104 , TETANUS, OR LOCKED JAW. 



Tho countenance is eager, anxious, haggard, and tells plainly enough what tho 

 animal suffers. 



The stiffness gradually extends to the back. If the horse is in a narrow stall, it is 

 impossible to turn him ; and, even with room and scope enough, he turns altogether 

 like a deal-board. 



The extremities begin to participate in the spasm — the hinder ones generally first, 

 but never to the extent to which it exists in the neck and back. The horse stands 

 with his hind legs straddling apart in a singular way. The whole of the limb moves, 

 or rather is dragged on, together, and anxious care is taken that no joint shall be 

 flexed more than can possibly be helped. The fore limbs have a singular appear 

 ance; they are as stilT as they can possibly be, but stretched forward and straddling 

 They have not unaptly been compared to the legs of a form. 



The abdominal muscles gradually become involved. They seem to contract with 

 all the power they possess, and tiiere is a degree of " hide-bound" appearance, and ot 

 tucking up of the belly, which is seen under no other complaint. The tail becomes 

 in constant motion from the alternate and violent action of the muscles that elevate 

 and depress it. 



Constipation, and to an almost insurmountable degree, now appears. The abdo- 

 minal muscles are so powerfully contracted, that no portion of the contents of the 

 abdomen can pass on and be discharged. 



By degrees the spasm extends and becomes everywhere more violent. Tlie motion 

 of the whole frame is lost, and the horse stands fixed in the unnatural posture which 

 he has assumed. The countenance becomes wilder and more haggard — its expression 

 •:an never be effaced from the memory of him who cares about the feelings of a brute. 

 The violent cramp of a single muscle, or set of muscles, makes the stoutest heart 

 quail, and draws forth the most piteous cries — what, then, must it be for this torture 

 to pervade the whole frame, and to continue, with little respite, from day to day, and 

 from week to week! When his attendant approaches and touches him, he scarcely 

 moves ; but the despairing gaze, and the sudden acceleration of the pulse, indicate 

 what he feels and fears. 



Tetanus then is evidently an affection of the nerves. A small fibre of some nerve 

 has been injured, and the effect of that injury has spread to the origin of the nerve — 

 the brain then becomes affected — and universal diseased action follows. Tetanus is 

 spasm of the whole frame — not merely of one set of muscles, but of their antagonists 

 also. The fixidity of the animal is the effect of opposed and violent muscular con- 

 traction. It belongs to tho lower column of nerves only. The sensibility is unim- 

 paired — perhaps it is heightened. The horse would eat if he could ; he tries to suck 

 up some moisture from liis mash ; and the avidity with which he lends himself to 

 assist in the administering of a little gruel, shows that the feelings of hunger and 

 thirst remain unimpaired. 



If the disease terminates fatally, it is usually from the sixth to the eighth day, 

 when, if there has been no remission of the spasms, or only a slight one, the horse 

 dies exhausted by hard work. Tlie task extorted by the whip and spur of the most 

 brutal sportsman is not to be compared with it. 



About or a little before this time, there are occasionally evident remissions. The 

 spasm does not quite subside, but its force is materially lessened. Tho jaw is not 

 sufficiently relaxed to enable the animal to eat or to drink, or for advantage to be 

 taken of an opportunity for the administration of medicine, while the slightest dis- 

 turbance or fright, recalls the spasmodic action with all its violence. If, however, 

 the remission returns on the following day, and is a little lengthened, and particularly 

 if there is more relaxation of the lower jaw, there yet is hope. If the patient should 

 recover, it will be very slowly, and he will be lei't sadly weak, and a mere walking 

 skeleton. 



On posi-morlem examination the inuscular fibre will exhibit sufficient proof of the 

 labour which has been exacted from it. The muscles will appear as if they had l)een 

 macerated — their texture will be softened, and tliey will be torn with the greatest 

 ease. The lunirs will, in the majority of cases, be higlily iufiaincl, for they liave 

 been labouring long and painfully, to furnish arterial blood in sufficient quantitv to 

 support this great expenditure of animal power. The stomach will oimtain patches 



