CHAPTER II. 



DISEASES OF THE SALIVARY GLANDS, TONSILS 

 AND PHARYNX, 



PAROTIDITIS (PAROTITIS). 



The term '' parotiditis " indicates an inflammatory condition of the 

 parotid gland. Of this disease several forms exist. The disease is termed 

 simple when due to accidental causes or infections, specific when result- 

 ing from some special disease germ like the ray fungus. Anatomically, 

 these diseases consist in inflammation of the glandular parenchyma and 

 connective tissue stroma which surrounds the acini. 



ACUTE PAROTIDITIS. 



Causation. The causes of acute parotiditis are varied. Mechanical 

 violence or contusions (due to collisions with fixed bodies, horn thrusts, 

 or blows from the ox-goad) may produce it, the glandular parenchyma 

 and connective tissue separating the acini or the peri-glandular tissue 

 being torn, crushed, lacerated, and often also directly infected in conse- 

 quence of the injury. Ascending infection through the medium of the 

 salivary ducts represents a second possible cause of the disease. 



Finally, parotiditis may, in some cases, constitute only a localisation 

 of a general disease. It seems a fact that in rare circumstances paro- 

 tiditis may assume an epizootic character, and attack a large number of 

 animals in a particular stable or in neighbouring stables ; and if, under 

 these circumstances, w^e are unable to blame the food (which has not been 

 done), we are forced to admit the influence of infection and contagion. 



Symptoms. Whatever the cause, the symptoms are generally well 

 marked. In many cases the first indication of the disease is apparent 

 or real want of appetite, always complicated with difficulty in swallowing, 

 and often accompanied by trifling fever. 



Salivation, resulting from irritation of the gland and inability to 

 swallow, becomes abundant, and at once draws attention to the buccal 

 cavity and adjacent parts. Inspection of the patient then reveals the 

 existence in the parotid region of a diffuse swelling, which on palpa- 

 tion is found to be hot and painful, and to occupy the whole of 



