18 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS. 



1. Simple Catarrh of the Mucous Membrane of the Mouth: 

 Erythematous (Erysipelatous) Catarrhal Stomatitis. 



Etiology. Erythematous stomatitis is observed in all our 

 domestic animals, and particularly in the horse, whenever through 

 the influence of any cause the prehension of food is interfered 

 with for a sufficient length of time. It is easily produced by the 

 different diseases of the digestive organs : the epithelium of the 

 mucous membrane of the mouth, not being scoured off by the 

 alimentary substance as it is exfoliated, decomposes in situ, and 

 becomes an irritating agent. It is also frequently the result of 

 the anorexia which accompanies the ordinary febrile diseases of 

 long duration, in which condition both the decrease in the salivary 

 secretion and the morbid properties of the saliva itself, especially 

 favor the decomposition of the desquamated epithelium. 



The pathogenic influence of various fungi introduced with the 

 food is well known. Special mention is to be made of the mouldi- 

 ness of oats and fodder, grain rust (Puccinia graminis), blight or 

 black rust (Erysiphe communis), rape fungus {Polydesmus exitiosus), 

 brown rust of grain (TlUetia caries). Ziirn ascribes these rusts 

 especially to Oïdium albicans. We may also recognize the ex- 

 istence of a stomatitis (erysipelatous), due to eating hay that is 

 mixed with nettles {Bombyx, or Onethocampa processionea). 



Stomatitis of dentition is probably due to traumatisms caused 

 by the exfoliation t)f the teeth from their alveolar cavities, and to 

 hyperemia and inflammation of the gums. 



It has also been ascribed as due to the action of cold, but 

 stomatitis arising from this cause is extremely doubtful. 



Symptoms. These vary according to the gravity of the disease. 

 In mild cases we observe at the beginning a more or less marked 

 dryness, and an elevation of the temperature of the mucous sur- 

 faces; later this is covered with a slimy matter, grayish, thin, 

 bullous, and spumous, especially abundant on the upper surface 

 of the tongue. The mucous membrane of the lips and cheeks is 

 injected and of a more or less dark-red color (erythematous stom- 

 atitis) ; the anterior part of the palate may be tumefied by stasis 

 in the venous circulation of the very vascular tissues of the sub- 

 mucous membranes ; the mouth exhales a fetid odor. 



The coated tongue is the result of an exaggerated epithelial 

 production, due to the catarrhal condition of the mucous mem- 



