486 RESULTS OF WOUNDS. 



scanty and high-coloured. The desire for food is lost, hut the 

 thirst is sometimes excessive. Occasionally the inflammation 

 extends into the articulation nearest the original injury, and the 

 case hecomes complicated with open-joint, or abscesses form 

 along the course of the absorbents, the animal becoming even- 

 tually farcied or glandered. 



Treatment. — In the cedematous form, the bowels are to be 

 opened by a brisk cathartic, the swollen parts frequently 

 fomented with warm water, and covered by a bandage. When 

 the cathartic has operated, saline diuretics, and liberal doses 

 of the tincture of terchloride of iron, are to be administered, and 

 the food is to be of the best kind. 



In the phlegmonous form the treatment must be more 

 energetic. A purgative is to be administered ; the excitement 

 combated with aconite, which has a most marked effect in 

 allaying the irritation and fever ; and when the bowels are freely 

 moved by the purgative, the tincture of the terchloride of iron, 

 in doses varying from two drachms to half an ounce, is to be 

 given every four hours. 



Locally, the parts are to be fomented with warm water, and 

 smeared with oil or extract of belladonna. 



If abscesses form and give distinct indications of pointing, 

 they must be opened, but it is advisable to abstain from the 

 use of the bistoury as long as possible, inasmuch as the 

 admission of the atmosphere into an erysipelatous wound is apt 

 to be followed by sloughing of the tissues. 



Cases of erysipelas originating in very trivial wounds, and 

 succeeding to surgical operations, have fallen under my notice. 



TETANUS. 



Tetanus is usually described as a powerful and painful spasm 

 of the voluntary muscles, which is long-continued and uncon- 

 trollable. The spasm of the muscles is that of rigid contraction, 

 and from its constancy and non-intermitting character, it has 

 been termed tonic. It is frequently a result of injury, althougli 

 it also occurs without obvious cause ; hence it is called traumatic 

 and idiopathic tetanus. Of all the domestic animals, the horse is 

 most liable to tetanus. It is but rarely seen in the ox tribe, 

 and when it does occur in the bovine animal, it is generally of 

 the idiopathic form. 



