34 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



quantity of mucus and saliva in the moutli, escaping in long trans- 

 parent threads from the buccal orifice, soiling the lips and sur- 

 rounding objects. When these secretions are retained in the buccal 

 cavity they become heated and acquire an offensive odor, due to 

 decomposition of the epithelial cells and fluids. 



The animals prefer soft and liquid food to fodder ; the latter, 

 after a prolonged mastication, is usually passed in the shape of 

 patulous balls, coated with mucus. Drinks are rejected through 

 the nose; they contain alimentary matters and nasal mucus, which 

 mixture is very often colored green by the chlorophyll. This 

 rejection constitutes the pathognomonic symptom of pharyngitis. 

 It is the result of a functional defect, through paresis or true 

 paralysis of the muscles of deglutition. This paresis is defined by 

 the serous infiltration, and the participation of all the muscular 

 tissues in the inflammatory process. This condition is mainly 

 due to the imperfect contraction of the pharyngo-staphylinus. 



The knowledge of this mechanism of rejection, based upon 

 pathological anatomy, permits us to affirm that the rejection of a 

 quantity of matter through the nasal cavities is a symptom of 

 serious pharyngitis, that is to say, submucous and phlegmonous. 



Deglutition of liquids is painful, and generally the animals 

 drink little, notwithstanding that they show intense thirst. They 

 like to play with water put before them ; sometimes you see them 

 perform the act of deglutition, without any of the fluid passing 

 into the stomach. 



The mouth is hot, its mucous membrane red, and the tongue 

 coated. The examination of the pharynx, in small animals, allows 

 us to see the alterations mentioned above. 



The pituitary membrane has a catarrhal aspect, especially in the 

 neighborhood of the guttural orifices. A serous, spumous dis- 

 charge can be seen at the very beginning of the disease, which 

 becomes muco-purulent, whitish, gray, yellow, or green, and dries 

 around the circumference of the nostrils. 



The conjunctiva is more or less congested. 



The cough is dry and irregular from the start ; later it becomes 

 heavier. Coughing is always painful, and the animals try to 

 avoid it. When it is provoked, the mouth is emptied of its muco- 

 salivary contents mixed with food. Its cause must be looked for 

 in the propagation of an inflammation to the nasal mucous mem- 

 brane, or in irritation exercised by the exudates upon the pharyn- 



