106 THE DISEASES OF THE DOG. 



and suggests free incisions into the vesicles and frequent 

 washing of the mouth with a diluted solution of chlorinated 

 lime, one part of the saturated solution and eleven of 

 water, and subsequent astringent lotions. Generally tonics 

 and nourishing food are required. Touatfc says the 

 disease is most frequent in spring and summer, and 

 usually assumes an epidemic form. It is evident that, at 

 any rate as concerns cattle, he wrote about foot-and-mouth 

 disease. I have not seen any cases of this disorder ; Hill 

 mentions it, but his account reads like a copy of Youatt. • 

 Eantjla is sometimes seen in carnivores ; in them the 

 submaxillary gland is very large and the opening of its 

 duct is apt to become occluded, whether by congestion of 

 the mucous membrane in the mouth or by concretions. 

 Then a globular swelling like a cyst appears beneath the 

 front of the tongue. It may be removed by incision and 

 is not likely to recur. The salivary apparatus is well 

 developed and active in the dog as compared with the 

 amount of starchy elements in his food, but the pre- 

 dominance in amount of saliva is of the viscid kinds of 

 that fluid which perform mechanical functions, such as 

 to keep the mouth moist and to lubricate the food pas- 



Ptyalism, or hypersalwation, is the result of too free use 

 of mercury compounds, whether internally or externally ; 

 in the latter case especially when the raw condition of 

 the skin in an advanced stage of mange has not been 

 fully considered. The mercury causes soreness of the 

 gums, looseness and discolouration of the teeth, swelling of 

 the salivary glands, fetor of the saliva, and disease of the 

 bones, which will hereafter be considered. It also may 

 give rise to such constitutional symptoms as will be 

 mentioned under the heading " Mercurial Poisoning." It 

 must be remembered that profuse salivation is often due 

 to disease of the mouth. The history of the case must 

 lead us to a correct diagnosis. In cases of ptyalism due 

 to mercury poisoning small doses of iodide of potassium 

 prove markedly beneficial. The free administration of 

 dilute sulphuric acid is also advocated. 



