1 6 Veterinary Medicine. 



draws attention to the fact that the pin caterpillar (bombyx 

 pinivora) fonnd on the stalks of couch grass (Triticum repeus) 

 produces buccal irritation when chewed and swallowed to induce 

 vomiting. As in other animals more or less buccal congestion 

 attends on gastric congestion and inflammation. Dental troubles 

 are often sufficient causes. 



Symptoms. The animal becomes dainty with regard to his 

 food, picking up the smaller or softer pieces and rejecting the 

 larger or harder. Mastication is painful and selection is made of 

 moist or soft articles which can be swallowed without chewing or 

 insalivation. The mouth is red and hot, and at times the mucous 

 membrane eroded, or blistered, the lesions concentrating especially 

 on the gums and around the borders of the tongue. The dorsum 

 of the tongue is furred, whitish, yellowish or brownish. Saliva 

 collects in the mouth and escapes in filmy strings from its com- 

 missures, and the odor of the mouth becomes increasingly foul. 

 Swelling of the lips, cheeks or intermaxillary space marks the 

 worst cases. 



Treatment. Withdraw all irritant and offensive aliments. Give 

 soups, mu.shes, scraped or pounded lean meat in small quantities, 

 washing out the mouth after each meal with a 20 per cent, .solu- 

 tion of permanganate of potash or borax or a two per cent, solu- 

 tion of carbolic acid. Cadeac advises against chlorate of potash 

 on account of its known tendency to bring about hsemoglobinsemia 

 in dogs. A laxative and bitters may be called for in case of 

 gastritis or indigestion, and any morbid condition of the teeth 

 must be attended to. Decayed teeth may be removed. Tartar 

 especially must be cleaned off by the aid of a small wooden or 

 even a steel spud and a hard brush with chalk will be u.seful. A 

 weak .solution of hydrochloric acid is usually employed to loo.sen 

 the tartar, but this is injurious to the structure of the teeth and 

 had best be avoided if poissible. Tincture of myrrh is especially 

 valuable both as a gum-tonic and as a deodorant and antiseptic. 

 This may be rubbed on the irritated gums as often as the mouth 

 is washed. 



