OPERATIONS ON THE TONGUE. 79 



for removal. The swollen sac is then punctured with a scalpel 

 or sharp pair of scissors, the whole of the wall being dissected 

 away as closely as possible. Great care must be exercised 

 about this latter point, as if any portion is left the ranula 

 will reappear after a short interval.^ 



Scarification of the Tongue— This treatment is advisable 

 in some cases of glossitis', and consists in scarifying the tongue 

 freely but not deeply in a longitudinal direction in several 

 places. The under or lateral surfaces are usually chosen, and 

 the operation is performed with a small gum lancet or scalpel, 

 the blade being protected from entering too deeply by being 

 wrapped with cotton wool or tow. 



Amputation of the Tongue or a Portion of it.— This opera- 

 tion is only undertaken as a last resource, as an animal which 



Fig. 47. 

 Throat forceps. 



has lost a large piece of its tongue has difficulty both in eating 

 and drinking. If the tip and edges are necrotic (a condition 

 which was frequently seen during the epizootic which occurred 

 amongst dogs during 1898 and 1899), these parts can be readily 

 removed with a pair of scissors or sharp scalpel, being first 

 seized with an ordinary pair of toothed or vulsellum forceps. 

 If a large portion has to be removed chloroform should be 

 administered. When the animal is deeply under its influence 

 the tongue is drawn well forward, the mucous membrane and 

 external muscles are snipped through with scissors, and a double 

 thick silk ligature is passed through the centre of the remaining 

 portion and tied off on either side ; the parts below this are 



1 "Journal of Comparative Pathology and Therapeutics," Vol. X., p. 358. 



