16 SPECIAL CATTLE THERAPY 



Actinomycosis involving the tongue usually does not 

 produce noticeable symptoms until it is quite exten- 

 sive. When the condition does attract attention it is 

 usually seen that the cow has difficulty in masticating 

 her food. The mouth is constantly held partly open 

 and saliva is continually dripping from the opening. 

 The tongue seems too large for the mouth and when 

 the veterinarian examines it he finds that it feels more 

 or less solid or "woody." When the disease has pro- 

 gressed to this stage it is only a matter of a short 

 time until the cow finds eating an impossibility and if 

 the condition is not properly treated the animal dies 

 of inanition. 



The treatment of actinoriiycosis is very satisfactory 

 when the disease has confined itself to soft tissue. 

 When it has invaded the dense tissues, bone or par- 

 tilage, the treatment is not so satisfactory. 



In that form which asserts itself in the form of a 

 tumor or bunch at or near the angle of the jaw the 

 treatment begins with incision of the tumor. That 

 this may be safely and thoroughly done it is necessary 

 to cast the patient. It is almost impossible to so con- 

 fine a cow in the standing position that the necessary 

 steps in the treatment can be satisfactorily and safely 

 performed. Having cast the patient, the veterinarian 

 incises the tumor near the most dependent part, using 

 an abscess knife and making the incision not more 

 than one inch in length. The incision is carried well 

 into the center of the tumor and the interior is then 

 thoroughly curetted. This is a painful operation and 

 is best performed under anesthetics. When this has 

 been done a gauze or cotton wad, which has been sat- 

 urated in a ten per cent solution of chromium trioxid, 

 is packed firmly into the cavity and the animal is 

 allowed to get up. 



