DISEASES OF THE LIPS AND CHEEKS. 
3 
(2.) ACUTE INFLAMMATION OF THE LIPS AND 
CHEEKS. 
Acute inflammation of the lips in the domesticated animals is fre¬ 
quently caused by licking blistering ointments, by partaking of irritating 
materials, by infectious disorders, like aphtha or stomatitis pustulosa, 
or by such injuries as have previously been referred to. 
Specific inflammations are treated of in works on internal disorders. 
Dogs, being much exposed to infection, sometimes show cellular inflam¬ 
mation of the upper and lower lips after slight injuries. Diseases of the 
skin, like eczema and mange, are not infrequently transmitted to the lips 
as a result of licking the diseased spots. Thence they generally spread 
to the bridge of the nose, producing a dermatitis chronica apostematosa, 
which gives great trouble, especially if the area involved is too great to 
permit of all diseased skin being removed with knife and scissors. The 
follicular inflammation of the lips in young dogs, associated with lymph¬ 
angitis and suppuration in the submaxillary lymphatic glands, which is 
described by Frohner, is probably due to extensive outbreaks of acne 
pustules. A similar affection in an old dachshund was described in the 
Berliner Thierdrztliche Woclienschrift. Death resulted from general 
infection. 
In dogs and cattle, spontaneous gangrene of the cheek occurs, resem¬ 
bling noma of children. In dogs the disease begins with formation of an 
almost invisible eschar at the corner of the mouth; the great swelling 
which simultaneously appears indicating the character of the malady. 
Gangrene makes rapid progress, often attaining the size of a florin in a 
few days. The skin is soft, greyish-brown, and easily removable ; the sub¬ 
maxillary lymph glands are swollen, and fever and severe salivation exist. 
In dogs the process seldom terminates before destroying a large portion of 
the cheek. The appearance of granulations and of pus formation on the 
boundary indicate the commencement of healing. After the gangrenous 
portion sloughs, the molars may become visible, and great difficulty exist 
in taking fluids. In spite of this, complete recovery usually occurs ; diffi¬ 
culty in feeding disappears, and even the animal’s outward appearance 
does not permanently suffer. The disease is rare in dogs, and its cause 
is as little understood as that of noma in the human subject, though it 
probably consists in infection by a specific micro-organism. 
Treatment. The parts should at once be disinfected, preferably with 
the cautery. Where this is impossible, lotions of permanganate of potas¬ 
sium or carbolic acid, sublimate or creolin can be applied. Thin fluid 
nourishment is indicated, and may be given from a bottle. As soon as 
the defect in the cheek interferes with feeding, fluid or semisolid nutri¬ 
ment becomes indispensable. If required, animal broths may be given. 
b 2 
