13t 
THE VETERINARY SCIENCE 
12. Inflammation of the Tongue (Glossitis). 
This is not a very common disease. 
Causes. — It is sometimes caused by handling the tongue 
rough, by pulling too hard when taking it out of the mouth, 
or by giving irritating medicines which are not diluted 
enough with water; by eating poisonous grasses or some- 
times by a thorn sticking in the tongue 
Symptoms. — There is a flow of saliva from the moutli 
The animal cannot chew his food well, an^ there is difficulty 
in swallowing and breathing. The tongue becomes red and 
is painful when pressed upon, is very much swollen, and in 
some cases sticks out of the mouth. There is a general 
feverish condition and after a few days small boils contaming 
matter begin to form around the tongue. The lining covering 
the tongue becomes dry and cracked in several places. If not 
relieved he will soon die of starvation, because of being 
unable to eat. 
Treatment. — If caused by a thorn or any foreign sub 
stance, remove it and give a dose of laxative medicine, say a 
pint of raw linseed oil. Bathe and gargle the tongue witli 
the following: 
Laudanum 1 ounce, or 4 dessertspoonfuls^ 
Gargle or bathe the tongue three or four times a day, 
and blister in the space under the jaws with a mustard 
plaster. If the tongue is swollen very much it is well to lance 
it with a knife and allow the watery matter to escape, and 
also to open those of the little boils that have matter in them 
and let it escape. Feed soft food with plenty of boiled flax- 
seed in it, as it has a soothing effect on the tongue. Follow 
up with the following powder: 
Nitrate of Potash or Saltpetre ^ pound. 
Sulphur 54 pound. 
Pulverized Alum 14 pound. 
Mix thoroughly and give a teaspoonful on the tongue 
three times a day. These medicines serve two purposes — to 
gargle and heal the tongue as well as build up the system. 
Pulverized Alum 
Water 
1 "teaspoonful. 
1 pint. 
