TETANUS — LOCKED JAW. 63 



The Extractum Conii, in two-drachm doses, in combination 

 with croton oil, has been given with success by Mr. Freake, V.S., 

 Northampton ( Vetej^inarian, 1838). 



Tobacco Enema was used in a case of tetanus with apparent 

 benefit by Mr. Egan, at the time assistant surgeon in the 12th 

 Lancers. The disease was traumatic in its origin. Copious blood- 

 letting, purgatives, blistering the spine, &c. had been employed 

 without affording relief, and the bowels still continued unsolved, 

 when, at the suggestion of Mr. Egan, an infusion of tobacco was 

 injected into the rectum, which produced *' a discharge of dark- 

 coloured faeces:" the enema was afterwards daily repeated, with 

 the effect of abridging the duration of the paroxysms. For two 

 days the injection was omitted ; the consequence was, all the 

 symptoms returned : it was resumed, and used twice or thrice a 

 day, and under its employment the horse recovered. 



The preferable Mode of using Tobacco appears from 

 experience to be in the form of fumigation : with Read's syringe 

 and a proper vessel for generating the tobacco smoke*, it may be 

 administered as an enema, and persevered in twice or thrice a-day, 

 until the bowels have become sufficiently relaxed. In this way it 

 may be made subservient to the action of cathartic medicine ; or, 

 when that cannot be or has not been exhibited, it may even supply 

 the deficiency. And since all experience has demonstrated that it 

 is of the greatest consideration in the treatment of tetanus to keep 

 the bowels relaxed, this is likely to prove a very useful remedy. 



CoUNTER-lRRiTATlON, in the shape either of blisters or setons, 

 has generally been regarded as an essential in the treatment. 

 Commonly, the skin contiguous to and in the course of the spine 

 has been blistered, beginning at the head and ending at the tail ; 

 but whether with any real advantage or not, seems, considering all 

 that has been done besides, somewhat doubtful. Most tetanic 

 affections originate in wounds of some sort ; and many cases, on 

 dissection after death, have indicated disorder in the alimentary 

 canal, without apparent disease of the spinal marrow : one there- 

 fore does not see what great good in the generality of cases is to be 

 expected from blisters or setons along the spine. The species of 

 * For a description of the proper apparatus, see vol. ii, page 242. 



