Tetanus ! 



I forced up the head and saw what horsemen term the 

 haw, moving half-way across the iris of her eye, I knew 

 she was in the grip of the most merciless curse of the 

 equine world tetanus (more frequently termed lock- 

 jaw). 



Although the chances of recovery at such an advanced 

 stage of the disease were almost negligible, nevertheless, 

 while there is life there is always hope. If I could only 

 get her into a loose-box, have her hung in slings and 

 have tetanus-antitoxin serum injected, her life might 

 still be saved. I put the belt of my rain-coat around 

 her neck and with difficulty led her towards home. The 

 journey was a tedious one. I had to lead her very 

 slowly and very carefully; stopping frequently to let her 

 recover from such exertion. The sweat was pouring out 

 of her and the least stumble would have meant disaster, 

 because had she happened to fall she would never rise. 

 I got her home, slung her up, wired for one veterinary 

 surgeon and raced away in the car for another. Tetanus- 

 antitoxin serum was injected as soon as the vets, arrived. 

 Both of them had little hope of her recovery, as the 

 disease was too advanced. They left more serum to be 

 administered at intervals and said that nothing more 

 could be done except careful nursing. 



How careful that nursing had to be may be gleaned 

 from the fact that the least sound sent the patient into 

 a frenzy. The muffled cough of an attendant could 

 make her plunge madly in her slings. A match being 

 struck made the sweat of fear break out all over her 

 body. No one was allowed to visit her except to 

 administer nourishment. This she sucked through her 



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