Abstract
It is nearly 100 years since Noeard described bovine farcy, a granulomatous disease of cattle characterized by abscesses, sinus tracts and pulmonary disease (Nocard, 1888). This was the first disease due toNocardiaspecies described. Since that time our knowledge of the role of the nocardiae in human veterinary diseases, of the epidemiology of these diseases, and their diagnosis and treatment, has enlarged rapidly. This paper attempts to give an overview of our current understanding of these diseases.