96 DISEASES OF THE MOUTH 



Prognosis.— Favorable in primary cases, healing occurring 

 in about one week; in secondary cases it depends on the 

 causative disease. 



Treatment.— Dietetic— The animal should be fed warm 

 liquid food in small amounts. 



Medical.— The use of antiseptic mouth washes is indicated 

 (boric acid 2 per cent., alum or tannic acid 1 per cent., 

 vinegar and water 1-10); in the severe chronic form direct 

 application of silver nitrate (1-2 per cent.) may be found 

 useful. Tincture of myrrh applied direct to the gums is very 

 useful as a deodorant and antiseptic. 



Surgical.— Remove foreign bodies and tartar from around 

 the teeth, using a curette. 



Ulcerative Stomatitis.— Fetid Stomatitis. Stomacace. Sore 

 Mouth.— Definition.— An acute inflammation of the mucous 

 membrane of the mouth resulting in the formation of ulcers, 

 which appear most commonly on the margins of the gums. 



Etiology.— This disease is found in weak, anemic dogs and 

 cats. It also frequently develops during the 'course of dis- 

 temper, rachitis and other constitutional diseases. It is 

 found commonly in old dogs and cats with diseases of the 

 teeth (caries), especially when these animals are insufficiently 

 nourished. The exact causes producing this necrosis of the 

 tissues are not definitely known. The character of the dis- 

 ease process points to infection. In man a similar disease is 

 contagious. The Bacillus septicus has been isolated from 

 the diseased area in dogs, and the Bacillus necrosis and 

 Bacillus coli communis in cats, but have not been proved to 

 be the specific cause. Lack of cleanliness in the mouth, 

 diseased teeth and accumulations around them favor the 

 occurrence of the disease. The internal administration of 

 mercury in large or long continued doses, may produce a 

 similar condition of the gums. 



Pathology.— The gums at first are swollen and dark red 

 in color, but soon become pale yellowish and necrotic. The 

 epithelium is destroyed, deep ulcers form, suppuration ensues 

 and the teeth may become loose and fall out. 



Symptoms.— In the early stages it begins as a severe 

 stomatitis, the gums bleed freely, are swollen and partly 



