INFLAMMATION OF THE TONGUE 253 



an offensive odour, falls from the angles of the mouth, the head is poked 

 out, and the face wears an anxious and hideous expression. 



In very acute cases the throat and neighbouring glands become 

 swollen, as the result of which the breathing is rendered difficult and 

 noisy, even to danger of suffocation. The constitutional disturbance will 

 be in proportion to the severity of the attack. The enlarged and paralysed 

 state of the tongue renders feeding and drinking impossible, save in the 

 milder forms of the disease. 



Where the disease is protracted, abscesses may form in the substance 

 of the organ, or the surface may become eroded and covered with sores. 



Treatment. — -When the case is recognized in its first stage a dose of 

 physic should be given at once, either as a ball or draught, while it 

 is still practicable. It is dangerous, however, to attempt this when the 

 tongue has become much enlarged or torn, but it may be possible to induce 

 the animal to take an aperient dose of Epsom-salts dissolved in the drink- 

 ing-water or mixed with a sloppy mash. Prompt application of mustard 

 or turpentine liniment to the sides of the throat and between the jaws will 

 assist in checking the progress of the disease; and relief to engorged vessels 

 and swollen tissues may be afforded by scarification, i.e. piercing the organ 

 in several places with the point of a lancet or sharp penknife. "When this 

 operation is rendered necessary, care should be taken that the mouth is 

 first washed out with antiseptic solution, and that the instrument employed 

 is clean, or the mischief may be seriously increased. 



The mouth should now be syringed out for ten minutes with warm 

 water containing a little nitrate or chlorate of potash. After the lapse of 

 an hour ice-cold water should be substituted for warm, and the injections 

 should be repeated for several minutes four or five times a day. If nourish- 

 ment cannot be taken by the mouth, it must be given per rectum in 

 the form of fine oatmeal gruel and beef-tea, or raw eggs and milk. 



Where suffocation threatens, an opening will require to be made in the 

 wind-pipe. This procedure, as well as the one already referred to, calls for 

 skill and judgment, and should be entrusted to a qualified veterinarian. 



After the inflammation has subsided, the tongue will continue to be 

 stiff and sore for some time. When feeding becomes possible, therefore, 

 the diet should be of a soft and soothing character. Warm, sloppy mashes, 

 well boiled roots, and steamed chaff are the most suitable fare until the 

 tongue has recovered its normal condition. 



In all cases a careful inspection of the tongue and teeth should be 

 made at the outset for causes indicated above. Foreign agents, if found 

 to exist, will require to be removed, and any dental disorder corrected 

 by suitable means. (See "Diseases of Teeth".) 



