148 CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OF 



INJURIES TO THE MOUTH. 



Laceration of the Lips. — Bring the divided edges together and 

 secure them ; keep the animal quiet. There are also small tumours, 

 which may be produced by some injury or irritant. If they contain mat- 

 ter, make an incision and let it out — and it is generally better to make the 

 ncision in the mucous membrane instead of the skin — then bathe with 

 astringents. There is also a small egg-shaped tumour that appears in 

 connection with the false nostril, which contains a cheeselike substance, 

 and it is possible for it to become encysted and remain there for a long 

 time. Open and squeeze out the matter, and, if necessary, inject with 

 carbolic acid. The lips may be injured from sharp teeth, or it may be 

 the result of injury from the bit, producing irritation, and, perhaps, in- 

 flammation, aud if matter forms, let it out, either internally or externally, 

 as required, at the same time removing the cause. Or there may be 

 cysts in the ducts at either side of the frasnum lingua, which are 

 called ranula — not very common -in the horse. But treated by 

 opening them up or cutting them out, which can be done with the 

 scissors ; then use mild astringents, or you may even touch with mild 

 caustics. The tongue may become paralyzed from disease of the brain 

 and paralysis of the lips, which usually occurs from injury or exposure 

 to cold, for which see lecture on nervous system. 



O^lostitis^ or inflammation of the tongue, is not very common, but 

 may result from injury, from pulling the tongue violently while giving 

 medicine, or from eating poisonous herbs, which irritates, and inflam- 

 mation results ; or it may be due to the administration of irritant 

 medicines, as ammonia, or even sweet spirits of nitre, if not sufficiently 

 diluted. It may extend and involve both the extrinsic and intrinsic 

 muscles of the tongue. If it occurs in the mucous membrane. 



Symptoms. — There is a flow of saliva, impaired mastication, a diffi- 

 culty in swallowing and in respiration, until it is sometimes necessary to 

 resort to tracheotomy. This is easily seen ; the tongue is reddened, pain- 

 ful upon pressure ; perhaps there is fever and the tongue protruding 

 from the mouth. It may terminate in resolution or suppuration ; small 

 abcesses form in different parts, and sometimes induration, and then the 

 tongue loses its condition to a great extent ; there appears a kind of 

 transverse crack ; the animal cannot masticate, becomes greatly emaci- 

 ated, and death may occur from starvation. It is often caused by some 

 foreign body in the tongue. I knew a needle to produce this in a 

 severe form. 



Treatment. — Remove the cause, give a laxative — oil or aloes if in the 

 horse, Epsom salts is better in cattle. Gargle the mouth with tepid 

 water or laudanum, or if it is from the administration of ammonia use 

 vinegar and water, and if it is greatly swollen scarify it in one or two 

 places and then bathe and allow the matter to escape when it forms 

 You can sometimes prevent induration by scarifying and applying some- 

 thing, as salt and water, which irritates to a certain extent, and may 

 prevent it. Iodine applied to the lower jaw and given internally may be 

 of use. When induration is once established the animal is useless. 



Barbs is a term applied to an enlarged condition of the papillae or 

 orifices of the sublingual or submaxillary glands. It does not require 

 much treatment, but these enlargemeets are sometimes barbarously 

 removed. They may be removed or subdued by astringents of cold 

 water. 



