DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 83 



is usually considerable pain when the gland area is palpated, and 

 the animal may refuse to eat because of the distress occasioned by 

 movement of the jaws. In docile swine the pain may be relieved 

 by the local application of hot water or poultices. Soft slop foods 

 should be provided. If an abscess develops it should be opened 

 and treated as any ordinary abscess. 



Tonsils 



The tonsillar tissvie of swine is prone to either acute or chronic 

 inflammation. 



TONSILLITIS 



Acute tonsillitis is closely associated with acute pharyngitis, and 

 the cause is probably most frequently infectious in character. The 

 tonsillar tissue becomes tumefied and projects above the surface, 

 while the buccal mucous membrane is hot and red. The affected 

 animals are indisposed and dull, and have a tendency to extend 

 the head and elevate the snout. There is usually a rise of tem- 

 perature. Deglutition is difficult and may be associated with gag- 

 ging and sometimes with vomition. There may be spasmodic 

 coughing. 



The treatment consists, in the mild eases, in applying soothing 

 astringents; in the more severe cases, tincture of iron chlorid may 

 be used. Laxatives should be given to keep the bowels in an active 

 state, and the animals should be placed in clean, well-ventilated 

 quarters, and given liquid and easily digested foods. 



Chronic tonsillitis is less common than the acute form. It is 

 characterized by distention of the tonsillar tissue, by accumulated 

 desiccated pus or by calcareous masses in the tonsillar crypts. 



Pharynx 



The pharynx, like the mouth, is subject to traumatisms, and infec- 

 tion. Probably the most frequent injury of the pharynx is due to 

 the use of the balling gun. The cul-de-sac in the posterior portion 

 of the pharynx is the usual location of injuries induced by the ball- 

 ing gun. It is probable that in the majority of instances there is 

 no direct injury inflicted but the capsule is deposited in the cul-de- 

 sac and the capsule is soon dissolved and the contents liberated. 

 If the capsule contained irritants or erosives, such as calomel, 

 intense inflammation will be established. Not infrequently such 

 drugs will erode the mucous membrane of the cul-de-sac and the 



