PAROTITIS. THE MUMPS. 121 



water dressing, of great service, and sometimes the application 

 of a blister all round the seat of injury, protecting the 

 wound by a layer of lard around it. The parotid duct has 

 been tied, and the parotid gland destroyed or extirpated, and 

 notwithstanding the horse has regained health. I do not 

 recommend a practice which requires such extreme measures. 

 By patience and care, the cases of salivary fistula always prove 

 curable. 



PAROTITIS THE MUMPS. Inflammation of the parotid 

 glands has been rarely seen in the horse, but I have been con- 

 sulted several times regarding its occurrence in feeding cattle. 

 It prevails in the winter months, and when the animals are 

 nearly fat. They are seized with symptoms of sore throat, 

 such as cough, difficult breathing and impediment to swallow- 

 ing, coupled with considerable fever. The inflammation is 

 usually confined to one side, and does not persist or lead 

 to suppuration. The gland is apt to remain hard and inac- 

 tive, leaving some obstruction to the passage of air through 

 the throat, but notwithstanding this the. animals fatten well. 

 Treatment consists in the administration of a saline purga- 

 tive, and applying hot fomentations or poultices locally. 

 The parts may have to be blistered, and in cases in which 

 there is very difficult breathing, the windpipe may have to be 

 opened. 



Organic disease of the salivary glands has been occasion- 

 ally noticed, such as cancer and melanosis. The latter, seen 

 in grey horses, chiefly implicated the lymphatic glands situ- 

 ated on the inner side of the parotid. 



DEGLUTITION. 



ORGANS OF DEGLUTITION. The act of swallowing, or de- 

 glutition, consists in the passage of food from the mouth to 



