CHAPTER II.. Pathological Conditions.

PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS.

Section I. OF THE TONGUE.

The diseases of the tongue, the appearance of which we may wish to examine after death, include cancer, syphilitic ulcers or tubercle, tumors, hypertrophy, etc.

=Cancer= is the only disease of this organ likely to result in death. It is said to occur more frequently in females than males. It may assume the various forms of this disease, but is more frequently epithelial or scirrhus, than medullary.

=Syphilitic Ulcers or Tubercle=, may be confounded with cancer, and in some instances, only a previous knowledge of the history of the case, assisted by a microscopic examination, would positively determine the diagnosis.

=Tumors= of various kinds—encysted, fatty, fibrous and erectile—may be found in the substance of the tongue, or underneath it in the floor of the mouth.

=Ranula= is a peculiar form of tumor found under the tongue, often attaining the size of a pigeon’s egg, and filled with a watery or albuminous, or sometimes cretaceous matter. The tumor is usually considered as arising from a dilatation of Wharton’s duct, but of this there is doubt in some cases.

=Hypertrophy= of the tongue is sometimes found, where, from an increase of the connective or areolar tissue, without any change in the muscular fibres, the organ has become greatly enlarged, so as to cause deformity of the mouth, or even of the whole lower part of the face. This condition may involve the whole or a portion only of the tongue.