182 TETANUS, Oli LOCKED JAW. 



it between the lips and tlie grindei-s — this may always be done — and to a 

 certainty a gi'eater portion of it will gradually be swallowed. This should 

 be followed by the administration of 3ij- of powdered opium frequently 

 repeated. Opium is not only a valuable drug, but it is that on which 

 alone dependence can be placed in this disease. Clysters may also be 

 employed to assist in promoting the action of the bowels. Bleeding, 

 blistering, friction to tlie back, and the appHcation of cold water are 

 calculated to do no good, and suchlike remedies should not be had resort 

 to. The one great object in the treatment of tetanus should be to keep 

 the animal as quiet as possible, and free from those attentions assuming 

 the shape of remedial measures which are too apt to increase the already 

 excited state of the nervous system. The horse should be placed in a warm, 

 somewhat dark, but well- ventilated stable, selected as free as possible from 

 all external noises. Both the floor of the stable and also for some distance 

 outside should be covered with short litter. The stable should be locked, 

 and no one allowed to see the animal but the attendant or professional 

 man, and when this is rendered necessary for the administration of food 

 or medicine, great caution should be used in preventing any sudden noise 

 or movement wliich may disturb the animal. 



One thing should not be forgotten, namely, that a horse with locked jaw 

 is as hungry as when in health, and every possible contrivance should be 

 adopted to fui-nish him with that nutriment which will support him under 

 his tortui-e, and possibly enable him to weather the storm. If a pail of 

 good gruel is placed within his reach, how will he nuzzle in it, and contrive 

 to drink some of it too ! If a thoroughly wet mash is placed before him in 

 a pail, he will bury his nose in it, and manage to extract no small portion 

 of nutriment. By means of a small horn, or a bottle vdth a very narrow 

 neck, it will often be possible to give him a small quantity of gruel ; but 

 the flexible pipe that accompanies Read's patent pump will render this of 

 easier accomplishment, for the nutriment may be administered without 

 elevating the head of the horse, or inflicting on him the extreme torture 

 which used to accompany the act of drenching. K the jaw is ever so 

 closely clenched, the pipe may be introduced between the tushes and the 

 grinders, and carried tolerably far back into the mouth, and any quantity 

 of gruel or medicine introduced into the stomach. ISTor is this the only 

 \vay in which this valuable instrument may be made available in tliis 

 fearful disease ; for with an enema pipe attached to the end of the tube, 

 considerable quantities of good beef tea, strong infusions of oats or malt, 

 combined with thick well-boiled gruel, may be injected into the intestines, 

 and the animal's strength supported to a considerable extent. 



It Avill also be good practice to let a small portion of food be in the 

 manger. The horse will not at first be able to take up the shghtest 

 quantity, but he will attempt to do so. Small portions may be placed 

 between his grinders, and they will presently drop from his mouth scarcely 

 or at all masticated : but some good will be done — there is the attempt to 

 put the muscles of the jaw to their proper use. On the following day he 

 will succeed a little better, and make some trifling advance towards breaking 

 the chain of spasmodic action. Experience will teach the careful groom 

 the value of these minutiae of practice ; and the successful termination of 

 many a case may be traced to the careful niu-sing of the patient. 



When the horse is getting decidedly better, and the weather -will permit, 

 there can be no better practice than to turn him out for a few houi-s in the 

 middle of the day. His toddling about Avill regain to him the iise of his 

 limbs ; the attempt to stoop in order to gi-aze will dimiriish the spasm in 

 his neck ; the act of grazing will relax the muscles of the jaws ; and he 

 can have no better food than the fresh grass. 



