38 CANINE MEDICINE AND SURGERY 



and loose teeth vmust be removed and the tartar 

 cleaned from the remaining teeth. In teething, the 

 inflamed gums may be lanced. 



Any of the following solutions constitutes a useful 

 mouth wash for this condition : 



1. Potassium permanganate, one-per-cent solution. 



2. Peroxid of hydrogen, one to five parts water. 



3. Borax, 130 grains ; sodium bicarbonate, 130 

 grains ; carbolic acid, twenty-five grains ; glycerin, five 

 one-half drams, and water to make twenty fluid 

 ounces. 



Ulcers may be touched with tincture of iodin or 

 a strong solution of alum. The tender gums may 

 be painted with a tincture of myrrh, or one part 

 tannic acid to four parts glycerin. 



Stomatitis Ulcerosa, or Necrotic Stomatitis 



This condition is a necrotic inflammation of the 

 mucous membrane of the mouth. It attacks the 

 gums more frequently than other parts. 



Cause. — This serious condition is generally seen 

 in old, debilitated dogs and in weakly, anemic, and 

 pampered animals of all ages. It is usually associ- 

 ated with decayed teeth, and is no doubt due to 

 some microorganism, probably the Bacillus necro- 

 phorus, or possibly to various organisms. It is 

 possible that the "Black Tongue" of the Southern 

 states is a modified (intestinal), type of this same 

 infection. 



Symptoms. — The gums in the neighborhood of 

 certain teeth become swollen, red, and painful to 

 the touch. In a day or so there is marked increase 

 of the swelling, and the affected gum is of a dark 

 red, brown-red, or of a purplish hue, while the tis- 

 sue afifected is spongy, bleeds on the slightest pres- 

 sure, and is seen to have receded from the teeth. 

 Later, beginning with the swollen region next to 



