Section II. 

 DISEASES OF THE SALIVARY GLANDS. 



1. Salivation. Ptyalism. 



{Speichelfuss [German] ; Salivatlo, Sialorrhoe.) 



Etiology. Salivation is almost without exception a purely 

 secondary symptom, seen most frequently in inflammation of 

 the mucosa of the mouth and pharynx and due to a reflex irrita- 

 tion of the nerves which regulate the activity of the salivary 

 glands. It is also a frequent, though not constant, symptom of 

 parenchymatous inflammation of the salivary glands. Certain 

 chemicals, especially mercury, pilocarpine, arecoline, nux vom- 

 ica, more rarely arsenic, iodine, lead and copper likewise in- 

 crease the secretion of saliva; also acrid substances and food 

 contaminated with rust and other fungi. Disturbances of deglu- 

 tition also are accompanied by salivation ; this is especially seen 

 in pharyngitis, in spasm and paralysis of the larynx, and in 

 diseases of the esophagus. Diseases of the gastric mucosa (ul- 

 cer, catarrh, inflammation) may cause salivation by reflex irri- 

 tation. Whether certain diseases of the sexual organs stand 

 in a causal relation to salivation is a point not yet settled in 

 veteriliary literature. Anacker reports the interesting obser- 

 vation that a horse always showed salivation when taken to the 

 knacker's yard. 



Symptoms. Saliva flows abundantly out of the mouth, 

 particularly at the corners, either as foam or in long strings, 

 and contaminates tlie food and other nearby objects. Long-con- 

 tinued salivation finally leads to emaciation. Aside from these 

 symptoms, the primary cause can generally l)e recognized. 



Treatment. Apparently, primary cases of salivation may 

 be treated by the subcutaneous injection of atropine (for large 

 animals, 0.05-0.1 gm. ; for small ones, 0.005-0.02 gm.) or scopo- 

 lamine (0.01 or 0.002 gm.). This leads, however, usually only to 

 temporary relief. In a case of Dieckerhoff's, continued treat- 

 ment with arsenic (horses, 0.05-0.8 gm.) led to permanent im- 

 provement, while Ziindel was successful in the treatment of a 

 cow with iodide of potash. In most cases, the treatment must 



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