PHARYNGITIS. 



37 



When inflammation of the ganglions resnlts in abscess forma- 

 tion, without a breaking through of pus, indurations, caseations^ 

 and calcifications are produced, and a cure will always be incom- 

 plete ; consecutive hypertrophies may more or less interfere with 

 breathing or induce paralysis of the pharynx. 



Pneumonia is a very serious complication, but one that is quite 

 common in phlegmonous and necrotic pharyngitis ; death often 

 results from it. As the possibility of this complication always 

 exists in serious cases, the veterinarian should never neglect to 

 examine the chest with the greatest minuteness. Pulmonary in- 

 flammation is caused by foreign bodies in most cases, and it 

 rapidly terminates in gangrene; sometimes it is due to false deg- 

 lutition, at other times it is the result of unskilful administration 

 of some drink. It may also be due to emboli starting from 

 necrotic centres (metastatic pneumonia). 



Differential diagnosis. A diagnosis of confirmed pharyngitis 

 is easy; it is not at all the same thing, however, at the outset, 

 or when complications exist. It may be mistaken for foreign 

 bodies encysted in the region, or fixed upon the mucous membrane, 

 also with tumors of the pharynx, which interfere with deglutition 

 (actinomycomas, tuberculous productions in the ox, sarcomas in 

 dogs), with hypertrophy of the soft palate, etc. Spasms, contrac- 

 tions, and paralysis of the pharynx are indicated by symptoms 

 similar to those of pharyngitis. Parotiditis, glossitis, stomatitis, 

 purulent collection of the guttural pouches, ptyalism, hydrophobia, 

 and strangles, may all induce diagnostic error. 



Prognosis. It varies with the intensity and extent of the in- 

 flammation and the existing complications. A great deal of care 

 is needed in serious cases ; oedema of the glottis and gangrenous 

 pneumonia may appear at any time. Laryngitis must also be 

 taken into serious consideration. 



Treatment. Healthy animals ought to be separated from the 

 sick as soon as pharyngitis assumes a contagious character; the 

 latter should be placed in a well-ventilated stable, with mild tem- 

 perature, and protected from draughts. We should give them 

 green food, or very fine hay, bran or flour slop ; oats and cut straw 

 mu^ be discontinued ; fresh water should be left within the reach 

 of the animals. The lips and nostrils must be kept perfectly 

 clean. The mouth must be washed frequently with plain fresh 

 water or with a slight addition of vinegar, sea-salt, chlorate of 



