TETANUS. 319 



In plethoric animals bleeding is recommended by some 

 authorities. 



After the attack is over the general health should be 

 attended to, the diet carefully regulated, -and the bowels 

 opened. 



If the disease depend upon peripheral irritation, as, for 

 example, that which may be set up by worms, anthelmintics 

 and purgatives should be administered. 



In other cases a course of bromides may be administered. 

 Bromide of ammonium, potassium and sodium, combined 

 with a vegetable tonic, are perhaps the most efficacious of 

 all remedies in subduing epileptic attacks when traceable to 

 disease of the medulla and brain. 



Belladonna is also of value in the treatment of epilepsy, 

 and may be tried should the bromides fail. 



Other remedies which have been recommended in epilepsy 

 are zinc, silver, iron, and arsenic salts. 



TETANUS OR LOCK JAW. 



Definition. — Tetanus is a diseased condition characterized 

 by tonic spasms of the voluntary muscles, and to some ex- 

 tent, probably, of the involuntary muse les also. 



The spasms are painful, and from time to time undergo 

 exacerbation, followed by intervals of repose. 



Etiology and General Pathology. — Of the domestic 

 animals, the horse and sheep are the most liable to tetanus ; 

 but the disease is very rarely seen in the ox tribe. 



Tetanus frequently arises in connection with wounds, 

 though it also occurs without any obvious cause whatever. 

 When traceable to an injury, it is spoken of as traumatic 

 tetanus ; when it arises without apparent cause, it is called 

 idiopathic tetanus. 



The liability to traumatic tetanus is in no way dependent 



