7^ Surgical Diseases and Surgery of the Dog 



tion must also be paid to alimentation when the animal refuses to 

 eat. When the tongue is much tumefied the swelling may be modi- 

 fied by light scarification of the organ. The incisions are made oa 

 the inferior sulrface, the operator being cariefuJ not to incise 

 too deeply. 



Gangrenous inflammation demands energetic treatment. The 

 sloughing tissue must be removed with forceps and scissors and 

 the entire diseased surface gently cauterized and subsequently treat- 

 ed with disinfectant solutions. Gangrene of the tongue is treated 

 by amputation of the diseased portion, but conservatism should 

 always be observed when surgical interference of this organ is 

 contemplated. 



PARTIAL AMPUTATION OP THE TONGUE. 



For this operation scissors and wire ecraseur are employed. 

 The animal being anesthetized and its jaws immobilized with a 

 speculum, proceed as follows : Depress the muzzle in ordfer to avoid 

 entrance of blood into the air passages. Insert two ligatures in the 

 healthy tissue, one on each side of the median line, by which draw 

 the tongue forward. If necessary, separate the diseased part from 

 the floor of the mouth by dividing the frenum with scissors. Pass a 

 couple of straight needles or pins through the organ at the proposed 

 line of section and apply the loop of the ecraseur behind these. The 

 needles or pins will suffice to keep the loop in the desired position. 

 Then remove the affected part by tightening the wire. Should any 

 hemorrhage supervene, control it by seizing the stump with fixation 

 forceps and draw it far forward which stretches the lingual ar- 

 teries, or ligate the latter. Another method is to use only broad- 

 bladed scissors with a dull edge. 



It must not be forgotten that an animal which has been de- 

 prived of the greater part of its tongue will have difficulty irt drink- 

 ing, and must thereafter be allowed to quench its thirst from a run- 

 ning spigot above the level of its head. 



FOREIGN BODIES. 



These consist principally of fragments of animal or fish bones, 

 pieces of wood, skewers, fish hooks, pins, needles, or other hard sub- 

 stances, which are usually accidentally prehended with the food. 



