GLOSSI'TIS (Neo-Lat., from Gk. yXt gldssa, tongue). A term used in designating in flammatory diseases of the tongue. Glossitis su perficialis simplex occurs with great frequency in febrile and digestive disorders accompanied by `coated tongue' or 'strawberry tongue.' Chronic superficial glossitis occurs often in hypochon driacs, especially in women; the tongue burns, is painful, during eating or speaking, and is dotted with red spots and white nodules. It may last for years, with intermissions of weeks or months. Treatment with nitrate of sil ver or lactic acid is palliative. Hairy tongue is a rare glossitis in which, surrounding a smooth, yellow, brown, or black area, the papilla; are smaller and resemble bristles. The treatment con sists in scraping and the application of anti septics. In 'geographical tongue,' bright red plaques appear, slightly elevated and circum scribed by a gray marginal zone. The forms of the maps change frequently. The trouble gen erally disappears without treatment. Acute papu lose glossitis is extremely rare. In acute dif fuse glossitis, or abscess of the tongue, the lat ter becomes enormously swollen, and the chief dangers of the attack are suffocation from swell ing of the parts about the hyoid bone, closure thereby of the glottis (see LARYNX ) , and general infection. The only really effective treatment is
to make pretty deep incisions into the inflamed part, keeping in view that the resulting wound is likely to be much less than appears at the time; for the enlargement of the organ has stretched the mucous membrane, and infiltrated all the textures with fluid, while the vessels are also distended with blood. A straight bistoury should be boldly plunged into the upper surface and several incisions made lengthwise sufficient ly deep to evacuate the pus. A good deal of blood will usually follow. but if care has been taken not to injure the lingual artery or its branches (see TONGUE), there is no real danger from this cause. In places at a distance from medical advice, this operation might require to be per formed by unskilled hands, and with a penknife, or any other cutting instrument at hand. Care should be taken in this case to make the incisions on the upper surface, and not too far from the middle line. Glossitis is also caused by mercury, during mercurial stomatitis; by syphilis; by tuberculosis; by actinomycosis, etc.