STOMATITIS 39 



the teeth, the affected part takes on a yellowish 

 or greenish-yellow color. This necrotic tissue is of 

 a pulpy, greasy consistency, and if removed, either 

 by the sloughing process or by force, leaves a 

 large ulcer about one sixteenth of an inch deep, 

 with irregular, ragged edges. ■ 



The walls of the ulcer are hard and hyperemic 

 and raised above the general surface of the gum. As 

 the gangrenous process proceeds, abscesses form in 

 the alveolar process, and the teeth become loose 

 and fall out; in extreme' cases, the jaw itself may 

 become necrotic and portions of the bone exfoliate. 



The morbid process extends from the gums to the 

 lips and to the cheek, corners of the mouth, and 

 in rare cases to the tongue. There is always a 

 profuse salivation, the discharge being ropy, glairy, 

 blood-stained, and of an intolerably fetid odor. 

 There is usually a rise of temperature to 103 degrees 

 Fahrenheit, or even higher if septic absorption takes 

 place, in which case the patient usually dies of 

 septicemia. 



The appetite is generally good, although mastica- 

 tion is both painful and difficult. In cases that run 

 a benign course the necrosis is. usually confined to 

 the mucous membrane, and after the separation of 

 the slough, the ulcers heal rapidly, often being entire- 

 ly well in from eight to ten days. In the case of old, 

 debilitated subjects the disease more often assumes 

 a malignant type, the gangrenous and necrotic proc- 

 esses extend rapidly, and the animal dies from 

 septic absorption. 



Treatment. — All loose and decayed teeth must 

 first be extracted and abscesses evacuated. The 

 mouth must be frequently swabbed with a deodorant 

 mouth wash, such as potassium permanganate in 

 one-per-cent solution or hydrogen peroxid, and after- 



