60 TETANUS — LOCKED JAW. 



locked, and its administration, in the form or quantity we could have 

 desired, becomes difficult or impossible. 



A Strong Purge is generally given in the first instance, to 

 clear out the bowels. And, when we come to reflect on the appear- 

 ances of derangement and irritation which have at times presented 

 themselves in the stomach and bowels of horses that have died of 

 tetanus, purgation seems to be a most proper beginning. In order to 

 insure it, at least an ounce and a half of cathartic mass, with which 

 may advantageously be combined from one to two drachms of calo- 

 mel, ought to be administered. The form of ball is that which best 

 insures success : should one prove too large for administration, it 

 may be divided into two or three ; and when the hand cannot be 

 introduced, the shooting-stick, or simply a piece of cane or whale- 

 bone, may serve to convey small balls, one by one, into the pharynx. 

 Should the form of drench be preferred to that of ball, a very 

 potent and effective formula will be found in a combination of aloes 

 and linseed oil:/an ounce of the former melted over the fire in a 

 pint of the latter constitutes a cathartic mixture of great power, 

 and by some practitioners is the dose generally prescribed. By 

 others croton powder is preferred ; or the oil may be given. For 

 my own part, I like the compound cathartic ball. When the jaws 

 have once become spasmodically closed, we are glad to get any 

 thing swallowed in the shape of purgative medicine : should the 

 animal be found willing and able to drink, Ave may stir some croton 

 po\v der into his water, and try to cajole him with that ; or we may 

 endeavour to introduce an esophagus-tube as a conduit for medicine. 

 Now and then, when trismus has so advanced before we are called 

 to the patient that all our manual efforts to separate the jaws prove 

 fruitless, we shall find that a decided blood-letting will have 

 such an effect on the spasm as to enable us to accomplish our 

 purpose. When once we have succeeded in opening the bowels, 

 we must take every precaution by medicine and enema to keep 

 them soluble ; for the spasm is very apt to shew aggravation or 

 relapse whenever the body is suffered to become constipated. 



A Warm Bath would no doubt afford a good deal of reUef, 

 from its tendency to relax spasm — supposing even it could not be 



