DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



liar muscular contractions seen in lock-jaw. There is 

 not the least doubt that this is the true cause, as recent 

 experimenters have frequently cultivated the germs 

 out of the body and filtered them so as to separate them 

 from the poison, and then injected the poison into ani- 

 mals and produced true lock-jaw. 



Symptoms The first thing noticed usually is that the 

 animal moves rather stiffly ; this is soon followed by an 

 inability to take food, although the attempt to eat is 

 frequently made, The head is now straightened out, 

 and the animal will present the appearance as seen in 

 figure 33. If an attempt is made to turn the patient 

 around, it will be found that it is unable to bend the 

 body. The muscles will be very hard to the touch. 

 On account of the spasm of the muscles of the throat, 

 the saliva will dribble from the mouth in large quanti- 

 ties. 



Treatment The principles of treatment that are here 

 indicated are to attempt to stop the growth of 'the 

 germs, and consequently the formation of the poison, 

 by allowing free access of air to all parts of the wound ; 

 and to drive the poison out of the body ; also, if there 

 is much excitement, to give something to keep the ani- 

 mal quiet. First, then, the wound should be opened so 

 that every part of it is fully exposed to the air. 



Second, give the following draught as soon as possible : 

 barbadoes aloes, 1 ounce, powdered, and well mixed 

 with a pint of warm water. 



With this may be given a pint of linseed oil. It is 

 frequently very difficult to administer medicine in any 

 form by the mouth. I have occasionally caused purg- 

 ing by injecting a fluid solution of aloes into the rec- 

 tum. The animal should be given no food lor at least 



