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malic. And when locked-jaw takes place, as it sometimes does, 

 without any injury or assignable cause, it is called idiopathic 

 locked-jaw. Locked-jaw may be defined a spasmodic contraction of 

 the muscles of the body, often confined to one set of muscles alone. 

 I have in practice seen the same contraction in one set of muscles 

 of the body, and the muscles of the jaw free from the cramps and 

 not fixed at all, and depending upon the same causes that often 

 produce fixedness of the jaw. Locked-jaw is sometimes confined 

 to the muscles of the neck, and is then called trismus. 



Symptoms. The symptoms accompanying locked-jaw in the horse 

 are so well known to everybody, that little need be said by me 

 about them further than that there is general stifi'ness and fixed- 

 ness in the manner of standing, and a peculiar expression of coun- 

 tenance. The extended and dilated nostril, and the fixed ear, tell 

 the fact, very plainly, that the muscles of the head and neck are 

 beyond the control of the animal, else his jaw or mouth would not 

 be kept closed. 



Treattnent. Remove the painfully-stricken animal into a place 

 by himself, where he will have plenty of air, and no sound or sight 

 to disturb him, and where no curious idler can enter. Place a 

 bucket of cold, thin gruel where the horse can get at it, without an 

 eff*ort to himself to reach it. This is all the feed he will be likely 

 enabled to take for a period of from three to sixteen days. Renew 

 it once a day, and keep it sweet. He may be able to suck this 

 through his teeth. Small, choice morsels of other food should also 

 be placed within his reach, so as no opportunity be lost whereby 

 his stomach may be filled, and his overtaxed strength be sup- 

 ported. 



In securing the gruel or other feed, have everything at hand, so 

 that 07ily one journey will be necessary, in the twenty-four hours, 

 to the place he is confined in. Open not the door of his house 

 twice when once can be made to answer: thus much suffering may 

 be avoided, and the chances of recovery enhanced. All the med- 

 icine necessary for the horse to have, will be one drachm .doses, 

 once in the twenty-four hours, of prussic acid. Great care will 

 have to be exercised in keeping this powerful poison; and consid- 

 erable judgment as to how this medicine is to be given to an 

 animal with his jaws closed. Gently elevate the head a little to 



