106 DISEASES OF THE MOUTH 



FOREIGN BODIES IN THE MOUTH. 



Foreign bodies in the mouth consist principally of such 

 objects as are taken in the mouth with food or during play. 

 Fragments of bone are most common. These either penetrate 

 the soft tissues or are firmly lodged in between the teeth, or, 

 if larger, may be between the rows of teeth. Splinters of 

 wood and pieces of wire are usually found imbedded in the 

 mucous membrane. Needles, pins and fish bones are also 

 common, especially in cats. Birds often have grains of corn, 

 sunflower seeds, etc., lodged under the tongue in the floor of 

 the mouth. Hunting dogs when running through fields often 

 have pieces of twigs or weeds forced in the mucous mem- 

 brane of the mouth. Porcupine quills are common in locali- 

 ties where these animals abound. 



Symptoms. When the foreign body causes much incon- 

 venience, the animal makes persistent attempts to remove 

 it by pawing at the mouth with the feet and shaking the head. 

 Masticatory movements may be continuous or the mouth 

 may be held open, with some salivation. Smaller objects 

 as needles, pins, etc., may not produce prominent symptoms 

 at first and the former may only be noticed by the presence 

 of a thread attached. Food and drink are either entirely 

 refused or feeble attempts made at eating. Thorough inspec- 

 tion of the mouth reveals the foreign body or the wound 

 in the membrane where it entered. 



Treatment. Ordinarily objects lodged between the teeth 

 may be readily removed with forceps. Imbedded objects 

 should be observed closely to determine their direction of 

 entrance and removed in the opposite direction. Vicious 

 animals, especially cats, should be etherized to render the 

 operation safe. 



