The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1916-01-04
INVESTIGATING BLACK
: TONGUE OF THE DOG
,orcr,LIsTs OF UNITED STATES
nD,RTNIENT OF AGRICULT-
mn SUGGEST TREATMENT.
PECULIAR TO THE SOUTH

~
o Has Killed Many Valuable
poos in and Near Dawson, and 1t
Usually Terminates in Death Un-
,a,s treatment Is Applied Early.
Many valuable dogs owned in and
~ nawson have died from black
~ro q deadly disease among the
onira tribe, and the following article
4ha disease and it's treatment by
-,orts of the United States depart
loant Of agriculture, sent to Inc
for publication, will be read
,;tb interest by dog owners:
Tbo disease known as black tongue
lbiob is apparently peculiar to the
thorn states, results in a heavy
,o,taIitv among dogs in that section
IOnv valuable hunting dogs nave
~ lost from this cause. Recent
.pnorts Indicate it's occurrence in Ala
ma Arkansas, Florida, Georgia.
Aonisiana. Mississippi, North Caro-
ro Oklahoma, South Carolina, Ten
Aassee. Texas, Virginia, and the Dis
kict Of Columbia.
As the name indicates, there is an
famed and swollen condition of the
oono which may assume a dark
lor Such Inflammation is not con-
I'D 70 the tongue, but may involve
membranes of the mouth gener-
= and extend to the throat, caus-
great difficulty in swallowing. In
c+ nsuallv the first symptoms OBJ
s rived nv owners of affected dogs are
Drofuse flow of saliva from the
8ontb. dissemination to masticate
b cd, and difficulty in swallowing
4 le breath becomes offensive, the an
hal is more or less feverish, and as
e disease progresses he becomes
realty Frustrated, this condition of
4 eakness being aggravated through
liability of the dog to take nourish-
lent.
Various Investigators have consid-
led the disease identical with the
called typhus of dogs as occurring
Europe: others have attributed it
the eating of putrid carcasses in
field, believing that infection
kes place through wounds in the
Duth from eating bones with sharp
ints. As the germ Of necrosis has
len found in the mouth in certain
these cases it has been assumed
some that it may be a necrOtic
nditiOn. At least one investigator
hO has studied the trouble is OF the
non that it may be a result of
feSatiOn with hoOkWormS, and is
pOrted to have been successful in
treatment Of black tongue by the
ministratiOn of full dose of thymOl,
L lowed by a purgatiVe dose of ep-
IN salts. The true nature of black
# que, however, has never been de-
#mined and further research will
necessary to establish it's cause.
In majority Of cases the disease
minates in death, and treatment
#pears to be CT little avail except
ZEN applied in the very early stages.
Various methods of treatment have
Zen employed. According to special
OF the United States department
agriculture it appears that the best
fultS are obtained by the prompt
z OF diSinfectants in the mouth of
affected animal before the dis
Sc has advanced to any apprecia-
extent. For this purpose one
ace OF alkaline antiseptic," which
lSted in the National Formulary
, the American Pharmaceutical AS
latlon and can be procured from
, fuggist, may be added to two
= ceS OF distilled water, the result
= mixture to be sprayed into the
tIh with a small syringe.
aSlllng Of the mouth with a solu-
OF potassium permanganate, one
10 o0O parts of water, three
- ually may also prove benefi-
Il offensive diarrhoea is frequent
aSoclated with the disease, and to
We ms condition it is advisable
munster a 5-grain dose of salol
times daily, or zinc-sulphocar-
ye III doses Of from 5 to 20 grains
raj times daily.
tue dog is unable to eat a MKT
oI egg and milk should be given
ass JWice daily by pouring it into
animals mouth.
we" OF the possible infectious
o. the disease prompt removal
'DVcted dog from other CANNES
u careful and frequent disinfec-
me Kennels is recommended.
0GS Oh disinfection are describ-
~, 4 atlners' Bulletin $50, "Prac-
-'g r, Of Disinfecting Sta
MS bulletin can be obtained
VI charge by applying to the
ana Chief, Division of Publ
f., United States Department
'oLlda veterinarian, experience