156 TREATaiENT OF LOCKED JJLW. 



may be emjployetl with much prospect of success, for he only failed in foa 

 cases in which the jaws were immoveable by any means which he then knev • 

 of; and as he has treated this particular subject more happily than any vete 

 rinarian of our time, I think 1 can not do better than follow the example o. 

 copying his account of a well-marked case successfully treated. 



When called in, he observes, " I found the symptoms were a spasmodic af 

 fection of the muscles of the jaws, head, neck, back, hinder extremities, and 

 abdomen, which occasioned them to become rigidly contracted, and the abdo- 

 men was much drawn in ; the pulse was about fifty, with some irregularity, 

 the breathing a little quickened, the jaws were considerably shut, but not so 

 close but medicine might be administered as a drench with a small horn : the 

 appetite not diminished, but she could not masticate hay ; the head somewhat 

 raised, and on elevating it a Uttle more, the haws covered great part of the 

 ball of the eye, the nose was thrown out from the chest, the nostrils expanded, 

 the ears erect or perched up, a great stiffness of the neck and back, the tail a 

 little elevated, and, upon a little fatigue, a shaking of it, a straddling of the 

 hinder extremities : the animal was very costive, and the urine was somewhat 

 diminished. The mare had been shoed about three weeks before, and the 

 farrier had driven a nail into the sensible part of the foot while shoeing her. 

 The lameness thus produced was soon removed ; and the disease came on 

 after performing a journey ; that is, about three weeks after the injury in the 

 foot had been inflicted. Two quarts of blood were taken off; a purgative 

 drench and an emollient clyster were given ; considerable friction was used 

 over the muscles of the jaws, head, neck, and back, particularly where they 

 were found most rigid ; a stimulating liniment of turpentine, hartshorn, mus- 

 tard and oil, was well rubbed over those parts, which were afterwards covered 

 with sheep skins, as recently taken off the sheep as they could be procured, 

 which soon brought on sensible perspiration. The diet was principally thin 

 bran-mashes and oatmeal-grucl, of which she frequently took a little. The 

 next day, pulse the same, breathing a little quicker, jaws not more locked; a 

 constant perspiration had been kept up by the sheep-skins ; the purgative 

 drench not operating, another clyster was administered, which promoted its 

 action; the liniment was repeated. Next day (the ninth), symptoms nearly 

 the same, perspiration copious : the purging having subsided, the anti-spasmo- 

 dic medicine, composed of opium, camphor, and asafoetida, was given with a 

 small horn morning and evening, and a similar mixture, with the addition of 

 three pints of a decoction of rue, was administered as a clyster, morning and 

 evening. The drench and clysters were repeated morning and evening till the 

 14th day; and during this, the quantity of opium, viz. 1 drachm, was increased 

 or diminished according to the violence of the spasms, which at times were 

 very severe. It was always administered in such a manner as to have its effects 

 constantly in the system, without producing much restlessness ; during this 

 time, there was also a most copious perspiration going on under the sheep-skins. 

 The bowels becoming costive again, another purgative drench and an emollient 

 clyster were administered. On the 15th, the d^nch not operating, a clyster 

 was given which produced the desired effect. Pulse and breathing a little hur- 

 ried and irregular, jaws not more locked, still perspires under the sheep-skins, 

 appetite good ; but can not masticate hay. 16th, Pulse more regular, breathing 

 more calm, perspires freely under the skins : the purging having subsided, the 

 opium, &c. were administered as before, and continued until the 21st, when 

 another purgative drench and emollient clyster were given. The jaws were 

 now more open, and the mare could masticate hay; the muscles of the head, 

 neck, back, and hinder extremities became considerably relaxed, and on rais- 

 ing the head, the haws did not cover much of the eye. On the 23d day, the 

 rurging having subsided, the anti-spasmodic raedicinti was again ^mpby^ 



