Diseases of the Digeshve Organs. 135 



SALIVAEY CALCULI. 



These are small concretions of earthy and organic mat- 

 ter usually around some foreign body (a grain of oats or 

 barley, or a particle of sand) which has accidentally en- 

 tered the canal. They obstruct the ducts and give rise 

 to the feehng as of a tense elastic cord extending round 

 the border of the lower jaw and upwards on the side of 

 the cheek, or forward along the inner side of the jaw-bone. 

 The pea-hke concretion may be felt at the anterior end of 

 the cord, and if there is more than one they may be made to 

 rattle on each other. Sometimes matter forms and bursts 

 and the concretion may be felt in the depth of the wound. 

 Difficulty in chewing and swallowing, and indigestions 

 arise from the lack of saliva. 



Treatment. Pass the calculus onward to the mouth by 

 manipvilation with the fingers, or this faihng lay open the 

 duct and extract it from within the mouth if possible. 

 If it must be opened through the skin, first shave the part, 

 make a small incision with a sharp knife, extract the mass 

 and cover the wound with layer after layer of coUodion, 

 aUowLQg as Httle exposure to the air as possible. Allow 

 no food whatever for twelve hours and then only soft 

 mashes and gruels until healing is completed. 



SALIVABY FISTULA. 



This is found wherever a wound penetrates a duct of 

 any of the salivary glands. It is especially liable to oc- 

 cur from opening abscesses in strangles and from wounds 

 about the lower jaw. 



Symptoms. A free discharge from the wound during 

 feeding, of a clear, shghtly glairy liquid, especially abun- 

 dant where the food is diy and fibrous. Chewing is slow, 

 difficult, and carried on on the opposite side of the mouth 

 only. Digestion and general health are gradually im- 

 paired. 



Treatment. If recent, shave the edges of the wound, 

 bring accurately together and cover with collodion, layei 



