THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 233 



The protrusibility of the tongue results from the well- 

 developed condition of those lingual muscles attached to 

 the symphysis, and from the presence of a well-developed 

 middle cornu of the os hyoides. This highly important 

 organ is liable to disease of different kinds — inflamma- 

 tion, degeneration, and malignant glossitis. 



Glossitis [inflammation of the tongue) is a disease of 

 by no means rare occurrence, attributable to ingestion of 

 rough course food, frosty grass, and injuries (mechanical 

 or chemical). It also is a complication occasionally 

 seen in eczema epizootica when badly treated or neg- 

 lected. The whole organ may be diseased or only part 

 of it. The resulting changes are induration, suppuration, 

 or gangrene. 



Symptoms. — General signs of fever ; profuse flow of 

 saliva from the mouth, which is very hot, the tongue 

 then becomes enlarged and reddened, and hangs from the 

 mouth. Sometimes the epithelial layer is raised from the 

 deeper portion of the mucous membrane by serous 

 effusion, so that separation of it may take place to a 

 limited extent. The enlargement of the tongue and the 

 surrounding swelling causes some interference with res- 

 piration, of course the animal is not in a position to take 

 in food ; deglutition also is interfered with. In very acute 

 cases either abscesses form in the organ or mortification 

 sets in. In the former case pointing takes place, and as 

 soon as possible, but not prematurely, the abscess should 

 be opened. In the latter the protruded organ becomes 

 livid, cold, and loses all feeling and power of retraction; 

 it has a peculiar odour with phlyctenae on the surface, and 

 the general symptoms assume a typhoid character. In less 

 acute cases exudation of lympb into the substance of the 

 tongue takes place ; this undergoes organisation, and com- 

 pressing the muscular structure of the organ, produces 

 atrophy. Thus occurs the so-called scirrhus of the tongue. 



Treatment. — Active measures are essential. In the 

 earlier stages, besides nursing, the animal must receive 

 an aperient dose, and some suggest the necessity for 

 bleeding; preferably sedative and febrifuge agents may 



