140 THE HUMAN BODY. 



What a "Furred Tongue" Indicates. In health the 

 surface of the tongue is moist, covered by little "fur" 

 and, in childhood, of a red color. In adult life the natural 

 color of the tongue is less red, except around the edges 

 and tip ; a bright red glistening tongue is then usually a 

 symptom of disease. When the digestive organs are de- 

 ranged the tongue is commonly covered with a thick 

 yellowish coat, and there is frequently a "bad taste" in 

 the mouth.* The whole alimentary mucous membrane is 

 in close physiological connection ; and anything disorder- 

 ing the stomach is likely to produce a " furred tongue," 

 which in most cases may be taken as indicating something 

 wrong with the deeper parts of the digestive tract. 



The Salivary Glands. The saliva, which is poured into 

 the mouth and moistens it, is secreted by three pairs of 

 glands, the parotid, the sulmaxillary , and the suUingual. 

 The parotid glands lie close in front of the ear ; each sends 

 its secretion into the mouth by a duct, which opens inside 

 the cheek opposite the second upper molar tooth. In the 

 disease known as mumps \ the parotid glands are inflamed 

 and enlarged. The submaxillary glands lie between the 

 halves of the lower jaw-bone, and their ducts open beneath 



Describe the surface of a healthy tongue. How does the tongue 

 of a healthy man differ in appearance from that of a healthy child? 

 When is the tongue apt to be "coated"? "What does a furred 

 tongue usually indicate? 



By what is the saliva secreted? Where does the paotid gland lie? 

 Where does its duct open? What change occurs in the parotid 

 glands during "mumps"? Where are the submaxillary glands? 

 Where do their ducts open? 



serving to scrape or lick clean bones, etc. Tamed tigers have been known to 

 draw blood by licking the hand of their master. 



* The fur of the tongue consists of some mucus, a few cells shed from its 

 surface, and numerous vegetable microscopic organisms belonging to the group 

 of Bacteria. 



t Technically, parotitis. 



