TETANUS. 393 



TETANUS. 



Resembling rabies in some degree, tetanus differs from it in the 

 absence of any affection of the brain, the senses remaining perfect 

 to the last. It is not common with the dog ; and, when it does 

 manifest itself, is generally produced by a severe injury, and 

 shows itself in the form known as "lock-jaw." Hence in France 

 it is known as mal de cerf, from its supervening upon wounds from 

 the horns of that animal. It consists in spasmodic rigidity of 

 certain muscles, alternately with relaxation ; but the stiffness 

 continuing for some length of time, and not appearing and disap- 

 pearing as quickly as in cramp. If the tetanic spasm affects the 

 muscles of the jaw, the state is called " lock-jaw." When it 

 seizes on all the muscles of the back, the body is drawn into a bow, 

 the head being brought nearly close to the tail. Sometimes the 

 contraction is of one side only, and at others of the muscles of the 

 belly, producing a bow in the opposite direction to that alluded to 

 above. These various conditions exactly resemble the contractions 

 produced by the poison of strj^chnine ; so that when they occur, 

 as the disease is extremely rare, it is fair to suspect that poison 

 has been used. Nevertheless, it should be known that they were 

 witnessed long before this poison was in use ; and, therefore, they 

 may arise independently of it. 



The successful treatment of tetanus is a hopeless affair, if the case 

 is clearly established. Purgatives and bleeding may be tried, fol- 

 lowed by chloroform, which will always relieve the spasm for the 



