Lock Jaw 47 



shallow wound that heals on tlie exterior and excludes the air as quickly 

 as in a deep wound. 



Lock Jaw germs sometimes enter the body of the horse in tooth 

 cavities. In conclusion I would say any wound permitting foreign matter, 

 such as nails, barb wire, manure, dirt, etc. and closing by contraction 

 or healing without being thoroughly disinfected makes an ideal place for 

 lock jaw to develop. i 



Some believe it is possible for the germ to enter the body in a 

 wound along the alimentary canal which seems reasonable to me. 



SYMPTOMS 



The symptoms of lock jaw develop in from 3 to 30 days after a 

 wound is made. Involuntary contraction (spasms) of the muscles usually 

 begin at the front of the body on the muscles of the head, neck, shoulders, 

 and front legs. 



^o^ 



Contraction may begin at the tail and hips and descend to the 

 muscles in the front part of the body. I never knew of a case beginning 

 in the legs and progress toward the head or tail. 



The head is held in an elevated position and the neck often assumes 

 an angle similar to that in the does or ewes. 



The membrane on the lower part of the eye "The Haw" often 

 covers one half of the eye ball. This symptom does not occur so dis- 

 tinct in any other disease. 



Chewing and swallowing are difficult or impossible although the 

 appetite may not be diminished. The jaws are sometimes (not always) set. 

 The muscles of the neck, spine and legs may become set, and the horse 

 may assume a braced position in standing as though the limbs were 

 stilts. Often none of the feet can be raised without the horse falling 

 which may result in death. 



The nostrils are enlarged and saliva may come from the mouth. 



The horse is restless, and usually carries the tail elevated and to 

 one side. The mortality is high in the acute attacks or attacks that 

 come on quick but recovery sometimes occurs where the contraction of 

 the muscles of the jaws and throat come on slowly. This disease proves 

 fatal in about 60 per cent of the cases. 



