FISTULA OF THE PAROTID DUCT. 371 



FISTULA OF THE PAROTID DUCT. 



Fistula of the parotid, or Steno's duct, sometimes occurs 

 in connection with strangles. If the abscess of strangles 

 makes its appearance close to the duct, it is well to exercise 

 a certain amount of care in opening it, or a fistula may be 

 formed. The presence of salivary calculi in the duct will 

 also cause fistulous openings into the duct. 



Symptoms. — A discharge of a clear watery fluid takes 

 place from the opening in the side of the cheek ; this dis- 

 charge is largely increased in quantity, and is most abundant, 

 during the process of mastication. An astonishing quantity 

 of saliva will be thus lost : in ten or fifteen minutes the 

 ground under the animal often being covered with the dis- 

 charge. Immediately after the animal has finished his 

 meal is when the discharge is least abundant, and at this 

 time it may cease altogether for a short time. The immense 

 loss of saliva interferes to a very serious extent with the 

 process of digestion, and the animal soon becomes subject 

 to frequent attacks of colic, etc. 



Treatment. — All treatment must be directed to arresting 

 the discharge of saliva through the fistulous opening, which 

 must, if possible, be closed. If due to ulceration, in con- 

 nection with an abscess,' an astriiigent should be used upon 

 the parts, and it will generally close in a short time. Another 

 plan, highly thought of and practised by a great many 

 surgeons, is to paint the parts with collodion. The edges of 

 the opening may occasionally be touched with argenti nitras. 

 In some cases it becomes advisable, in consequence of the 

 immense waste of saliva, to make a counter opening into the 

 mouth ; the best of all methods, probably, is to scarify the 

 edges of the opening, bring them together, and paint them 

 with several coats of collodion, and await results. In the 



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