LOCK-JAW, OR TETANUS. 381 



voided. In this state the suffering animal may remain from 

 six to ten days, when, worn out by inanition and irritation, 

 he expires in convulsions. At others, either remedially or 

 spontaneously, the contractions give way slightly ; feeble 

 attempts are made to eat, the limbs become more supple, 

 and a very slow recovery ensues. 



Post-mortem appearances have often exhibited no change 

 from a healthy state throughout the nervous system at 

 large. In some cases, however, there have been marks of 

 cerebral inflammation, and in others the spinal marrow has 

 presented similar features ; this last has been found soft in 

 structure, and with its vaginal coats injected. We have seen 

 the lungs and stomach both highly inflamed ; and a slaugh- 

 terer of horses told us that he seldom if ever cut up a 

 horse which had died of lock-jaw, without finding inflamed 

 lungs. The intestines also usually present inflammatory 

 marks about them ; and, the veins throughout the body, 

 particularly the superficial set, are turgid with blood. 



Treatment. — Although the greater number of instances 

 prove fatal, yet still a sufficient number recover to warrant 

 our utmost endeavours ; and the more so, as most of those 

 who do survive appear to do so from the beneficial effects 

 of the treatment adopted. The very different means which 

 have been successfully tried might stagger the sceptic, and 

 make him attribute the recoveries under these discordant 

 medical agencies to the constitutional strength of the ani- 

 mal. This, however, is not the only instance wherein very 

 opposite means are beneficially employed for the cure of 

 the same disease. Every practitioner is aware of the benefit 

 derived from cold applications in some inflammatory cases ; 

 and every one is equally aware how salutary hot fomenta- 

 tions prove, apparently, in similar inflammations. A cura- 

 tive end is equally produced by both ; the modus operandi 

 to us is not evident. This circumstance should make the 

 veterinary practitioner not absolutely wed himself to any 

 one plan of treatment. When one has been pursued with- 

 out appearance of success, let another be adopted. If a 

 lacerated wound be the cause of the disease, it may be 

 prudent to excise the part, removing not only the injured 

 surface, but a portion of the flesh beyond, and making sure 

 of taking away a piece of the irritated nerve, which is the 



