78 THE ARMY HORSE IN ACCIDENT AND DISEASE. 



moderate and of little extent, the disease may continue for several 

 weeks. 



Recovery before the third week is rare; about this time the spasm 

 begins to decline, the appetite returns, respiration becomes calmer, 

 and the movements more free; very often recovery takes place only 

 at the end of live or six weeks; there may be a continuance of the 

 stiffness of movement and tension of the muscles of the back for a 

 long period of time. 



Treatment. — A systematic course of food and the freedom of the 

 patient from all kinds of excitement are the two essentials in the 

 treatment. 



It is advisable to place the patient in a dark stall, so situated as to 

 be isolated and free from all noises, and with only one man in attend- 

 ance; strangers entering the stall of a patient affected mth only a 

 mild attack may cause such excitement that the animal is thrown 

 into a violent spasm and dies in a short time. 



Give the patient gruel, mealy drinks, liquid food, and, if he can 

 eat it, green fodder. 



Medicinal agents are of secondary importance in the treatment 

 of lockjaw. Large doses (2 to 8 ounces) of bromide of potassium 

 should be given in the liquid food, twice daily. The administration 

 of medicines by the mouth is not practicable; not only because 

 of the locked jaws, but because it causes excitement. 



The infected wound requires special care. It should be well opened 

 up, disinfected, foreign bodies extracted, etc. 



Some authorities recommend the use of the suspending sling. 



In the horse the mortality from this disease is from 80 to 85 per 

 cent. 



In localities where tetanus is common, a preventive serum, 

 called ^'antitetanic," is injected into the blood, whenever the horse 

 receives a punctured or suspicious wound. 



DISEASES OF THE TEETH. 



On account of the character of its food the horse has been supplied 

 with molar teeth, with roughened grinding surfaces. The lower 

 jaw is narrower than the upper jaw, and the table (grinding) surfaces 

 are sloping. The distance from the gum to the grinding surface is 

 greater on the outside surface of the upper molars and the reverse 

 in the lower molars. 



On account of this conformation a sharp ridge of points is liable 

 to develop on the outside of the upper molars and may occur on the 

 inside of the lower ones. These points are sometimes so sharp 

 that they lacerate the cheeks and tongue during mastication. A 

 horse thus affected will frequently bolt his food before thoroughly 



