PARALX^IS OF THE PHARYNX 99 



Etiology. — Paralysis of the pharynx is usually secondary 

 to: (a) An acute pharyngitis which accompanies an attack 

 of strangles (parapharyngeal abscess). (6) Forage poisoning 

 of which it is often a prominent sjTnptom. (c) Bulbar 

 paralysis in diseases of the central nervous system (menin- 

 gitis, cerebrospinal meningitis), (d) Tumors in the pharynx 

 (cysts, papillomas, polypi, carcinomas) and more rarely 

 along the course of the pneumogastric nerve, (e) In certain 

 infectious diseases (rabies, acute infectious bulbar paralysis 

 of cats). (/) In certain intoxication diseases (parturient 

 paresis of cows). 



Symptoms. — ^The principal symptom is dysphagia. In 

 horses and cattle food and water mixed with saliva are 

 regurgitated through the nose. If no food is taken drooling 

 from the mouth occm-s. Attempts at swallowing produce 

 loud, gurgling sounds. Palpation of the pharynx through 

 the mouth fails to produce contraction of the pharyngeal 

 muscles. 



Course. — ^The comrse depends upon the cause. When due 

 to inflammation healing may follow in a few weeks (rupture 

 of abscess). The successful removal of tumors will im- 

 mediately arrest the symptoms. When due to forage 

 poisoning or acute diseases of the central nervous system 

 (rabies, bulbar paralysis) the course is rapid and fatal. 

 In parturient paresis most cases recover under modern 

 treatment (air inflation of the udder). As a general propo- 

 sition prolonged paralysis of the pharynx is serious as it 

 prevents the proper nutrition of the patient and from food 

 and saliva entering the windpipe and lungs frequently is 

 followed by fatal foreign body pneumonia. 



Diagnosis. — ^A careful palpation and inspection, when 

 possible, of the pharynx should be made in all cases to 

 exclude foreign bodies (corn cobs, pieces of wood, etc.) or 

 to determine whether tumors or parapharyngeal abscesses 

 are present. 



Treatment. — ^As noted, in cases of paralysis due to acute 

 inflammation (abscess) a spontaneous recovery may occur. 

 Surgical intervention is often effective (see surgery). Blisters 

 and the electric battery applied to the external throat rarely 



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