DISEASES OF THE MOUTH AND TONGUE. 51 



AFFECTIONS OF THE TONGUE. 



GLOSSITIS. 



Dogs are very liable to injuries of the tongue, resulting in 

 severe inflammatory action of its membrane or substance 

 (glossitis). This frequently occurs from its being bitten dur- 

 ing an attack of epilepsy, in devouring sharp substances, or 

 from irritation and laceration produced from broken teeth, 

 stings, or the contact of acrid matters. 



Symptoms, — Pain, swelling, increased salivation, difficulty 

 of deglutition, intense thirst, and more or less constitutional 

 disturbance. 



Treatment. — Warm fomentations, scarification, or, if pos- 

 sible, the application of leeches — which in small dogs, when 

 gagged, is not difficult. If from the teeth, filing or removal. 

 A dose of aperient medicine should be administered, and the 

 food consist of warm slops. 



ULCERS. 



These usually arise from excessive deposit of tartar on, or 

 decay of, the teeth, or from gastric derangement. 



Treatment. — If from tartar, the teeth should be scaled ; if 

 from decay, removed. Where they are due to gastric de- 

 rangement, aperient medicine, with restricted plain diet, must 

 be prescribed. If the ulcers do not disappear under 'this 

 treatment, they may be occasionally touched with lunar 

 caustic. 



BLAIN, 



Or enlargement of the tongue, with the presence of vesicles 

 on its lateral and under surface, is a disease to which the 



