WOODEN TONGUE.

Southland Times, Issue 19277, 23 June 1924, Page 2

WOODEN TONGUE.

CAUSE AND TREATMENT. This disease, known professionally as actinomycosis, is more common in some districts than others. It may be looked upon as a merbid change in the tissues of the affected parts, due to a micro-organism—-the Ray fungus (actinomyces). This fungus is found originally on plants and seems capable of entering the body in various ways. Although the z tongue and bones of the fact are the most frequent seats of the disease, it has been discovered between the vegetable fibres of broken parts of barley imbedded in the gums. It is generally supposed that transmission takes place by the fungus becoming lodged in small wounds of the membrane of the tongue and mouth generally, or in the sockets of the teeth during the shedding of the milk teeth, and develops in these centres. Cattle are most susceptible to the disease, although other domestic animals and human beings are also subject. When the tongue is the seat of the disease it is known as “wooden tongue,” but when it is located in the bones of the face or jaws it is known in different counties under different names, such as “cancer,” “wens,” and “lumpy” or “big jaw.” it is said that, as a rule, cattle become affected only when on dry food, but, in my experience, the fungus of the disease is more often absorbed by animals when grazing on marshy or low-lying land, and develops there or more rapidly after being housed and fed on dry food. Feeding on barley straw or other rough foods may also be considered as contributory causes. It seems that this food covered with the fungus penetrates between the teeth and also into the gums and the tongue. NOT CONTAGIOUS. Actinomycosis does not appear to be a contagious disease, and the chances of its transmission by inoculation are very renapte, but when a number of animals are gracing on the same land and fed on the same' dry food one or more of them may develop the disease, the same causes being in operation in each case. Cattle of all ages, both male and female, are equally liable to attack. When the tongue of the animal is affected the first noticeable symptoms are slobbering and continuous writing of the jaws although no fresh food is taken into the mouth. This may go on for some time with frothy saliva dribbling from the mouth and falling on the ground or the manger as the case may be, the animdd protruding the nose all the time and rolling its tongue about in its efforts to pass the food on to the molar teeth. The animal Znses flesh rapidly, although there are no general symptoms of other organic trouble. HOW THE ANIMAL D 3 AFFECTED. On examination a pellet of food will be found lodged in the roof of the mouth saturated with saliva having a isour or foetid smell. When this is remove'd the tongue will be found to be enlarged, hard in places, lying straight in the mouth with diminished power of use for collecting the food or passing it on to the molar teeth for mastication. As the case advances the tongue will protrude from the mouth with a swelling under and between the jaws; the sides of the tongue and the thick part at the back of the mouth will now show raised brown spots with small yellow noduies. these nodules are round, fibrous and hard to the touch; the tongue has now undergone considerable change in its structure, and finally there is a hardened and stiffened condition of the organ, giving rise to the term of “wooden tongue.” Care should be taken to arrive at. a correct diagnosis of the disease and not to confound it with other affections of the mouth and tongue which may be mistaken for actinomycosis. There should be but little difficulty, however, in this if car etui examination is made on the lines indicated. When the bones of the face are affected a swelling appears on either the upper or lower jaws which is hot and painful, and on examination is found to be immovable and fixed to that part of the bone immediately underneath. This swelling increases m size, although slow in its growth, but does not, at any stage, materially prevent the animal from feeding. When the disease is allowed to go on to an advanced stage the molar teeth may be found loosened in their sockets and at times can be hfted out with the finger and thumb. The swelling becomes softened in places, the skin eventually bursts, and a disagreeable discharge exudes from the honeycombed cells of the diseased bone. TREATMENT. The treatment in all ca.-<>- of actinomycosis is to give the animal daily a quarter of an ounce of iodide of potassium in half a pint of water for ten days or a fortnight, lhen when the disease is confined to the tongue and the unfavourable symptoms are noticed to be fast disappearing the doses may be reduced by half. Favourable symptoms under this treatment are seen by the tongue getting smaller and softer, cessation of the dribbling of saliva, food being taken more readily without lodgment in the mouth, and the animal being able to pass its foed readily to the molar teeth. The most favourable symptom is when the animal can protrude the tongue into the nostrils to clear them in the ordinary way. The medicinal treatment may then be discontinued, but close observation should be kept for any recurrence of unfavourable symptoms which may necftaitate a further continuance of the drug. When the disease is located in the bones of the face or jaw curative measures will be less successful unless takeu in hand before the spongy condition of the bone has commenced. In addition to the internal medicinal treatment already advocated the hair should be closely clipped away from over the swelling and be well blistered with red iodide of mercury ointment or James’s blister. Should the skin burst the discharge should be cleaned away with warm water or peroxide of hydrogen and a small quantity of tincture of iodine injected daily into the sinuses of the bone with a small glass syringe so long as the opening will allow of its being done. Favourable symptoms will be a reduction in the size of the swelling and a sunken scar fully healed at the point wbecc Ufi burst occurred,

Nan-success in the treatment of these forme of the disease will probally be due either to impatience or neglect on the part of the attendant or to mistaken economy in the use of expensive drugs. There are other forms of the disease in which surgical treatment is necessary and are bert left in the hands of a professional man.