DISEASES OF MOUTH, TONGUE AND SALIVARY GLANDS 35 



especially, when they are recovering from acute or exhausting diseases. 

 This condition in some cases seems to be due to some bacterial infec- 

 tion of the mucous membrane and the tissue directly surrounding the 

 teeth; the true nature of this hypothesis has not as yet been settled. It 

 is also a question if it is infectious, but if not, it certainly affects a 

 certain number of animals at a time. Ulcerative stomatitis is also 

 seen as a symptom in scurvy, infectious hemorrhagic gastro-enteritis, 

 and in certain cases of poisoning, particularly mercurial. A simple case 

 of stomatitis either from improper treatment or a weak nutritive con- 

 dition, may become an acute case of stomacace. 



Clinical Symptoms. — At first the gums are swollen and red in the 

 neighborhood of certain teeth, generally the incisors and more rarely the 

 molars. The gums are very red and painful to the touch and bleed readily. 

 After a few days the inflamed portion becomes green and dark purple 

 on the dividing line (line of demarcation) with the other tissues. The 

 hemorrhage from the affected parts is constant and deep abscesses form, 

 involving the alveolar processes. This gangrenous inflammation ex- 

 tends and the teeth become very loose and fall out. In extreme cases, 

 the jaw becomes affected and necrosis sets in and large portions of the 

 jaw exfoliate. This condition may also involve the neighboring tissues; 

 but as a rule the tongue is rarely affected to any great extent. The 

 odor of the stomach is very offensive; there is a bad-smelling, sticky mu- 

 cus running from the corners of the mouth. Generally the appetite is 

 fairly good, although it is very difficult for the animal to masticate or 

 swallow, and bolting the food whole, while affected with this disease, 

 has a tendency to upset the stomach. 



A favorable termination of this disease is only to be expected in 

 young, strong, healthy dogs, provided it has not become too far ad- 

 vanced. With proper treatment and favorable conditions the ulcers 

 clean up gradually, and after two weeks they are usually all healed up; 

 but sometimes the fever keeps on increasing and the disease becomes 

 septic in character from absorption of the dead tissues, causing blood- 

 poisoning and collapse, followed by death. The author has noticed 

 a gangrenous lobular pneumonia from the aspiration of the purulent 

 matter. 



Therapeutics. — The animal must be fed lilierally, but with easily 

 digested food and soft as possible. Remove all the diseased tissues as 

 soon as possible and prevent the spread of the ulcerated portions of 

 the mucous membrane; wash the mouth freciuently Avith deodorizing or 

 antiseptic mouth washes such as have been mentioned in the previous 

 disease, being careful not to let the animal swallow any of the prepara- 

 tions. This is done by holding out the animal's head in such a position 

 during the application of the medicine that the fluid will run out of the 



