82 Veterinary Medicine. 



formed beneath it, it becomes filled with decomposing mucus and 

 ingesta, and the resulting septic products determine ulceration, 

 abscess, or gangrene. The result is too often a general and fatal 

 septic infection. 



In the milder forms there are only the common indications of a 

 moderate pharyngitis. In the more severe form, the tliroat 

 swells at first on the lacerated side and later all around. This 

 swelling soon fills the intermaxillary space and extends over the 

 face and the entire head. From the first, deglutition is extremely 

 difficult or impossible, liquids are returned through the nose and 

 saliva flows abundantly from the mouth. Retching is not un- 

 common and saliva mixed with alimentary matters is discharged 

 by the nose (solipeds) or mouth (other animals). The swelling 

 of throat and head has a doughy, oedematous feeling, it is very 

 tender, and soon causes rattling, wheezing breathing, roaring, 

 dyspnoea and asphyxia. 



Necropsy shows the general oedematous exudate, the lace- 

 ration of the pharyngeal walls, and the collection of debris 

 and pus in the lacerated cavity. The pus may have ex- 

 tended between the muscles following the cour.se of the gullet 

 and trachea as far as the chest. Exten.sive patches of necrosis 

 may also be shown. Treatment. In the slighter cases the ordi- 

 nary treatment for catarrhal pharj'ngitis is demanded. In the 

 more severe the lesions are so redoubtable and their progress so 

 rapid that a fatal result is virtually inevitable. As a desperate 

 resort the septic pouch may be opened from without, its contents 

 removed, the pharyngeal wound sutured if possible, and a 

 thorough irrigation with antiseptics (acetate of aluminium solu- 

 tion) employed at frequent intervals to check if possible the 

 septic process. The animal should be fed with well boiled milk 

 or other liquid which will not add to the fermentation, and this 

 may be given through a .stomach tube, or by the rectum when 

 deglutition is impossible. 



