188 THE MODERN HORSE DOCTOR. 



from driving a nail (when shoeing) in the wrong direction, and 

 from puncturing the foot, by picking up a nail. It is generally 

 supposed that when locked-jaw follows an accident of this kind, 

 a nerve must have been injured : it may happen so in some 

 cases, but we have known a horse to die of this malady, when 

 the brunt of the exciting disease was expended on the coffin 

 bone and navicular joint, which were extensively ulcerated ; there 

 were no signs of any injury to the nervous filaments, and, if a 

 nerve had been injured, would not its abnormal action have merged 

 into the more formidable one progressing in the cartilaginous and 

 bony structures ? For it is generally supposed that two distinct 

 diseases, one of the nerves and another of the osseous structure, 

 could not coexist : hence the locked-jaw must have yielded, if it 

 had existed in consequence of injury to a nerve. The locked- 

 jaw was, no doubt, sympathetic, and probably a great propor- 

 tion of those cases termed punctured nerve, are of sympathetic 

 origin. 



That locked-jaw frequently occurs as a sympathetic affection, 

 we have abundant evidence. Many horses, whose digestive 

 organs have acquired a morbid habit, and have gradually arrived 

 at a certain state of intensity, are finally attacked with trismus, 

 and die with their jaws set as tight as if held in a vice. 



That locked-jaw is generally a sympathetic affection should be 

 known to every man, for a great deal of useless medication and 

 unnecessary pain is inflicted on animals, when, if the exciting 

 cause w T as understood, the poor brute might oftener be relieved 

 than he now is. 



The very absurd idea promulgated by many, that locked-jaw 

 of the traumatic species always results from injury to a nerve, 

 and from no other cause, should now be exploded; the idea 

 receives no advocacy from modern veterinarians, and only exists 

 in works of doubtful origin. On consulting Hippopathology, p. 48, 

 we learn that traumatic tetanus may arise from various causes. 

 One case originated from a wound under the eye inflicted by the 

 lash of a whip. " The late Mr. John Field mentions one case in 

 which all that he could find to account for it was a saddle gall ; 

 and in another there existed only a wound in the neck. * * * 

 On one occasion it succeeded cauterization of the jugular vein." 



