THE SALIVARY GLANDS 57 



Wounds or injuries to the gland require immediate treatment, 

 and in order that a sahvary fistula may not follow as a sequel, the 

 wounds should be cleansed and at once closed, and every endeavour 

 made to procure healing by first intention. 



Parotitis. — This is the name given to inflammation of the parotid. 

 It may be due to access of foreign bodies through external injury, 

 or the irritants may reach the gland through the Duct of Stenson. 

 This latter is probably the most common method of infection. 



The inflammatory affection quickly leads to abscess formation and 

 necrosis of large areas of the tissue of the gland. In the earlier 

 stages the gland is much enlarged, hot, and painful to the touch ; 

 and in order to enlarge the area for the accommodation of the gland, 

 and ease the pressure upon it by the wing of the atlas and the 

 posterior border of the vertical ramus, the animal inclines its head 

 towards the non-affected side. 



There is little resistance to the outward burrowing of the purulent 

 matter, with the result that fluctuation is easily detected, and the 

 point where the abscess is to be opened readily indicated. Should 

 the abscess not be surgically opened it usually bursts outwardly. It 

 is owing to the fact that there is such slight resistance to the outward 

 extension of the abscess, and also to the fact that the animal is 

 naturally inclined to hold its head in the manner indicated, that 

 pressure upon the posterior border of the vertical ramus and the 

 structures which wind round it, is so limited as to cause paraly.sis 

 of the facial muscles, resulting from pressure upon the seventh cranial 

 nerve, to be an exceptionally rare complication. 



When the abscess points in the region of the large blood vessels, 

 the course of the latter is to be carefully studied, and the cutaneous 

 incision should be made parallel to the direction of the vessel which 

 is nearest the seat of operation. 



If the disease extends to the chronic stage little can be done, 

 and the only operation indicated is the extirpation of the gland, an 



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