0() CAUSES, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT OK 



dirt, etc. This sjrmptom would also be symptomatic of indigestion, and 

 alone is not a significant symptom. Symptoms increase ; animal evinces 

 pain ; may be extremely quiet, and may be suddenly excited ; will not go 

 much out of his way to bite anything ; not like one savage dog attacks 

 another, but just snaps and runs on Is most furious to one of his own 

 species. Gives a peculiar hov^l : gets quiet, then symptoms occur 

 again, etc. Great ditficulty in swallowing may occur. Dogs do not have 

 this dread of water, but may lose the power of swallowing. 



Post vwrteiii.—Make it carefully. Do not let any blood come in con- 

 tact with sores. Principal changes are in the nervous system, congestion 

 of the brain and spinal cord ; skin affected to a great extent ; more or 

 less changes in the stomach and bowels. No treatment is recommended ; 

 put out of the wa}' as soon as possible, also those that ha^e been bitten. 

 It is noticed in the horse but seldom. 



Symptoms in the Horse. — Shows restlessness ; will bite at and rub the 

 seat of injury, followed by more or less cerebral disturbance, and perfect 

 phrenzy, and acts much like phrenitis ; but in phrenitis the animal is 

 not vicious. There may be paralysis either partial or complete ; will 

 bite in a peculiar way, not like a biting horse. Symptoms of cases I 

 have seen : peculiar dulness, excited, turns around, falls down, comes at 

 you like a vicious dog, loss of power in the hindquarters, growing worse 

 and worse until relieved by death. You may be called to prescribe for 

 an animal that has been bitten. 



Treatment. — Use nitrate of silver or caustic potash freely upon the 

 parts where bitten. If deep, you may excise part of the flesh, and then 

 use caustic ujjon it It may prevent it. 



Tetanus, or Locked Jaw. — 'Tetanus signifies to stretch. It is 

 essentially a nervous disease, due to irritation of the nerves. It is 

 difficult to find exact changes in the nerve;?. If the animal dies 

 quickly, not much change will be noticed. It is a very alarming, 

 serious, and fatal disease, but some cases recover. Locked jaw or 

 trismus is applied to it, from contraction of the master muscles. 

 Muscles principally aft'ected are the voluntary. It receivfs various 

 names from different muscles affected Muscles of the back affected, 

 opisthotonos, head and tail up ; cannot lower the head. In empros 

 thotonos, just the reverse takes place. If carried to one side, tetanus 

 lateralis. But in horses, in five cases out of six, it is trismus. Opis- 

 thotonos differs from ordinary contraction of the muscles in being of a 

 tonic character. There is great pain. It is said to be of two kinds, 

 receiving the names from the causes. If it is from a wound, it is trau- 

 matic ; if it comes without any visible injury or operation, it is diophatic. 

 There is rt ally no difference, one being from a visible, the other from an 

 invisible cause. It is thought to be produced by some derangement 

 of the digestive system Great quantities of worms, or bots, jn the 

 stomach, have been supposed to produce it. Any irritation acting upon 

 the nervous system may produce it. 



Pathology. — It is essentially a nervous disease, producing atoma. 

 Generally affects the voluntary muscles ; but others may be affected, 

 even the diaphragm. In post mortem you will find different lesions in tbe 

 spine, or great nerves, emanating from the spine or brain. Muscular 

 tissue is extremely soft and flabby ; portions placed under the microscope 

 will be found to be altered to some extent. You have other lesions, as 

 congestion of the lungs, but it will be from lying on one side. There 

 are three forms — acute, sub-acute and chronic ; acute most serious. Sub- 

 acute more amenable to treatment ; but acute laminitis is easier treated 

 than the sub-acute. It is said to be due to a micro-organism. 



