“RAY FUNGUS” DISEASE

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3471, 26 May 1934, Page 11

“RAY FUNGUS” DISEASE

A MEDICAL MAN'S YARNING. On Thursday night, at the Christchurch Hospital, a ten year old girl died from actinomycosis, or ‘ ray fungus,” after an illness of many months. This disease is so rare that Dr W;. Fox, superintendent of the hospital, speaking from memory, said that he has known of only five cases in ten years. The disease was often caused through c.hewmg grass said a doctor. It was liable to infect cattle and other animals, and the virulent germs might lodge on grass with which the diseased animal came in contact. In such form, when introduced inteimally to the . human system, as by placing the infected grass in the mouth, the germs were particularly virulent in attack. It was very difficult to arrest the disease, even though it was slow and lingering in effect.