.56 ANATOMY AND DISEASES OF THE NOSE AND MOUTH. 



difficult of treatment. If the incision is deep and large 3nough, no second collection 

 f matter will be foimed : and that which is already there may be suffered to run out 

 slowly, all pressure with the fingers being avoided. The part should be kept clean, 

 and a little friar's balsam daily injected into the wound. 



The remainder of the treatment will depend on the symptoms. If there is much 

 fever, and evident affection of the chest, and which should carefully be distinguished 

 from the oppression and choking occasioned by the pressure of the tumour, it will be 

 proper to bleed. In the majority of cases, however, bleeding will not only be unne 

 cessary, but injurious. It will delay the suppuration of the tumour, and increase the 

 subsequent debility. A few cooling medicines, as nitre, emetic tartar, and perhaps 

 digitalis, may be given, as the case requires. The appetite, or rather the ability to 

 cat, will return with the opening of the abscess. Bran-mashes, or fresh-cut grass 01 

 lares, should b liberally supplied, which will not only afford sufficient nourishment 

 to recruit the strength of the animal, but keep the bowels gently open. If the weak- 

 ness is not great, no farther medicine will be wanted, except a dose of mild physic in 

 order to prevent the swellings or eruptions which sometimes succeed to strangles. In 

 cases of debility, a small quantity of tonic medicine, as chamomile, gentian, o) 

 ginger, may be administered.* 



THE PHARYNX. 



Proceeding to the back of the mouth, we find the PHARYNX (carrying or conveying 

 ihe food towards the stomach). It commences at the root of the tongue (see 7, 8 and 

 9, p. 72) ; is separated from the mouth by the soft palate (7), which hangs down from 

 the palatine bone at 8, and extends to the epiglottis or covering to the windpipe 

 When the food has been sufficiently ground by the teeth, and mixed with the saliva, 

 it is gathered together by the tongue, and by the action of the cheeks and tongue, and 

 back part of the mouth, forced against the soft palate, which, giving way, and being 

 raised upwards towards the entrance into the nostrils, prevents the food from proceed- 

 ing that way. It passes to the pharynx, and the soft palate again falling down, pre- 

 vents its return to the mouth, and also prevents, except in extreme cases, the act of 

 vomiting in the horse. Whatever is returned from the stomach of the horse, passes 

 through the nose, as the cut will make evident. 



The sides of the pharynx are lined with muscles which now begin powerfully to 

 contract, and by that contraction the bolus is forced on until it reaches the gullet (10), 

 which is the termination of the pharynx. Before, however, the food proceeds so far, 

 it has to pass over the entrance into the windpipe (3), and should any portion of it 

 enter that tube, much inconvenience and danger might result ; therefore, this opening 

 is not only lined by muscles which close it at the pleasure of the animal, but is like- 

 wise covered by a heart-like elastic cartilage, the epiglottis (2), with its back towards 

 the pharynx, and its hollow towards the aperture. The epiglottis yields to the pres- 

 sure of the bolus passing- over it, and lying flat over the opening into the windpipe, 

 and prevents the possibility of anything entering into it. No sooner, however, hai* 



* Mr. Percivall gives the following description of some untoward cases : " The sub- 

 maxillary tumour is often knotted and divided on its first appearance, as if the glands received 

 the primary attack. As it spreads, it becomes diffused in the cellular tissue included in ihe 

 Bpace between the sides and branches of the lower jaw, involving all the subcutaneous parts 

 contained in that interval indiscriminately in one uniform mass of tumefaction. While this 

 general turgescence is going on, various parts in the immediate vicinity often take on the same 

 kind of action. In particular, the salivary glands, the parotid, sublingual, the throat, the 

 pharynx and larynx, the nose, the lining membrane, the nostrils, the sinuses, the mouth, the 

 tongue, the cheeks, the lips in fine, in some violent cases, the whole head appears to be 

 involved in one general mass of tumefaction, while every vent is running over with discharge 

 The pntient experiencing this violent form of disease is in a truly pitiable plight. While 

 purulent matter is issuing in profusion from his swollen nostrils, and slaver foams out from 

 between his tumefied lips, it is distressing to hear the noise that he makes in painful and 

 laboured efforts to breathe. There is imminent Hanger of suffocation in such a case as this ; 

 and even although some relief, so far as the breathing is concerned, may be obtained from th 

 operation of bronchotomy, yet, from tf.e pain and irritation he is suffering, added to the impOF 

 libility of getting aliment into his stomach, he must speedily sink to rise no more." 

 *~erinarian, vol. vi, p. 611- 



