditions, leading to abscess formation, and more or less masking the changes proper to the parasite itself. These typical actinomycotic follicles are the common manifestations of the disease in the ox, where abscess formation is rare; but m man, on the other hand, they have been rarely seen. In the disease in man abscess formation is constant, and more- over would seem generally to occur with too great rapidity to