600 DISEASES OF THE MOUTH, TONGUE, ETC. 



indisposition or inability to swallow it when secreted. The 

 discharge, while lasting, is not intermittent, usually continuous, 

 dribbling from the mouth when at rest or work, or forming a 

 pultaceous mass with the food when feeding ; it will also, in 

 most instances, be found collected in masses of foam at the 

 angles of the mouth. In character this unnatural saliva is a 

 little different from the fluid found in health, particularly 

 Avhen the condition has been established for some time. 



The causes which seem to operate in the induction of this 

 state are both constitutional and local. It is observed in some 

 cases of tetanus and rabies, also with the continuous reception 

 of certain medicinal agents. It is, however, more as the result 

 of direct or reflected nervous irritation that it is presented to 

 us in the horse. In the former manifestation it may be en- 

 countered in some cerebral diseases, and diseases of nerve- 

 structures and cords directly connected with the salivary 

 apparatus. In the latter we observe it in connection with 

 many of those conditions already mentioned of an irritative 

 character, having their seat in the mouth and contiguous 

 structures ; also in many aftections of the pharynx and throat, 

 or more distant organs and structures. Besides association 

 with these obvious disturbances, it may further be seen in 

 what may be regarded as an idiopathic form, or where we are 

 unable to connect it with any appreciable cause. 



The symptom of salivation is not likely to be overlooked, 

 but being so varied as to its inducing agencies there is fre- 

 quently some difliculty experienced in duly appreciating the 

 determining influence operating in each case ; conditions of 

 simple local irritation from the presence of foreign bodies 

 or irregular teeth are often enough overlooked in the search 

 for some more serious and hidden condition, it being some- 

 times difficult to believe that matters so trifling should pro- 

 duce symptoms so persistent and troublesome. 



In all cases, ere any attempt at treatment is made, a careful 

 examination ought to be undertaken with the view of discover- 

 ing whether the disturbance is oAving to local and appreciable 

 irritation in connection with the mouth and contiguous struc- 

 tures. It is to the causes of this perversion of function that 

 our attention ought chiefly to be directed, as these must ever 

 be our guide in the selection of remedies and remedial 



