256 



had the misfortune to be bitten by a rabid animal, the body is said 

 to be rendered immune from the disease. The success which has 

 attended this treatment, and the large number of cases that have 

 been inoculated, almost render it imperative that no time should be 

 lost in placing a bitten subject under the Pasteur treatment. The idea 

 that underlies treatment by inoculation, is to bring the structures of 

 the body into such a condition, that the rabid virus fails to find suitable 

 food for its development and multiplication. In this way, though the 

 germ has been introduced into the body, the disease may be prevented. 

 Fortunately, owing to the general enforcement of the muzzling order 

 for dogs, this country has been practically free for some time past 

 from this distressing malady. 



609. Tetanus, or Lock-jaw. — This is a malady that is 

 characterised by a continuous, stretched, tense, and rigid condition of 

 certain voluntary muscles of the body. It is of a fearfully fatal nature, 

 and, in some cases in its acute and later stages, simulates Rabies. 

 Until very latel}', it also was described as an affection of the nervous 

 system, but it is now said to be due to a germ termed the dvnm-stick 

 bacillus, so called from its resemblance to a drum-stick. Tetanus is of 

 common occurrence in the horse, more particularly in hot climates, 

 and is met with in three forms, — acute, sub-acute, and chronic, — the first 

 being the most fatal. It was formerly classified under two heads, 

 and when no cause could be found, it was called idiopathic tetanus ; 

 the other, arising from a wound with an external opening, was 

 termed traumatic tetanus. Now, when no wound can be observed, it 

 is supposed that the bacillus finds its way into some lesion in the 

 lining membrane of the alimentary track, where it can establish its 

 action. 



610. Tetanus commonly follows wounds in the extremities, par- 

 ticularly punctured wounds in the feet (the majorit}^ of my cases have 

 resulted from these) ; it also sometimes supervenes on operations, 

 such as castration, docking, &c., no matter how skilfully they may be 

 performed. Experimental microscopists tell us that the disease- 

 producing germ is found in garden mould, and that tetanus can be 



