362 THE DISEASES AND DISOEDERS OF THE OX. 



mucous membranes, and the tissues generally will be found to 

 be largely infiltrated with blood and serum. 



With regard to treatment, the strictest cleanliness must be 

 enjoined, and the patient should be supplied with food which 

 is at once nutritious and easy of digestion. The veterinary 

 surgeon should have recourse to stimulants. Oil of turpentine 

 is indicated, owing to its special action on the kidneys and its 

 stimulating properties. Tincture of perchloride of iron is of 

 especial value, and suitable preparations of ergot are very useful 

 at times. Sulphuric acid in small doses well diluted with water 

 has also been recommended, but its use requires confirmation. 

 Continued care is requisite, for not only is the period of con- 

 valescence lengthened, but the disease is also liable to recur. 



Tetanus, or Locked-Jaw. 



Our readers will readily understand that the above-named 

 disease is one in regard to which, although a great deal has 

 been written, yet not very much is as yet really known. When 

 suffering from tetanus, an animal exhibits a general and con- 

 tinued spasm of the muscles of the body. Not only is this 

 characteristic state of contraction seen in the case of those 

 muscles which are immediately under the direction of the will, 

 and are therefore called voluntary, but also in those which are 

 termed involuntary, owing to the fact that they are not usually 

 brought into play by the will of the animal. Generally 

 speaking, horses are more liable to be afflicted with tetanus 

 than are either men or cattle, although the disease is not 

 very uncommon among human beings in the tropics, nor is it 

 very infrequent among calves and sheep. 



Tetanus may come on either after an injury has been 

 sustained, in which case it is called traumatic, or from other 

 causes, such as the ingestion of bad food or exposure to cold, 

 wet, inclement weather. If it occurs in an animal which has 

 not sustained any wound, it is designated idiopathic. We may 

 here state that quite recently it has been stated that tetanus is 

 really' caused by the presence of germs of a definite kind, and 

 that the symptoms are due to an alkaloid called tetanine. 

 (Brieger). The disease is said to arise in lambs when the ewes 

 are feeding upon rich trefoil, and it may be noted that cattle 

 which are prone to receive injuries, such as working oxen, are 



