326 INFLAMMATION OF THE SALIVARY GLANDS. 



owing to pressure on the nerve, or to extension to it of the inflam- 

 matory process. The swelling gradually becomes fluctuating at its 

 most prominent point, and if not opened a large quantity of ill- 

 smelling greyish-red fluid, mixed with flakes of dead connective 

 tissue will be spontaneously discharged. Once necrosis has taken 

 place, abscess formation usually results in eight to ten days ; but 

 in fourteen days to three weeks complete healing may be expected. 

 Recovery is the most common termination ; but owing to high fever 

 and disturbance of appetite the animals fall off in condition, and 

 milk secretion abates. Salivary fistula and facial paralysis are seldom 

 observed as sequelae of this affection. In a case of Moller's the optic 

 nerve was involved and optic paralysis with amaurosis remained, 

 having evidently resulted from retrobulbar neuritis, produced by 

 extension of inflammation into the orbit. 



Differential diagnosis. Parotitis may easily be mistaken at the 

 commencement for swelling of the sub-parotideal lymph gland, which 

 however, is more diffused. From distension of the guttural pouches 

 parotitis is distinguished by the presence of inflammation, and by 

 the absence of intermittent nasal discharge which is so diagnostic 

 of disease of the guttural pouch. Tumours in the parotid region are 

 unaccompanied by inflammation, and never develop so rapidly as 

 the swelling of parotitis. The submaxillary and sublingual glands 

 also become diseased, but less frequently. Inflammation of these 

 glands usually originates in the mucous lining of the ducts, the process 

 extending from catarrhal conditions of the buccal membrane. Out- 

 breaks of an enzootic type are recorded in horses. A long flatfish 

 swelling appears in the throat, which extends under the parotid, 

 and salivation is present. The termination of Wharton's duct on 

 the floor of the mouth appears stopped. Should pus formation 

 result, the abscess commonly breaks into the mouth, less frequently 

 externally, but in fourteen days convalescence is established. The 

 abscesses so often seen in the laryngeal region in oxen are almost 

 always the result of injury to the tongue or lower portion of the cavity 

 of the mouth and local infection. 



Stockfleth has described, under the name of " ranula," a disease 

 in cows which presents the appearances of virulent inflammation of 

 the submaxillary gland. There is oedema of the throat, and an 

 elastic swelling as large as a hen's egg is found at the frsenum linguae. 

 If this be opened early, the symptoms soon disappear, but if not, 

 the head and neck rapidly swell, and breathing and swallowing are 

 so disturbed that the animals often die in a few days. 



Inflammation and abscess formation occur in the ducts of the 



