200 Ulcerative Inflammation of the Buccal Cavity. 



primary ones on the gums and tliey are probably due to contact 

 infection. Tiie lips and the cheeks become swollen. In very 

 severe cases the inflammation may extend into the maxillae and 

 cause necrosis of portions of the bone. 



Sometimes, however, the process may begin on the lips or 

 at the angle of the lips and may extend toward the neighbor- 

 ing portions of the integument (Noma) while the giims remain 

 intact. (Friedberger & Frohner.) 



There is always an extremely disagreeable, repulsive, 

 sweetish, cadaverous smell present, emanating from the buccal 

 cavity (foetor ex ore), which pervades the whole space in which 

 the sick animal is kept. There are also s^^llptoms of acute ca- 

 tarrh of the mouth, especially profuse salivation. The saliva 

 is fetid, mixed with necrotic shreds and also with blood. The 

 submaxillary and the cervical glands are acutely swollen and 

 the inflammation extends also to the salivary glands. The in- 

 creased tenderness disturbs mastication, and the animals either 

 take only fluid food or they swallow soft pieces of meat without 

 chewing. 



Later on the s^^nptoms of septic infection develop, such as 

 febrile elevation of temperature, rapid small pulse, diarrhea, 

 prostration ; the rapidly emaciating animals soon succumb. 



Course. The disease takes a favorable course under favor- 

 able h3^gienic conditions, with the proper treatment and if the 

 patients are still in good condition of nutrition. The inflamma- 

 tory and necrotic processes become limited, the necrotic por- 

 tions are shed and healthy granulations form from the margins 

 and from the base of the ulcers. The disease ends then in com- 

 plete recovery within one to two weeks. If the cases are neg- 

 lected, the animals become much emaciated and a general infec- 

 tion or exceptionally an aspiration pneumonia with pulmonary 

 gangrene develops. (Miiller has observed this course in a dog, 

 the authors a similar case in a lion.) 



Diagnosis. Since ulcerating stomatitis may form an ac- 

 companying sjanptom of scurvy, the other symptoms of this dis- 

 ease must be looked for; the absence of hemorrhage indicates 

 that the stomatitis occurs independently. In young pigs 

 chronic erysipelas must be excluded; only the history and the 

 accompanying conditions can usually give information as to 

 whether the ulceration is due to poisoning. 



Treatment. Next to washing and irrigation of the buccal 

 cavity with solutions already mentioned (page 185), careful 

 cauterization of the ulcers with nitrate of silver is indicated. 

 Crusts form on the cauterized places and, after the shedding 

 of the former, clean granulating surfaces appear. Painting 

 with the following solutions also gives favorable results: 

 1-2% solution of nitrate of silver, 2-3% solution of 



