CHAPTER IV. 



TATKOLOGY— continued. 

 GENEEAL SYMPTOMS OF DISEASE. 



THE VISIBLE MUCOUS MEMBRANES. 



The general appearance of the visible mucous membranes 

 is of great assistance to the veterinarian in the diagnosis of 

 disease. The natural colour of the Schneiderian membrane and 

 conjunctiva is a palish red, or carnation ; any appreciable devia- 

 tion from this is indicative of some disorder. Increased vascul- 

 arity and heightened colour — floridity — are indicative generally 

 of disturbance and over-excitement of the circulatory system. 

 It does not follow of necessity that disease is present, as 

 the same condition of the membranes is brought about by 

 severe exercise ; in fact, any cause of excitement may produce 

 increased redness and vascularity of the visible mucous mem- 

 branes. This condition is not usually apparent in the tongue 

 and mouth, for the epithelium, more particularly on the tongue, 

 is sufficiently thick to obscure any increased vascularity. 



The appearance of the mouth, however, is occasionally of great 

 importance, redness of it being indicative of an irritable and 

 congested condition of the digestive organs generally ; vesication, 

 of sporadic or epizootic eczema ; a peculiar yellowish or salmon 

 colour, with desquamation of its epithelium, more jDarticularly 

 in the neighbourliood of the incisor teeth and within the lips, 

 of rinderpest ; whilst sudden pallor of the mouth and tongue, 

 with coldness, is symptomatic of approaching death from haemorr- 

 hage. The appearance of petechial spots on the visible mucous 

 membrane denotes a depraved condition of the blood, as in pur- 

 pura. Yellowness of these membranes indicates disease of the 

 liver ; lividity, a carbonized or non-oxygenated condition of the 



