ULCERATIVE STOMATITIS, 



21 



to designate any vesicular eruption on the mucous membrane of the 

 mouth. According to Bohn, aphthae consists of a croupous inflam- 

 mation limited to the mucous membrane. It is characterized by a 

 fibrinous exudate, pseudo-diphtheritic, while the vesicular lesion 

 of catarrhal stomatitis consists of a sub-epithelial serous collection. 

 The type of aphthae is furnished by aphthous fever. 



Aside from this contagious disease, it is not certain that aphthae 

 is developed in our domestic animals. 



It is probable that the aphthœ or spongeoles of the mouth, described 

 by HfTtwig in his Treatise on the Diseases of Dogs, are false aphthae. 

 We have never recognized them in the horse or dog. Moreover, 

 all authors agree that the transmission of aphthous fever to these 

 two species is extremely rare. 



Anacker has mentioned the possibility of confounding aphthous 

 fever with the vesicular form of catarrhal stomatitis. Zeilinger^ 

 and Kohler^ have seen aphthous fever in the horse. Haubner, 

 Uhlich, and Adam have noticed the transmission to the dog and 

 cat. See Aphthous Fever. (See also the article of Cauvet^ upon 

 the aphthae of the horse.) 



3. Ulcerative Stomatitis. 



Ulcerative stomatitis is a necrotic inflammation of the mucous 

 membrane of the mouth, and especially of the gums. Anatomi- 

 cally it constitutes a higher grade of the aphthous process than 

 the preceding form, and is recognized by the formation of ulcer- 

 ations upon the mucous membrane. 



Etiology. Traumatisms sometimes determine ulcerative stoma- 

 titis. It is often found in weak anemic dogs, and on those of 

 weak and delicate constitution, and it has been observed that the 

 smaller breeds are particularly predisposed to it. Previous dis- 

 eases (such as gastro-enteritis, rickets, etc.) leaving the organism 

 in a weak condition often help to develop it. In the cat it may 

 be produced by the same causes. The ulcerations accompanying 

 this form of stomatitis have been wrongly called scorbutic 

 (Hertwig), for they may be seen to change rapidly in animals 

 which are otherwise perfectly healthy, having never shown any 

 hemorrhage of the mucous membrane (see Scorbutus). Their 



1 Zeilinger, Adam's Wochenschr., 1864. 2 Kohler (communication). 



3 Cauvet, Journ. du Midi, 1861. 



