THE SALIVARY GLAXDS. 233 



jugular vein, and they come out again at uk At r, tlie duct is seen 

 separated from the other vessels, climbing up the cheek, and piercing it 

 to discharge- its contents into the mouth, opposite to the second grinder. 

 The quantity of fluid thus poured into the mouth from each of the parotid 

 glands amounts to a pint and a half in an hour, during the action of 

 mastication ; and, sometimes, when the duct has been accidentally opened, 

 it has spirted out to the distance of several feet. 



The parotid gland sympathises with every inflammatory affection of the 

 upper part of the throat, and therefore it is found swollen, hot, and tender, 

 in almost every catarrh or cold. The catarrh is to be treated in the usual 

 way ; while a stimulating application, almost amounting to a blister, well 

 rubbed over the gland, will best subdue the inflammation of that body. 



In bad strangles, and, sometimes, in violent cold, this gland will be 

 much enlarged and ulcerated, or an obstruction will take place in some 

 part of the duct, and the accumulating fluid ^vi\\ burst the vessel, and a 

 fistulous ulcer be formed that will be very difficult to heal. Similar 

 results may be produced by its being wounded by a lancet in opening an 

 abscess, and it occasionally occurs from accidental wounds. The applica- 

 tion of coUodium, accompanied with the adhesive plaister, should be 

 promptly had recourse to, as if the wound assumes a fistulous character 

 the cure is tedious and difficult. A veterinary surgeon alone will be com- 

 petent to the treatment of either case ; and the principle by Avhich he 

 will be guided will be to heal the abscess in the gland as speedily as he 

 can, and, probably, by the application of the heated iron ; or, if the ulcer 

 is in the duct, either to restore the passage through the duct, or to form 

 a new one. 



A second source of the saliva is from the stibmaxillary glands, or the 

 glands under the jaw. One of them is represented at s, p. 199. The 

 submaxillary glands occupy the space underneath and between the sides 

 of the lower jaw, and consist of numerous small bodies, each with its proper 

 duct, uniting together, and forming on each side a common duct or vessel 

 that pierces through the muscles at the root of the tongue, and opens in 

 little projections, or heads, upon the frammi, or bridle of the tongue, 

 about an inch and a half from the front teeth. When the horse has 

 catarrh or cold, these glands, Hke the parotid gland, enlarge. This is often 

 to be observed after strangles, and several distinct kernels are to be felt 

 under the jaw. It has already been stated that they may be distinguished 

 from the swellings that accompany or indicate glanders, by their being 

 larger, generally not so distinct, more in the centre of the channel, or 

 space between the jaws, and never adhering to the jaw-bones. The 

 farriers call them vives, and often adopt cruel and absurd methods to 

 disperse them, — as burning them with a lighted candle, or hot iron, or 

 even cutting them out. They will, in the majority of instances, gradually 

 disperse in proportion as the disease which produced them subsides ; or 

 they will jdeld to slightly stimulating embrocations ; or, if they ai-e obsti- 

 nate in their continuance, they are of no further consequence, than as 

 indicating that the horse has laboured under severe cold or strangles. 



During catan-h, or inflammation of the mouth, the httle projections 

 marking the opening of these ducts on either side of the bridle of the 

 tongue are apt to enlarge, and the mouth under the tongue is a little red 

 and hot and tender. The farriers call these swellings barbs or paps ; 

 and as soon as they discover them, mistaking the effect of disease for the 

 cause of it, they set to work to cut them close off". The bleeding that 

 follows this operation somewhat abates the local inflammation, and 

 affords temporary relief; but the wounds will not speedily heal. The 

 saliva continues to flow from the orifice of the duct, and, I'uuning into tlie 



