DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF DIGESTION. 



SECTION I. 

 DISEASES OF THE MO UTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



CATARRH OF THE MOUTH. 



ETIOLOGY. The mucous membrane of the mouth is peculiarly ex- 

 posed to the sources of injury which excite catarrh elsewhere. Hence 

 catarrh of the mouth is a very frequent affection, but it is only recently 

 that the name " catarrh of the mouth " has been given to those changes 

 which, occurring in other mucous membranes, are termed catarrh. It 

 is remarkable that this affection is rarely induced by exposure of the 

 skin to cold, a cause which so frequently excites catarrh of other mu- 

 cous membranes. 



Among the injurious influences that may excite catarrh of the 

 mouth are 



1. Irritation which acts on the mucous membrane. Dentition fre- 

 quently causes catarrhal stomatitis, which often attains great severity. 

 Rough teeth, ulcerated teeth, wounds in the mouth, very hot, very 

 cold, or chemically injurious ingesta, smoking and chewing tobacco, 

 etc., excite catarrh. The same effect is produced by the use of mer- 

 curial preparations, not only when mercurial salve is rubbed on the 

 gums, or when mercurial preparations, in powder or solution, are takei 

 by the mouth, but by inunction of mercurial ointment, and by taking 

 mercurial pills, well covered up. For since the mercury, absorbed from 

 the skin or the intestinal canal, is excreted by the salivary glands, it 

 still causes direct irritation of the oral mucous membrane. Often, 

 very small amounts of mercury will induce mercurial stomatitis ; we 

 can readily understand this, if we bear in mind that the mercurial, 

 swallowed with the saliva is again absorbed from the intestine, and 

 reaches the mouth repeatedly before escaping from the economy. The 



