TETANUS. 321 



10 cases in a fortnight, of which some were traumatic, the 

 others not being traceable to any injury. 



In the human species tetanus is often idiopathic in hot 

 countries. 



Of the true nature of tetanus there is considerable doubt. 

 Some hold that the traumatic variety is due to irritation of 

 the nerves implicated in the wound, and that the muscular 

 spasms result from reflex irritation. 



In support of this it is argued that many cases of tetanus 

 following docking have recovered after repeating the opera- 

 tion higher up. Yet it must be remembered that recovery 

 by no means invariably follows the repetition of the opera- 

 tion, and, moreover, some cases of traumatic tetanus recover 

 without any treatment whatever. 



By some authorities tetanus is considered to be a blood 

 disease^ and several reasons have been advanced in support 

 of this view, viz., 



(1.) Tetanus often occurs idiopathically without any 

 injury. 



(2.) It is more prevalent in certain districts than in 

 others, and is sometimes enzootic, affecting several animals 

 in the same district. There is, however, no proof that 

 tetanus is ever contagious. 



(3.) The resemblance to hydrophobia and strychnine 

 poisoning suggests a similarity in the nature of the 

 cause. 



(4.) Tetanus is said to be transmissible to men by eating 

 the flesh of animals which have died of this disease. Of 

 the truth of this the herdsmen of the districts on the River 

 Plate are confident; yet, nevertheless, confirmatory evi- 

 dence seems to be lacking. Mr. Robertson records that 

 he has known of dogs fed on horses which had died of 

 tetanus, and does not recollect any evil results ensuing in 

 consequence. 



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