Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1891 — How to Read the Tongue. [ARTICLE]

How to Read the Tongue.

The perfectly healthy tongue is clean, moist, lies loosely in the mouth, is round at the edge, and has no prominent papillae. The tongue may be furred from local causes, or from sympathy with the stomach, intestines, or liver. The dry tongue occurs most frequently in fever, and indicates a nervous prostration or depression. A white tongue is diagnostic simply of the feverish condition, with perhaps a sour stomach. When it is moist and yellowish-brown it shows disordered digestion. Dry and brown indicates a low state of the system, possibly typhoid. When the tongue is. dry and red and smooth, look out ’ for inflammation, gastric or intestinal. When the papillae on the end of the tongue are raised and very red, we call it a strawberry tongue, and that means scarlet fever. Sharp - pointed, red tongue will hint of brain irritation or inflammation, and a yellow coating indicates liver derangement. When so much can be gained from an examination of the tongue, how important it is that the youngest child should be taught to put it out so that it can be visible to the uttermost point in the throat.— Dr. Julia H. Smith.