372 THE PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



meantime giving for a couple of days very little, or no food. 

 If food is given, it should be gruel, of oatmeal, etc., solid 

 food of no kind being admissible, as such has a tendency 

 to greatly stimulate the flow of saliva. An old case of 

 fistula of this duct is very troublesome to cure, and 

 frequently cannot be cured at all. In cases where the 

 above methods of treatment have been tried and failed, 

 the parotid gland must be destroyed by injecting into its 

 substance the following: argenti nitras, 5i., nitric acid, 5i., 

 aquae, ^i. 



SALIVARY CALCULI. 



Calcareous deposits may form in any actively secreting 

 gland, or the duct in connection with the gland. Calculi 

 are met with perhaps more commonly in connection with 

 the parotid duct than any other. These calculi originate 

 in the gland, pass down into the duct along with the 

 fluid secreted by the gland, and having reached the duct 

 they stop, gradually increase in size, and intercept the 

 flow of saliva ; the duct becomes enlarged, the passage of 

 the secretion is rendered difficult or impossible, and unless 

 the obstruction passes down and out, either of its own accord, 

 or in consequence of manipulation, a fistulous opening is 

 soon formed. In the majority of cases there is something 

 that serves to form a nucleus around which the calcareous 

 matter is deposited ; a portion of food may serve for this 

 purpose. 



Treatment. — Unless of large size, the calculus may be 

 removed by manipulation in a great many cases. Where 

 manipulation fails in consequence of size, etc., it should be 

 cut down upon with a knife and removed, the opening 

 closed by suture and treated as an ordinary wound. 



