20 Veterhiary Medicine. 



Treahnent. Consists in correcting the state of the teeth and 

 ducts and using one of the washes recommended for glossitis. 



Gingivitis. Inflammation of the gums. This is either 

 connected with the eruption of the teeth in young animals and to 

 be corrected b}' lancing the swollen gums and giving attention to 

 the diet and bowels ; or it is due to scissor-teeth or to the wear of 

 the teeth down to the gums in old horses ; or it is dependent on 

 diseased teeth, or mercurial poisoning, under which subjects it 

 will be more conveniently considered. Barley awns or other irri- 

 tants mu.st be extracted. 



Glossitis, Inflammation of the Tongue. Causes. Mostly 

 the result of violence with bits, ropes, etc., with the teeth, or 

 with the hand in giving medicine ; of .scalding food, of acrid 

 plants in the food : of irritant drugs (ammonia, turpentine, 

 croton, lye, etc.), or of sharp, pointed bodies (needles, pins, 

 thorns, barley and other barbs, etc.) which perforate the organ. 

 In exceptional cases leech and snake bites are met with especially 

 in cattle, owing to the tongue being exposed when taking in 

 food. Local infections and tho.se of the specific forms, determine 

 and maintain glossitis. 



Symptoms : Free flow of saliva, difficulty in taking in 

 food or drinking, and red, swollen, tender .state of the 

 tongue, which in bad cases hangs from between the lips. The mu- 

 cous membrane may be white, (from muriatic acid, alkalies, etc. ), 

 black, (from oil of vitriol, lunar caustic, etc.), yellow, (from nitric 

 acid, etc.), or of other colors according to the nature of the irri- 

 tant. It may be raised in blisters, may present red, angry sores 

 where the epithelium has dropped off ; may become firn) and in- 

 durated from excessive exudation ; may swell and fluctuate at a 

 given point from the formation of an absce.ss ; or may become 

 gangrenous in part and drop off. Breathing is difficult and noisy 

 from pressure on the soft palate. There is usualh' little fever 

 and death is rare unless there is general septic infection. 



Treatme7it will depend on the cause of injury. In all cases 

 seek for foreign bodies imbedded in the organ and remove them. 

 If snake bites are observed use ammonia or potassium perman- 

 ganate locally and generally, or cholesterin as a local application. 

 If the irritation has resulted from mineral acids, wash out with 

 calcined magnesia lime water, or bicarbonate of soda or potass. 



