CHRONIC GLOSSITIS, 133 



true "wooden tongue," with which it was confused until within the last 

 few years. Imminger in 1888 and Pflug in 1891 descrihed two forms. 

 The first, termed " superficial sclerosing glossitis," is said to be the 

 more frequent, and most commonly affects young animals suffering from 

 irregularities in dentition. It seems due to a superficial acute glossitis 

 assuming a chronic form. The submucous connective tissue in time 

 undergoes hyperplastic changes, so that the tongue at first becomes 

 swollen and afterwards absolutely rigid. One never finds ulcerations or 

 actinomyces. 



Diagnosis. A close examination will always enable the case to be 

 diagnosed at the first visit, or under any circumstances after a short 

 time. 



The prognosis is very grave, because the animal has the greatest 

 difficulty in grasping and masticating food, or may even be unable to do 

 so. Patients lose flesh very rapidly, and end by dying of hunger. 



Treatment is of little service. The administration of iodine, the 

 only drug which appears indicated, has proved of very questionable 

 value. Economically, it is better to slaughter the animal. 



The second variety is rare, and has been termed " deep-seated 

 sclerosing glossitis." It is simply a chronic form of ordinary deep- 

 seated glossitis. The layers of connective tissue sei)arating the muscles 

 are reju'esented by very hard, inelastic vertical partitions. As a con- 

 sequence, the whole tongue becomes indurated and more or less com- 

 pletely immobile. In this condition, again, there is neither ulceration 

 nor actinomyces. 



Diagnosis. The diagnosis necessitates a careful examination. In 

 the living animal it is very difficult to establish a distinction between 

 this and the preceding form, though after death the task becomes much 

 easier. • 



The prognosis is grave, complete restoration of the parts being 

 impossible. 



The treatment differs in no respect from that given in the preceding 

 instance. It is of little value. 



Imminger and Pflug have also described a deep-seated nodular scleros- 

 ing glossitis, characterised anatomically by the existence in the depth of 

 the tongue of fibrous nodules, varying in size between a small nut and 

 a fowl's egg. The tongue is only slightly increased in size. 



This disease may perhaps be due to actinomycosis. 



