Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER II. DISEASES OF THE LARYNX. Examination.—(a) With the mouth speculum, laryngoscope and good light, the anterior portion of the larynx and the surrounding tissues can be readily inspected provided the tongue is drawn well forward. (6) By examining some of the nasal discharge collected with a dressing forceps carrying a pledget of cotton, its character is decided. (c) By palpation, enlargements, injuries and the degree of sensitiveness may be determined. Laryngitis.—Two forms of laryngitis are frequently observed in small animals, viz: (a) Acute, and (6) chronic. Acute Laryngitis.—Definition.—An acute catarrhal inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx. Etiology. —(a) Excessive use of the voice (barking). This is often seen at dog shows; in hounds after hunting; in some dogs when penned up or tied; during the course of rabies and the nervous form of distemper; excitement. (b) Inhalations of dust, dirt, etc.; injuries (tight collars, etc.). Inhalations of gases and smoke; irritating drugs and chemicals. (c) Exposure to cold. (rf) Infections (staphylococcus, etc.) and during the course of infectious diseases (rabies, distemper, etc.). (e) Extension of inflammation from adjacent parts. Pathology. —(a) There is an acute inflammation of the mucous membrane which, in the early stages, is covered by a thin serous exudate which later becomes turbid from admixture of leukocytes. From the irritation produced by coughing small quantities of blood are often raised. When infection is present the secretions are mucopurulent in character. (6) The discharge contains bacteria, leukocytes, red corpuscles and epithelial cells. Symptoms.—Hoarseness, change of voice, frequent attempts at deglutition, a harsh, dry cough which later becomes softer an...