DISEASES OF THE OX AND SHEEP. 363 



more liable to the malady than those which are subjected to 

 less risk in this respect. 



An ox suffering from tetanus may exhibit slight dulness, 

 loss of appetite, cessation of chewing the cud, and difficulty in 

 moving. The attitude of the animal is characteristic, and 

 almost at a glance the disease can be detected, perhaps more 

 readily, however, in the case of a horse than in that of an ox, 

 since in the former animal one is more ready and less surprised 

 to see the signs of tetanus, directly they present themselves. 

 The hind-legs may probably be wide apart, the whole body and 

 neck and limbs are, as it seems, stiffened, the nose is protruded, 

 the head and tail are elevated, the respiration and pulse are 

 both quickened, and the nostrils are expanded. 



In nearly all cases the mouth cannot be opened, and this- 

 fact has given rise to the ordinary name by which the disorder 

 is known, viz. lock-jaw or locked-jaw. When the head of the 

 animal is raised, the haw rapidly passes over the eye-ball, which 

 is at the same time retracted into its orbital cavity. The bowels 

 are constipated, the muscles of the body twitch, swallowing i& 

 a difficult process, and the abdomen is rigidly contracted. All 

 the muscles of the body seem to be more or less strongly 

 affected ; but different sets of muscles are liable to be especially 

 attacked, making, for instance, the back curve upwards or 

 downwards, as the case may be, or causing a bending of the 

 animal to one or other side of the body. The contortions of 

 the body are frequently of a very marked kind. 



One very important point to be borne in mind is that any 

 causes which tend to cause excitement, such, for instance, as 

 sudden noises, presence of people in the building, admission of 

 light, are to be carefully avoided, while comparative darkness, 

 or at any rate stringent exclusion of any piercing light, should 

 be strictly enjoined. If the attack is of a very severe kind, the 

 patient quickly sinks, despite all attempts to obviate a fatal 

 issue ; but if the animal, by dint of the greatest care and most 

 skilful attention, lives over the seventh day, recovery may ensue. 

 The patient may show signs of thirst, and by the medium of 

 fluids may be induced to take in a fair amount of nutriment. 

 This, however, is one of the greatest difficulties in treating 

 cases of tetanus; for manifestly it is of the first importance, 

 when so much energy is being wastefully expended by reason 



