RANULA. 265 



Paralysis is shown by distortion and inability to retract the 

 tongue. 



Prognosis is generally unfavourable in double-sided paralysis. 

 The animals cannot be fattened, and therefore, if the case is per- 

 sistent, it is better to slaughter. Monoplegia is of little consequence, 

 as the animals can still feed well. 



Treatment can do little. Should the disease be caused by external 

 injuries, these must be dealt with on general principles, otherwise 

 one can only await developments or slaughter. In fat animals the 

 latter course is preferable, as condition is rapidly lost. 



RANULA. 



Ranula is commonest in dogs and cattle, though it also occurs 

 in the horse. Under the point of the tongue in the frsenum linguse, 

 a long roundish swelling develops, which may attain the size of a 

 hen's egg. It is greyish-yellow, soft, and not inflamed. When 

 opened, a yellow, jelly-like fluid escapes, and the walls collapse. 

 The swelling, if of any considerable size, interferes with feeding 

 and produces salivation. In man the voice at times assumes a harsh, 

 croaking tone, hence the German name " Froschgeschwulst " (Frog 

 swelling). The pathological cause has not been determined even 

 in man. It was thought to be due to occlusion of Wharton's duct, 

 but this is generally found to be clear. More recently it has been 

 regarded as stoppage of a mucous duct (retention cyst). The con- 

 dition in the dog is no better understood. One should beware of 

 regarding every swelling in or near the frsenum linguae as ranula, 

 only the true cyst deserving this title. Marked swelling of the loose 

 sublingual connective tissue is often mistaken for the condition in 

 question. Such swelling frequently accompanies cellulitis at the 

 base of the tongue or in the pharynx. A flaccid swelling containing 

 blood-stained or yellowish fluid is then found under the tongue. 

 In cattle the fisenum may be swollen from actinomycotic proliferation. 



Prognosis is favourable, though simply laying the cyst open is 

 ineffective as it always fills again. But this can easily be prevented 

 by removing the thin wall with scissors and forceps. Ellinger has 

 employed injections of pilocarpine with success. Stockfleth has 

 described as ranula in cattle an entirely different condition, which 

 takes a much more troublesome course, and must be regarded as a 

 malignant inflammation of the submaxillary lymph glands (compare 

 with affections of lymph glands). Hohenleitner states having seen 

 two cases of ranula caused by actinomyces. The ranula disappeared 

 after painting with iodine, though stiffness of the tongue persisted. 



