12 
DISEASES OF THE MOUTH. 
animal prevented, either by muzzling or tying up short, from again 
fouling the parts. 
The tongue is sometimes strangulated by a cord or rubber band ; 
this has repeatedly been seen, both in horses and dogs. Either 
from ill-will and a desire to injure the owner, or with the view of 
keeping the horse quiet during cleaning, or preventing its protruding 
the tongue, a piece of string is tied round it. Ivirchner relates a 
remarkable case of the kind in a cow, where the tongue became snared 
in consequence of chewing some string. In dogs and cats, sections of 
blood-vessels or elastic bands sometimes slip on to the tongue and 
remain fast. In one of the two cases described by Barrier, a section of 
aorta was found encircling the tongue, which was necrotic. Carrucci 
relates a similar case, where the tongue was swollen to four times its 
normal size. Ivitt, when making a post-mortem examination of a goat, 
found an iron ring, f inch broad and 2f inches in circumference, firmly 
fixed round the tongue. The animal had shown difficulty in eating and 
was finally killed. 
Such a condition is recognised at the first glance by the great swelling 
and bluisli-red colour of the tongue. The affected portion is sharply 
defined posteriorly and the adjoining part is still perfectly normal: closer 
examination discovers the encircling object, which may at first be covered 
by the swelling. The condition is one of strangulation, and, if not re¬ 
lieved, necrosis of the tongue results from interference with circulation 
and nutrition. But this necrosis does not always set in rapidly, and 
healing sometimes occurs, even where the tongue is already insensible 
and cold, and of a bluish-black colour. In these cases, however, 
the surface of the mucous membrane is destroyed and sloughs away 
later. 
Treatment. The first thing is to remove the foreign body. Some¬ 
times this is sufficient, but not always so, for the mucous membrane, 
being relatively thick and strong, is unable to yield to the extent 
required by the excessive swelling, and the tongue runs a risk of becom¬ 
ing necrotic. In such cases, scarification is advisable, longitudinal 
incisions being made with the bistoury over the whole swelling, and to 
the extent of half its thickness. Deeper incisions might wound the 
hypoglossal artery, and give rise to profuse and dangerous bleeding. 
The swelling generally subsides rapidly after this operation, but at times 
may continue for several days. Bathing with alum solution assists 
healing and checks putrefactive changes. As long as much swelling 
remains, fluid nourishment must be given, and in cats and dogs this 
may appropriately be administered as a drench. 
