ANIMAL DENTISTRY. 229 



in every case and it requires but little treatment. Preventive 

 measures are the most important and these consist of isola- 

 tion of the affected animals and the disinfection of the 

 infected stalls, implements, feed boxes, etc. 



(For a more complete description see works on General 

 Medicine.) 



ULCERATIVE GINGIVITIS OF DOGS. 



Definition — Ulcerative gingivitis is a disease of young 

 carnivorous animals beginning as an inflammation of the 

 gums. It however spreads rapidly to the surrounding mucosa, 

 alveolar periosteum and jaw. 



Etiology — The cause of the disease is undoubtedly the 

 propagation of microbes which habitually inhabit the mouth 

 of meat eating animals, and which become pathogenic under 

 the influence of a lowered vitality of the animal. Attempts 

 to isolate a specific microbe have thus far failed. 



Symptoms — Foetid breath occurring simultaneously 

 with red or bluish red gums are the first distinguishing 

 symptoms. The teeth are found to be coated with an excess 

 of tartar around the gingival margin, and in the more ad- 

 vanced stage they are loosened and easily extracted. The 

 gums, cheeks and tongue may become the seat of numerous 

 ulcers as the disease progresses, but often this feature is 

 wanting. The process usually terminates favorably or fatally 

 in from one to two weeks, according to its severity and the 

 vitality of the patient, or it may become chronic and last as 

 long as four to five weeks. 



Treatment — The first treatment should consist of ex- 

 tracting the loose teeth and removing, with the curette, all 

 of the tartar from the stable ones. The mouth is then 

 washed freely with mild antiseptics, boric acid and borax 

 water being the most appropriate ones for the purpose. A 

 50 per cent solution of tincture of iodine painted carefully 



