DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE OEGANS. 61 



membrane, or, if severe, may produce lesions much more extensive, 

 such as lacerations, abscesses, etc These latter would require sur- 

 gical treatment, but for the simpler forms of inflammation of the 

 tongue the treatment recommended for stomatitis should be followed. 



SALIVATION (PTYALISM). 



Ptyalism, or salivation, consists in an abnormal and excessive se- 

 cretion of saliva. This is often seen as a symptom of irregular teeth ; 

 inflammation of the mouth or tongue, or of the use of such medicines 

 as lobelia, mercury, and many others. Some feeds, such as clover, 

 and particularly second crop, produce it; foreign bodies, such as 

 nails, wheat chaff, and corncobs becoming lodged in the mouth, also 

 are causes. If the cause is removed no further attention is necessary, 

 as a rule. Astringent washes may be applied to the mouth as a 

 gargle or by means of a sponge. 



PHARYNGITIS. 



Pharyngitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane lining 

 of the pharynx or throat. It rarely exists unless accompanied with 

 stomatitis or laryngitis, especially the latter. In those rare instances 

 in which the inflammation is mostly confined to the pharynx are 

 noticed febrile symptoms— difficulty of swallowing either liquids or 

 solids ; there is but little cough except when trying to swallow ; there 

 is no soreness on pressure over larynx (head of the windpipe). In- 

 creased flow of saliva, difficulty of swallowing liquids in particular, 

 and cough only when attempting to swallow, are the symptoms best 

 marked in pharyngitis. In some cases the throat becomes gangrenous 

 and the disease ends in death. For treatment a wet sheet should be 

 wrapped around the throat and covered with rubber sheeting and a 

 warm blanket. This should be changed three times daily; or the 

 region of the throat may be rubbed with mercurial ointment twice 

 daily until the skin becomes irritated, but no longer; chlorate of 

 potash may be given in 2-dram doses four times daily, mixed with 

 flaxseed meal or licorice-root powder and honey, as an electuary. 

 Soft feeds should be given, and fresh water should be constantly 

 before the horse. 



PAEALTSIS or THE PHARYNX. 



Paralysis of the pharynx, or, as it is commonly called, " paralysis 

 of the throat," is a rare but very serious disease. The symptoms are 

 as follows : The horse will constantly try to eat or drink, but will be 

 unable to do so; if water is offered him from a pail he will ap- 

 parently drink with avidity, but the quantity of water in the pail 

 will remain about the same ; he will continue by the hour to try to 

 drink ; if he can get any fluid into the back part of the mouth it will 

 come out at once through the nose. Feeds also return through the 



