384 STRINGHALT. 



plethoric nor a young one, it might be well to try the full 

 effect of the tonic plan. The tetanic irritation being confined 

 to the motor organs, so the digestive faculties usually re- 

 main undisturbed ; and if the horse could eat, it is probable 

 that, in many cases, he might become so nourished as even- 

 tually to wear out the disease w^ithout medicine. Liquid 

 nutriment should, therefore, be artificially and liberally sup- 

 plied by means of the human stomach pump, the tube beina: 

 inserted through the nostril : now and then quantities of 

 the mash itself, if offered, will be sucked in by the hungry 

 animal. We have also given gruel as clysters, in which way 

 much nutriment may be thrown into the constitution. But 

 in pursuing the tonic plan, the necessity of avoiding costive- 

 ness throughout must not be lost sight of ; on the contrary, 

 the moment it appears it must be again combated, as it 

 immediately aggravates the tetanic rigors. The directions 

 here given are very well, but horses have recovered under 

 all kinds of treatment. They have been packed in dung- 

 hills, driven over cliffs, into rivers and made to swim, 

 knocked on the head by the knacker's poleaxe, and all 

 have yet survived. The favourite treatment at present is 

 to give the animal a fearful purgative, and then leave him 

 with food before him in perfect solitude, not even looking 

 at him for a week, or longer. More cures are reported to 

 have taken place under the last mode of treatment than 

 any other. However, there are new agents, which certainly 

 demand a scientific trial — we allude to sulphuric ether, 

 chloroform, and aconite. 



STRINGHALT. 



Mr. Feron informs us, that this singular spasmodic affec- 

 tion is esteemed graceful in some continental countries ; at 

 least when it exists in both hinder legs, as it frequently 

 does, being however usually confined to one side : very 

 seldom indeed is it found in the fore, of which we have seen 

 but one or two instances at the most. It is evidently a 

 spasmodic contraction of some one or more of the flexors of 

 the leg, which usually ceases after the animal has been some 

 time in motion ; it is the consequence of local irritation or 

 of pressure on some nervous fibrila, which the excitement of 



