176 BLAIN. 



The Blain. The blain is a vesicular enlargement on the lateral and 

 under part of the tongue in horses, oxen, and dogs, which, although not of 

 unfrequent occurrence, or peculiarly fatal result, has not been sufficiently 

 noticed by veterinary authors. In the horse and the dog it is often unac- 

 companied by any previous indisposition, or by other disease ; but sud- 

 denly there is a copious discharge of saliva, at first limpid and without 

 smell, but soon becoming purulent, bloody, and exceedingly fetid. On 

 examination, the tongue is found apparently enlarged. It is elevated from 

 its base between the maxillary bones, and on the side and towards the base 

 of it are seen large vesicles, pellucid, red, livid, or purple ; and, if the dis- 

 charge is fetid, having near their bases ulcers, irregular, unhealthy, and 

 gangrenous. 



In the horse and the dog the progress of the disease is slow, and seldom 

 extends beyond the sides of the tongue. The vesicles are not of such 

 magnitude as to interfere with respiration, and the ulcers are neither many 

 nor foul. 



In cattle it is sadly different. The vesicles attain an enormous size. 

 They quickly break and form deep ulcerations, which are immediately 

 succeeded by other vesicles still larger. The whole membrane of the 

 mouth becomes affected ; the inflammation and swelling extend to the cel- 

 lular substance of the neighbouring parts, and the head and neck are con- 

 siderably, and sometimes enormously, enlarged ; the respiratory passages 

 are obstructed ; the animal breathes with the greatest difficulty, and is, in 

 some cases, literally suffocated. 



The primary seat of blain, is the cellular substance beneath the integu- 

 ment of the part. As the sublingual glands stretch along the under 

 part of the tongue, and their ducts open on the side of the fraenum, it is 

 possible that this disease may proceed from, or be connected with, obstruc- 

 tion or inflammation of these ducts. Dissection, however, has not proved 

 this ; and the seat of the disease, when the swellings are first discovered, is 

 chiefly the cellular tissue between the integument and the lateral parts of 

 the tongue, and also that between the membrane of the mouth and the 

 sublingual glands. 



Post-mortem examination shows intense disease : the small intestines 

 are highly inflamed with red and black patches, which are also found in 

 the ccecum, colon, and rectum. 



The blain is more frequent in spring and summer than at other sea- 

 sons of the year. These are the times when the animal is debilitated by 

 the process of moulting, and is then more than usually disposed to inflam- 

 matory complaints. It is usually an epidemic disease. Many cases of it 

 occur about the same time in certain districts, and over a great extent of 

 country. When it appears in towns, the country is rarely exempt from 

 it. I am not prepared to say that it is contagious either in the horse or 

 the dog. I have not seen any instance of it. At all events, it is not so 

 virulent in these animals as it is in cattle. 



The vesicles should be freely lanced from end to end. There will not, 

 perhaps, be much immediate discharge ; for the vesicle will be distended by 

 a substance imperfectly organised, or of such a glassy or inspissated nature 

 as not readily to escape. It will, however, soon disappear ; and in four-and- 

 twenty hours, in the majority of cases, the only vestige of the disease will 

 be an incision, not, perhaps, looking very healthy, but that will soon be- 

 come so and heal. If there have been any previous ulcerations, or the 



