252 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



known a sponge saturated with milk to prove a useful vehicle for convey- 

 ing it into the mouth when the teat has been refused. These artificial 

 means of feeding, however, should be discontinued as soon as possible, or 

 the youngster may accpiire bad habits and prove troublesome later on. 

 Weakness and prostration in these cases must be met by the administration 

 of small doses of brandy added to the milk and potash prescribed above, 

 and the little sufferer should be kept warm and protected from draught. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE TONGUE (Glossitis) 



By glossitis is understood an inflamed condition of the substance of 

 the tongue. It is a disease of seldom occurrence in the horse and usually 

 attended with some danger, not only on account of its immediate effects, 

 but also in consequence of its liability to leave behind chronic impairment 

 of the function of the organ, with attendant difficulties of mastication 

 and deglutition or swallowing. 



Causes. — With rare exceptions inflammation of the tongue has its 

 origin in some form of direct irritation applied to it from without. 

 Although so favourably situated and guarded it is nevertheless at times 

 exposed to mechanical injury. The reckless use of too severe bits, splinters 

 of wood, nails, and other foreign substances contained in the food, bottles 

 broken in the act of drenching, forcible pulling and tearing the organ 

 in the administration of balls and other operations are now and again 

 accountable for the disease. The most common, but rarely serious, injury 

 to the tongue is that inflicted by the edges of the molar teeth, or, as 

 they are termed, "grinders", which in old horses become very sharp and 

 irregular as the result of wear. A similar injury may befall young animals 

 when shedding their suckling teeth. It does not follow that general inflam- 

 mation of the tongue should necessarily result from any of these accidents. 

 Were it so the disease would be of common occurrence. When, however, 

 the wounds so inflicted become " poisoned ", i.e. inoculated by decomposing 

 organic matter — as likely occurred in the historic Orme case, — then to the 

 primary injury is added a septic or putrid condition resulting in diffused 

 inflammation of the entire organ. In some cases the sting of a bee or a 

 wasp may be the inducing cause, as may also chemical and corrosive 

 substances, accidentally or designedly given. 



Symptoms. — The tongue is more or less enlarged sometimes through- 

 out its entire substance, and may protrude from the mouth for a con- 

 siderable distance. In this state it is hard, tense, and painful to the 

 touch. At first red in colour, it soon becomes of a dark purple hue as 

 the teeth close upon it and impede circulation. Thick ropy saliva, having 



