DISEASES OF HORSES 405 



drawn tightly over the teeth, nostrils dilated, and the animal pre- 

 sents a picture of the most extreme agony until death relieves him. 

 The pulse, which at first was not much affected, will become quick 

 and hard, or small and thready when the spasm affects the muscles 

 of the heart. In the subacute cases the jaws may never become en- 

 tirely locked; the nervous excitability and rigidity of the muscles 

 are not so great. There is, however, always some stiffness of the 

 neck or spine manifest in turning; the haw is turned over the eye- 

 ball when the nose is elevated. It is not uncommon for owners to 

 continue such animals at their work for several days after the first 

 symptoms have been observed. All the symptoms may gradually 

 increase in severity for a period of ten days, and then gradually 

 diminish under judicious treatment, or they may reach the stage 

 wherein all the characteristics of acute tetanus become developed. 

 In some cases, however, we find the muscular cramps almost solely 

 confined to the head or face, perhaps involving those of the neck. 

 In such cases we have complete lockjaw, and all the head symptoms 

 are acutely developed. On the contrary, we may find the head al- 

 most exempt in some cases, and have the body and limbs perfectly 

 rigid and incapable of movement without falling. 



Tetanus may possibly be confounded with spinal meningitis, 

 but the character of the spasm-locked jaw, retraction of the eyeballs, 

 the difficulty in swallowing due to spasms of the muscles of the 

 pharynx, and above all, the absence of paralysis, should serve to 

 make the distinction. 



Prevention. Where a valuable horse has sustained a wound 

 that it is feared may be followed by tetanus, it is well to administer 

 a dose of tetanus antitoxin. This is injected beneath the skin with 

 a hypodermic syringe. A very high degree of protection may in this 

 way be afforded. 



Treatment. The animal should be placed in a box stall with- 

 out bedding, as far away as possible from other horses. If in a 

 country district, the animal should be put into an outbuilding or 

 shed, where the noise of other animals will not reach him; if the 

 place is moderately dark it is all the better; in fly time he should be 

 covered with a light sheet. The attendant must be very careful and 

 quiet about him, to prevent all unnecessary excitement and increase 

 of spasm. Tetanus antitoxin appears to be useful as a remedy in 

 some cases, if given in very large quantities early in the disease; 

 otherwise it is useless. Subcutaneous injections of carbolic acid in 

 glycerin and water (carbolic acid 30 grains, glycerin _ and water 

 each 1 ounce) appear to be useful in some cases. Injections should 

 be given twice daily. 



A cathartic, composed of Barbados aloes 6 to 8 drams, with 

 which may be mixed 2 drams of the solid extract of belladonna, 

 should be given at once. This is best given in a ball form ; if, how- 

 ever, the animal is greatly excited by the attempt or can not swal- 

 low, the ball may be dissolved in 2 ounces of olive oil and thrown 

 on the back of the tongue with a syringe. If the jaws are set, or 

 nearly so, an attempt to administer medicine by the mouth should 



