ACUTE DEEP-SEATED GLOSSITIS. 131 



The causes are similar to those of simple stomatitis, and as in animals 

 of the bovine species the tongue is the principal and almost the only 

 organ of prehension, it is particularly exposed to the chance of injury. 



As mechanical injury done by rough fodder first makes its effects 

 felt on the tongue, superficial glossitis is often due to the action of sharp 

 or prickly plants like fiirze, wrest-harrow, thistles, sea-holly, etc. The 

 glumes, awns, and spikelets on certain plants play a similar part. 



Caustic medicinal draughts, hot drinks, and sharp points on the 

 molar teeth may also produce the disease without the rest of the buccal 

 mucous membrane being involved. 



Symptoms. These are extremely simple. There is, first of all, some 

 difficulty in grasping the food and some diminution of appetite, which, 

 however, is more apparent than real, the digestive organs acting well. 

 The second symptom consists in moderate salivation without special 

 characters. 



The local symptoms alone are characteristic. The mucous membrane 

 covering the tongue appears red, swollen, locally inflamed, and painful. 

 The inflamed areas are usually located on the free part near the frsenum 

 or opposite the molar teeth. 



Thorns, foreign bodies, awns or spikelets of rough grasses can often 

 be seen implanted in the tongue, and if the disease has existed for a 

 short time, little ulcerations may not iiuprobably be discovered. 



Diagnosis. The characteristics of this superficial glossitis are suffi- 

 ciently marked to allow of easy diagnosis, and to prevent it being 

 confused with the lesions of actinomycosis or tuberculosis or with the 

 extensive desquamation which accompanies foot-and-mouth disease. 



Prognosis. The prognosis is never grave. Recovery occurs in six 

 to eight days, provided the primary cause be removed. 



Treatment consists in avoiding the use of rough food, in removing 

 foreign bodies implanted in the mucous membrane or in rasping rough 

 and irregular teeth. For the rest, as in stomatitis, mere attention to 

 cleanliness suffices. The mouth is washed out with boiled water, boric 

 acid solution, mixtures of vinegar and water, or with water containing a 

 small percentage of alcohol. 



ACUTE DBEP-SEiTED GLOSSITIS. 



This disease has also been termed parenchymatous and interstitial 

 glossitis, because all the deep-seated tissues, including the, muscles and 

 connective tissue layers are involved in the inflanmiation. 



Causes. The disease may be due to a neglected attack of super- 

 ficial glossitis, to some grave microbic infection, or to excoriation and 

 ulceration of the mucous membrane. Very often it is of traumatic 



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