SEPTIC INFLAMMATION OF THE TONGUE. 
15 
(B) ACUTE INFLAMMATION OF THE TONGUE (GLOSSITIS 
ACUTA). 
Compared with injuries produced by external agencies, acute inflam¬ 
matory processes in the tongue are seldom seen ; but specific inflamma¬ 
tions, the result of infection, occasionally occur, especially in cattle and 
horses. The condition termed gloss-anthrax, formerly regarded as a 
form of anthrax, occurs also in “ wildseuche ,” a peculiar epizootic showing 
many points of resemblance to anthrax. 
Infection is particularly favoured by hard prickly fodder. Cattle and 
horses usually suffer in consequence from acute glossitis, which often 
becomes enzootic, and is clearly due to the entrance of pathological 
micro-organisms. That septic processes and cellular inflammation may 
extend from the pharynx to the tongue is shown by Fiirstenberg’s 
observations on sheep. 
The tongue swells at some particular spot and becomes hard and 
painful. The swelling increases, feeding becomes difficult, and salivation 
soon sets in. In cattle, excessive oedema about the pharynx occurs at an 
early stage, and the lymph glands become swollen. Should an abscess 
form in a superficial position the pus is usually discharged into the 
mouth, but deep-seated abscesses of the tongue often break in the 
submaxillary space, and in cattle discharge a peculiarly offensive pus. 
Singard observed a similar disease in young cattle leading to necrosis of the 
tongue ; and reports finding bacilli in the necrotic parts, which, even after many 
cultivations, reproduced the disease. Gresswell described an enzootic glossitis 
terminating in necrosis, and stated having found bacilli which were identical 
in appearance with those of malignant oedema. Stockfleth also gives an 
account of gangrenous glossitis in cattle and horses. Even in 1787 the 
municipality of Detmold gave directions concerning the measures to be taken 
to check a disease of the tongue in horned cattle and horses, which, from the 
description given, appears to have been an exceedingly acute and rapid 
gangrenous process. The animals were said frequently to die in 24 hours. 
Scarifications were recommended. Kolb noticed in cattle an inflammation of 
the tongue characterised by severe salivation and oedema of the pharynx, with 
painful swellings on the fraenum linguae varying in size from a pigeon’s to a 
hen’s egg. The swellings where scarified soon healed, otherwise they formed 
abscesses with foetid contents. Kehrs reports a similar condition in horses. 
Diagnosis and treatment must be founded on the character and extent 
of the disease. In general, scarification is indicated, to allow disease 
products to escape and prevent necrosis. Should fluctuation appear, 
recourse must at once be had to the knife. After treatment consists in 
thorough local disinfection, and feeding with nutritious fluids or semi¬ 
solids. 
