TREATMENT. — Pilocarpine has been used with some success in these cases, but the condition usually recurs. Black man employs the drug in 1/20- to grain closes, in a gelatin lamella, which is placed on the tongue and moistened with water.
Case of xerostomia, or dry mouth, in which pilocarpine afforded relief for a time; its effects, however, soon passed off; the same was true of arsenic; and, after three and one-half years of observa tion, the man's condition was changed but little. A. J. Lartigau (Med. News, Oct. 29, '98).
Ptyalism. — Excessive secretion of sa liva occurs as a symptom of rabies, the various forms of stomatitis, especially the mercurial form, dentition, various gas tric disorders, etc.; but as an idiopathic disorder it is rarely met with. It is often observed in neurotic subjects, especially children, and usually disappears after a few years, when the development of the subject has become equalized. It occa sionally attends pregnancy (q. v.), and may occur during menstrual periods and various febrile disorders, particularly small-pox. The effects of pilocarpine, mercury, iodine, copper, and other agents in causing ptyalism are well known.
-The general health re quires attention, the idiopathic form be ing, in reality, a manifestation of debility.
astringent washes, or a saturated solution of potassium chlorate, may be tried. The galvanic current, the positive pole being applied in the mouth while the latter is full of water, the negative pole being placed over the thyroid carti lage, may prove of value if used daily.
Symptomatic Parotitis. — This is an inflammation of the parotid gland occur ring as a result of septic infection through the blood or through the buccal secre tions, in the course of various affections, and often ending in ulceration. It may be acute or chronic. It is oftenest met with in typhoid fever, pymmia, pneu monia, influenza, puerperal fever, ery sipelas, and other infectious disorders. Inflammation of the testicles is another cause, especially when the process is gonorrheal. Injuries of the alimentary canal and of the testicle or pelvic organs may also give rise to it. Parotitis may follow abdominal operations, especially ovariotomy, hysterectomy, and laparot omy for peritonitis. It has also been observed in cases of neuritis and facial paralysis.