The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-12-25

this condition OF weakness being az
gravated through inability of tn,
| dog to take nourishment.
Various investigators have cor,
sidered the disease Identical witt
the so-called typhcs of dogs as oc
curing in Europe; others have
attributed it to the eating ofpusrit
carcaSscs in the field, believing that
infection takes place through wounds
in the mouth from eating bones
with sharp points. As the germ of
necrosis has been found in the mouth
in certain OF these cases, il has been
assumed by some thatit may be 2
necrotic condition. At least one
investigator, who has studied the
trouble, is of the opinion thai
II may b. a result of infestation
with hookworms, and is reported to
have been successful in the treat
ment of black tongue by the admin
istration of full doses Of thymol,
followed by purgative dose of
epson salts. The true nature OF
black tongue, however. has never
been determined, and further re-
search will be Necessary to establish
its cause. -.
In majority of cases the disease
terminates in death, and treatment
appears to be OF little avail except
when applied in the very early stages.
Various methods O; treatment have
been employed. According 10 spe-
cialists of the United States Depart
ment If Agriculture it appears
thst the best results are obtained by !
the prompt use of disinfectants in
the mouth of the. affected animal
before the disease has advanced to |
any appreciable extent. For this
purpose one ounce of alkaline an
which is listed in the
Nationd Formulary Of the American
Pharmaceutical Association, and can
be procured from a druggist, may
be added two ounces of distilled
water, the resulting mixture to lie
sprayed into the m outh with a small
syringe.
Washing of the mouth with a
solution Of potassium permanganate.
part to 500 parts Of water, three
times daily may also prove beneficial.
An offensive diarrhea is frequently
associated with the disease, and to
'elieve this condition it is advisable
o administer 5-grain doses of salol
times dlily, or zinc-sulphocarbolate
n doses of from 5 to 20 grains
everal tines daily.
If the dog is unable to eat. a :
mixture # egg and milk should be /,
'iveri at east twice daily, by pour
ng it int the animals mouth. A
In viewof the possible infectious
nature If the disease, prompt re-
noval of IN affected dog from other
anines aid a careful and frequent A
of the kennels is recon- "
lended. Methods of disinfection
re describes in Farmers Bulletin u
80. Practical Methods of Disin- Il
Getting St.bles." This bulletin can p
e obtaind free of charge by apply L
g to the kitor and Chief, Division i
Publications, United States De-
artnent # Agriculture.
A Florha veterinarian, expert u
need in treating this disease :
elieves th!t 10 drops of nitro-mu-'i
iatic acid added to one-hai. lint of
la;er, and given as the exclusive b,
'ater drin, of dogs, ten Is to prevent in
he affection and also has some value q,
} curati'e ag mt. AS the acid n,
as some disinfecting properties, :
nd acts asan aid to digestion, it is
ot improbable that its use as sugl
ested maybe an advantage in dog
ennels in Teas where black torgae G,
prevalent ~
Serums, including d1phtheria an pr
toxin, have been ad hinistered in tn
lses of tbs disease, tut without :.
ltisfactory results, and until some W W
gam is discovered or the W
ne natureof the disease !, under nc
God there an be no reliance upon =,
reventive O curative agents Of this &
nd.