TONGUE

is liable to a great number of disorders. The little band of mucous membrane that pa es from the floor of the mouth to the under-surface of the tongue may be too tight from birth. The condition is termed éongue-tie, and is easily remedied by a snip of the doctor's sci ors. It is not present as often as tho anxious mother imagines. Tho tongue becomes coated in many affections, ¢.g., indigestion, liver disorder, constipation, toothache, tonsillitis, gout, rheumatic fever and the infectious fevers. It is usually a bad sign when in the course of a severe illne a tongue previously coated with white fur becomes dry and brown. A tongue that is coated and clammy on waking every morning usually indicates gastric disorder, often from the use of spirits before going to bed. Dryne of the tongue on waking in people otherwise healthy may be due to sleeping with the mouth open. A flabby tongue, dinted at the margin by the tecth, suggests debility with dilated stomach. Sorene of the tongue may be due to tobacco ae spirit drinking, or the friction of a broken carious tooth. Such a condition should never be ignored; if neglected, eancer of the tongue may po ibly atag Tremor of tho tongue when it is oe out is common in debility, especially when ductoalcoholism. Difficulty in putting oul the tongue is common in St. Vitus’s Dance, and in certain diseases of the nervous system. For cleansing the moutb and tongue, the use of an aérated water, e.g., soda water, is valuable. It may bo used as a gargle, or a swab of wool wound round a gla rod or stick, may be ctppes in soda water and used to wipe the mouth with. glee drachm, tincture of myrrh twenty and water one finid ounce, is also a most useful mouth wash, both for cleansing the mouth and for stimulating s sore tongue to heal. Honey and borax is also good. Such remedies must not be used as a substitute for treatment directed to remove the cause of the unhcalthy state of the tongue. The abuse of tobacco or alcohol, the presence of carious teoth, constipation, etc, must receive the attention thoy deserve. [s. 417]