Lingua nigra. Templeton (Urol. and cut. review, 1928, No. 2)

The main sign of this disease is a blackish coloring of more or less a large part of the tongue, especially the area where papillae circumvallatae are located. The papillae filiformes are usually hypertrophied. According to Templeton, the disease does not cause any disturbances or sensations. Its etiology is unknown; its origin is usually blamed on irritation of the tongue by smoking, lues, mycotic infection, etc. As for treatment, in one case T. received a brilliant result from gargling with a 1% solution of chromic mercury.