20.S 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



more generally, it approaches by slow de- 

 grees to its violent state. In this case, it 

 comes on with a sense of stiffness in the 

 muscles of the neck, which gradually in- 

 creasing, renders the motion of the head 

 difficult and painful. The haw of the eye 

 also will be seen protruding, on the least 

 motion of the hand being raised towards the 

 head. 



As the rigidity of the neck comes on, and 

 increases, there is commonly at the same 

 time a sense of uneasiness felt about the root 

 of the tongue, which by degrees become a 

 difficulty in swallowing ; and at length, an 

 entire interruption to it. While the rigidity of 

 the neck goes on increasing, there arises a 

 pain (often violent,) at the lower end of the 

 back, which will occasion the tail to stick out, 

 attended with a quivering motion. When 

 this pain arises, all the muscles of the neck, 

 and particularly those of the upper part of it, 

 are immediately affected with spasm ; and, as 

 it were, drawing the upper part of the head, 

 violently and strongly backwards. At the 

 same time, the muscles that pull up the lower 

 jaw, which upon the first approaches of the 

 disease were affected, are now generally 

 afflicted with more violent spasm, and set the 

 teeth so closely together, that they do not 

 admit the smallest opening. 



This is, what has been named, locked-jaw 

 (or trismus,) and is often the principal part of 

 the disease. When the disease has advanced 

 thus far, the pain at the top of the neck h.nA 

 lower jaw, is renewed with violence. As the 

 disease thus proceeds, a greater number 

 of muscles becomes affected with spasm. 

 After those of the neck, those along the 

 whole of the spine, become affected, bending 

 the trunk of the body strongly backwards, 



with the fore-legs stretched directly out be- 

 fore him. 



In the extremities, both the flexor and the 

 extensor muscles, are commonly at the same 

 time affected, and keep the limbs rigidly ex- 

 tended. Though the extensors of the head 

 and back are usually the most strongly 

 affected, yet the flexors, or those muscles of 

 the neck that pull the head forward, and the 

 muscles that should pull down the lower jaw, 

 are often at the same time strongly affected 

 with pain and spasm. During the whole of 

 the disease, the abdominal muscles are vio- 

 lently affected with spasm, so that the belly 

 of the Horse is strongly retracted, and feels as 

 hard as a piece of board. 



At length, the flexors of the head and trunk 

 become so strongly affected, as to balance the 

 extensors, and to keep the head and trunk 

 almost in a straight line, and so rigidly ex- 

 tended, that they are incapable of being 

 moved in any way ; and it is to this state the 

 term tetanus, has been strictly applied. 



At the height of the disease, every organ 

 of voluntary motion seems to be affected, and 

 amongst the rest, the muscles of the face. 

 The eyes also seem distorted, and commonly 

 rigid, and scarcely movable in their sockets. 

 The nose also appears drawn up ; the spasms 

 are everywhere attended with most violent 

 pain. The utmost violence of spasm is, how- 

 ever, not constant; but after subsisting a 

 minute or two, the muscles admit of some re- 

 mission of their contraction, although of no 

 such relaxation as can allow the action ot 

 their antagonists. The remission of contrac- 

 tion gives also some remission of pain ; but 

 neither is of lona: duration. The attacks of 

 this disease are seldom attended with any 

 fever. When the spasms are general aud 



