CROUPOUS PHARYNGITIS OF BIRDS 127 



rately the foreign body. When the foreign body is in the form 

 of a threaded needle, which frequently occurs in cats, the 

 sharp point is usually toward the mouth. Therefore care 

 should be used in removing it to prevent laceration of the 

 tissues. By grasping it with the forceps and pushing it down- 

 ward until the sharp point is free from the tissues, it can then 

 be readily removed. Large food masses often can be broken 

 between the fingers and extracted or pushed down into the 

 esophagus. Where edema of the tissues results from lacera- 

 tion and symptoms of suffocation develop, tracheotomy 

 should be performed at once. (See Tracheotomy.) No 

 after-treatment is necessary except when severe injury to 

 the tissues has taken place ; in these conditions the pharynx 

 should be treated direct with antiseptic solutions (boric acid 

 2 per cent.), using a dressing forceps with a pledget of cotton 

 firmly attached. In birds the mouth is held open and a 

 small pincette used to dislodge the foreign body. 



PARALYSIS OF THE PHARYNX. 



Pharyngeal paralysis occurs mostly during the course of 

 specific diseases (rabies, distemper) and will therefore be 

 described under those diseases which it accompanies. 



CROUPOUS PHARYNGITIS OF BIRDS. 



Definition. A croupous inflammation affecting the pharyn- 

 geal mucous membrane of birds. 



Etiology. This condition is produced by a flagellated 

 infusoria, the Monocercomonas gallinse. This parasite is 

 round or discoid in shape, of a pale color and from 14 to 25 

 mm. in length and 5 to 7 mmm. in breadth. The disease 

 affects young birds, especially pigeons. Unsanitary condi- 

 tions and cold, damp quarters are predisposing factors. 



Pathology. Small white elevations are found on the 

 mucous membrane of the pharynx, often extending into the 

 esophagus and crop. Occasionally these lesions are noted 

 at the base of the tongue and on the palate. Surrounding 

 these small elevations are found zones of acute inflammations 

 with considerable swelling and congestion of the membrane. 



