I.OCAI, STOMATITIS. 



Division of circumscribed buccal inflammations : palatitis ; gnathitis 

 gingivitis ; glossitis. Causes : injuries ; acrid ; venomous or caustic agents ; 

 diseased teeth ; foreign bodies in gland ducts ; malformed jaws ; infections, 

 etc. Symptoms : salivation ; difficult prehension and mastication ; drop- 

 ping half masticated morsels ; distinctive indications of different caustics ; 

 abrasion ; abscess ; slough ; infective disease lesions. Treatment : for 

 palatitis, massage by hard corn ears, scarification, laxatives ; for gnathitis, 

 care for teeth and ducts, astringent washes, eliminate mercury ; lor glossitis, 

 remove cause, use antidote to venom, or to chemical irritant, astringent, 

 antiseptic lotions or electuaries, evacuate abscess, soft, cool diet, elevate 

 the head, suspend the tongue. 



Localized inflammations in the buccal cavity are named ac- 

 cording to the portion of the lining membrane attacked ;— 

 palatitis if seated in the roof of the mouth ; gnathitis if restricted 

 to the cheeks ; gingivitis if to the gums ; and glossitis if to the 

 tongue. 



Palatitis. Lampas. Congestion of the hard palate be- 

 hind the upper front teeth. This is usually seen in young 

 horses during the period of shedding the teeth and is caused by 

 the irritation and vascularity consequent on teething. The red 

 and tender membrane projects beyond the level of the wearing 

 surfaces of the upper incisors, and may materially interfere with 

 the taking in of food. A common practice in such cases is to 

 feed unshelled Indian corn, the nibbling of which seems to im- 

 prove the circulation in the peridontal membrane and by sym- 

 pathy, in the adjacent palate. Superficial incisions with the 

 lancet or knife will usually relieve, and may be followed by mild 

 astringent lotions if necessary. If apparently associated with 

 costiveness or gastric or intestinal irritation a dose of physic will 

 be demanded. Nothing can excuse the inhuman and useless 

 practice of burning the parts with a hot iron. 



Gnathitis. Inflammation of the Cheeks. Usually result- 

 ing as a distinct affection from irregular or overgrown teeth, or 

 the entrance of vegetable spikes into the gland ducts, these cause 

 local swelling and tenderness, slow imperfect mastication, drop- 

 ping of food half chewed, accumulation of food between the 

 cheeks and teeth, thickening, induration and sloughing of the 

 mucous membrane with excessive fcetor. 



19 



