12 Veterinafy Medicine. 



A careful exainination of the mucosa will soinelimes detect 

 slight couical elevations with red areolae, representing the tume- 

 fied orifices of the obstructed mucous follicles, and later these 

 may show as minute erosions. Even vesicles have been noticed 

 (Weber, DieckerhofF, Kosters), but when these are present one 

 should carefully exclude the specific stomatites such as horse-pox, 

 contagious pustular stomatitis, aphthous fever, etc. 



Erosions of the nuicosa and desquamation of the epithelium 

 have been noticed in horses fed on purple (hybrid) clover, 

 buckwheat or ergot, and in some of tliese cases the infiannnation 

 has extended (in white faces especially) to the skin of the face, 

 the nuicosa of the nose, and the adjacent glands, and as compli- 

 cations icterus, constipation, colics, polyuria, albuminuria and 

 paresis of the hind limbs have been observed. These latter are 

 common symptoms of cryptogamic poisoning. 



Prognosis. In uncomplicated cases the disease is not a grave 

 one, lasting only during the continued application of the local 

 irritant, and recovering more or less speedily when that has been 

 removed. Complications are dangerous only when due to some 

 specific disease poison (glanders, actinomycosis, strangles, etc.), 

 and even poisoning by the usual cryptogams of leafy or musty 

 plants is rarely persistent in its effects. 



Treatment. This resolves itself into the removal of the irritant 

 cause and the soothing of the irritation. When the cause has 

 been definitely ascertained the first step is easy. 



In the direction of soothing treatment, a careful selection of 

 diet stands first. Fibrous hay and even hard oats, barle}^ or 

 corn may have to be withheld, and green food, or better still, 

 bran mashes, gruels, pulped rtjots or fruits allowed. Scalded 

 hay or oats, ensilage, sliced roots, or ground feed may often be 

 taken readily when the same aliments in their natural condilicjn 

 would be rejected or eaten sparingly. 



Medicinal treatment ma}- often be given in the drinking water 

 which should always be allowed in abundance, pure and clean. 

 In the way of medication chlorate of jiotash, not to exceed one- 

 half to one ounce per day according to the size of the animal, 

 may be added, together with an antiseptic (carbolic acid, borax, 

 permanganate of potash, common salt, naphthol, creolin, hypo- 

 sulphite of soda). In case of severe swelling, a cap made to fit 



