ON CRAMP IN THE TONGUE IN CATTLE. 
155 
to think that the complaint of which I am speaking may be at- 
tributed to this cause; but in such case no danger of suffoca- 
tion ever arises, because there is no absolute cramp or spasmodic 
affection of the tongue, but, merely, the natural rapid motion which 
is consequent on pain; and, besides, the disease which I have 
been describing is instantaneously cured by the tongue being 
brought into its natural position, whereas in the other case the 
inflammation and pain of the wound often remain for a consider- 
able period. Hence, I think, we may safely conclude that cramp 
alone is the cause of the symptoms I have been describing, and 
all that remains to be discovered is the inducing causes of that 
cramp. 
I cannot give any positive data relative to the duration of the 
attacks. From what I have been able to learn, they evidently vary; 
and half an hour or less, but rarely more, may be considered as the 
average period which they last. 
The termination is invariably death, unless some person is at 
hand who understands the nature of the attack, and promptly ad- 
ministers relief. Tracheotomy, however, would prove beneficial, 
if the disease was properly understood and treated. 
I have frequently been applied to by large cattle-proprietors 
respecting this disease, and asked to give my opinion relative to 
its nature and cause ; but the attacks are so short, that it is almost 
impossible to summon a veterinary surgeon in time for him to be 
of service. A farmer in the neighbourhood once asked me to pre- 
scribe for an ox that had repeated attacks of this disease. I re- 
commended the use of peppermint and alum internally, and directed 
that the upper part of the throat, the under jaw, and the region of 
the kernels of the ear, should be rubbed with mercurial ointment 
and camphor. This treatment had the desired effect, for the animal 
never suffered again from the same complaint. 
Magazin fur die Gesammte Thierheilkunde, 1844, p. 83. 
We may here take into consideration the occasional inflamma- 
tion of THE MUSCULAR TISSUE OF THE TONGUE, an affection of 
which few veterinary writers, with the exception of Vitel and 
Volpi, have made any mention. It is recognized by the name of 
Glossitis. It is occasionally observed among our domestic ani- 
mals, particularly the horse, the ox, and the dog. It is super- 
ficial, profound, primitive, or symptomatic. 
The superficial glossitis is chiefly connected with the mucous 
membrane of the tongue, which becomes red, hot, and painful, in 
some part of its extent, as we sometimes observe in animals af- 
