64 TETANUS — LOCKED JAW. 



tetanus we have described as central, appears to be the only one 

 likely to receive any benefit; but cases of this are rare. Mr. 

 Karkeek, under the supposition of the stomach and bowels, or 

 system of the sympathetic nerve, being the source or habitation of 

 the disease, in several cases applied his blisters to the abdomen 

 and breast, and inserted into the latter a rowel ; and he thought 

 benefit resulted from the practice : oedematous swellings underneath 

 the bell3% Mr. Karkeek having had reason to regard as a most 

 favourable indication. 



The Consequences of Tetanus, even when the animal 

 recovers, are loss of condition and strength, and loss of action as 

 well. Generally speaking, in addition to the more or less ema- 

 ciated and debilitated state in which the patient is left, there is 

 evident in his movements a rigidity or want of flexibility, owing 

 to the effects or continuance of spasm, which for a long while unfits 

 the animal for any kind of labour; and this may require some 

 weeks — nay, months even — before it is quite got rid of. On 

 account therefore of the expense, as well as for the benefit of the 

 animal himself, the best situation for him, should the season be 

 suitable, is the grass-field ; but if the time of the year do not per- 

 mit this recreation, the indulgence of a loose box or yard, with 

 o-reen-meat if it can be procured, or carrots and other roots if it 

 cannot, will best conduce to the restoration of the invalid. 



SPASMS. 



Spasm, spasmodic affection, cramp, are so many phrases used, 

 synonyniousl}'', to express that rigid contraction of a single muscle, 

 or single set of muscles, which tetanus denotes of the muscles of 

 the body generally. The fibres of a muscle in a state of spasm havis 

 the appearance of being, and are in fact, in violent action : they 

 feel hard, and are shortened and swollen, and the oflfice they 

 usually perform is executed without the consent of, or rather in 

 opposition to, the will. In a Avord, spasm consists in an involunta- 

 ry contraction of a voluntary muscle. There are said to be two 

 kinds of spasm — clonic and ionic. The clonic is the agitated 

 spasm, called convulsion, wherein the contractions, although invo- 



