502 DISEASES AND INJURIES OF THE FACIAL REGION. 



it lias been cut and severely wounded by a cruel attendant out 

 of spite ; and scalded by hot drink, or irritated by sucli remedies 

 as ammonia or turpentine given insufficiently diluted. The 

 irritation from ammonia, caustic potash, or soda, may be easily 

 recognised, the buccal membrane being dissolved by the irritant. 

 The tongue hangs out of the mouth inflamed, swollen, having a 

 soft saponaceous feel ; its covering peeling off as a semi-trans- 

 parent bluish-white material; the tongue substance very red, 

 painful, and injected ; the cheeks in the same condition. Treat 

 with cold astringent lotions, vinegar and water answering two 

 purposes — (1), neutralising any remaining alkali, and (2) forming 

 a grateful application to the inflamed part. 



Wounds of the tongue have to be treated on conservative 

 principles. Nothing must be destroyed, cut off, or removed ; 

 but all torn edges brought into apposition, and held so by proper 

 sutures. A horse with half a tongue will feed moderately well, 

 and keep his condition, but he always requires extra care and 

 attention, and he is less valuable in the market. It therefore 

 behoves the veterinary surgeon to save as much as he can of 

 this organ when at all mutilated ; but if a portion be really 

 gangrenous, it must be excised. 



ULCERS OF THE TONGUE, 



Are often caused by diseased and irregular teeth ; dirty, foul, 

 rusty bits ; some kinds of food ; or they may appear as a 

 secondary affection, depending upon indigestion. The causes 

 must be removed in all cases, and the ulcers treated with the 

 nitrate of silver, alum, or borax ; chlorate of potash makes a 

 nice wash to the parts ; it may also be given internally, when 

 the ulcers depend upon internal causes. 



Horned cattle are subject to induration of the tip of the 

 tongue. It arises from no ostensible cause, and is generally 

 incurable ; and as it interferes with the powers of prehension, 

 the animal rapidly loses flesh, and should be slaughtered at an 

 early stage of the disease. 



PARALYSIS OF THE TONGUE. 



A paralysed condition is generally present when the brain is 



