100 DISEASES OF THE MOUTH 



Symptoms.— The disease begins with swelling, redness and 

 a very painful condition of the mucous membrane. The 

 local temperature is accelerated. The lips and ■ cheeks 

 become swollen, the lower lip hangs down and strands of 

 saliva hang from the corners of the mouth. Later the mucous 

 membranes on the inner surface of the lips, cheeks and the 

 back part of the mouth are bluish-red in color. The gums 

 are swollen and dark red, the tongue becomes much thickened 

 which interferes with deglutition and forces the mouth open. 

 In severe cases following infectious diseases, the submaxillary 

 and sublingual lymph glands are swollen and very painful 

 to the touch. The general symptoms depend largely upon 

 the primary condition. 



Diagnosis.— Is made by the acute inflammatory condition 

 of the mucous membranes with the swelling of the , lips, 

 cheeks and tongue. The anamnesis in some cases will 

 materially assist in making the diagnosis. 



Prognosis.— Usually favorable; in the secondary cases it 

 depends on primary condition. 



Treatment.— Dietetic— All solid food should be withheld 

 for a few days and small quantities of liquid foods given 

 (milk, meat broth, etc.). 



Medical.— The mouth should be thoroughly cleansed twice 

 daily with antiseptic and astringent solutions (alum 1-250; 

 tannic acid 1-250; potassium permanganate 1-250). 



Parasitic Stomatitis.— Thrush. Soor. Aphtha.— Definition. 

 —An inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth 

 produced by the Oidium albicans. 



Etiology.— The Oidium albicans (Monilla Candida, Sac- 

 charomyces albicans) is the exciting cause of this disease 

 which is found occasionally in healthy young animals, most fre- 

 quently in birds. This fungus is widespread in nature, occur- 

 ring especially on decaying vegetable matter as a saprophyte. 

 The mycelia are composed of cylindrical cells, 1-4 microns 

 wide and 10-20 microns long. The filaments show branching 

 and the outer ends are rounded off or club shaped. The 

 rounded ends often contain oval, highly refractive bodies, 

 the gonidia or spores, which are also found free between the 

 filaments. If the free spores come in contact with the oral 



