78 SWINE PRACTICE 



acute or chronic, diffuse or circumscribed, nonsuppurative or sup- 

 purative. 



Diffuse nonsuppurative subsurface glossitis is usually acute and is 

 the result of infection with streptococci or some septic microorganism. 

 The lesions in this type of glossitis consist of a diffuse, extensive 

 tumefaction of the tongue, which on section evidences enlargement 

 of the blood vessels and abundant accumulations of pus, or other 

 inflammatory products, between the muscle bundles, while the mus- 

 cle tissue presents a parboiled appearance. 



Acute circumscribed subsurface suppurative glossitis partakes of 

 the nature of an abscess. 



Chronic glossitis is most frequently diffuse and is exemplified in 

 cases of diffuse lingual actinomycosis. The lesions consist primarily 

 of an excessive quantity of fibrous tissue which may contract un- 

 equally in different portions of the tongue, thus producing an irregu- 

 larity of the surface of the organ. Portions of the tongue in which 

 excessive quantities of fibrous tissues are developed become dense 

 and hard, and cut with considerable resistance. 



The symptoms evidenced in acute glossitis are difficulty of pre- 

 hension and mastication, irregular movements of the head, champ- 

 ing of the teeth, and in extreme cases refusal of food and drink 

 and the dribbling of saliva or saliva mixed with pus and in some 

 instances there will be more or less blood mixed with the saliva. 



Diffuse suppurative glossitis is not common. It should be treated 

 by mild antiseptics, using agents that are not injurious should they 

 be swallowed. Abscesses of the tongue when so located that it is 

 possible to operate, can be relieved by making a good free incision 

 (lengthwise of the tongue) and permitting the pus to escape, after 

 which the wound should be swabbed with tincture of iodin. Acti- 

 nomycosis of the tongue may be diagnosed by examination of pus, 

 providing pus centers have formed and there is no great develop- 

 ment of fibrous tissue. These cases may be relieved by the admin- 

 istration of potassium iodid in 10 to 15 grain doses once daily for 

 a period of ten days, then withholding the medicine for ten days 

 and repeating for another ten-day period. 



TUMORS 



Lingual tumors are relatively uncommon, but retention or obstruc- 

 tion cvsts have been observed. 



