LOCAL STOMATITIS. 



Division of circiunscribed buccal inflammations : palatitis ; gnathitis 

 gingivitis; glossitis. Causes: injuries; acrid; venomous or caustic agents; 

 diseased teeth ; foreign bodies in gland ducts ; malformed jaws ; infections, 

 etc. Symptoms : salivation ; difficult prehension and mastication ; drop- 

 ping half masticated morsels ; distinctive indications of different caustics ; 

 abrasion ; abscess ; slough ; infective disease lesions. Treatment : for 

 palatitis^ massage by hard corn ears, scarification, laxatives ; ior gnathitis, 

 care for teeth and ducts, astringent washes, eliminate mercury ; for 

 glossitis, remove cause, use antidote to venom, or to chemical irritant, 

 astringent, antiseptic lotions or electuaries, evacuate abscess, soft, cool diet, 

 elevate the head, suspend the tongue. 



Localized inflamniation.s in the buccal cavity are named ac- 

 cording to the portion of tlie lining membrane attacked ;— 

 palatitis if seated in the roof of the mouth ; gnathitis if restricted 

 to the cheeks ; gingivitis if to the gums ; and glossitis if to the 

 tongue. 



Palatitis. Lampas. Congestion of the hard palate be- 

 hind the upper front teeth. This is usually seen in young 

 horses during the period of shedding the teeth and is caused by 

 the irritation and vascularity consequent on teething. The red and 

 tender membrane projects beyond the level of the wearing surfaces 

 of the upper incisors, and may materially interfere with the taking 

 in of food. A common practice in such cases is to feed unshelled 

 Indian corn, the nibbling of which seems to improve the circula- 

 tion in the periodontal membrane and by sympathy, in the ad- 

 jacent palate. Superficial incisions with the lancet or knife will 

 usually relieve, and may be followed by mild astringent lotions if 

 necessary. If apparently associated with costiveness or gastric or 

 intestinal irritation a dose of physic will be demanded. Nothing 

 can excu.se the inhuman and useless practice of burning the parts 

 with a hot iron. 



Gnathitis. Inflammation of the Cheeks. ITsually result- 

 ing as a distinct affection from irregular or overgrown teeth, or 

 the entrance of vegetable spikes into the gland ducts, the.se cause 

 local swelling and tenderness, slow imperfect mastication, drop- 

 ping of food half chewed, accumulation of food between the 

 cheeks and teeth, tliickening, induration and sloughing of the 



mucous membrane with excessive fcetor. 



19 



