110 DISEASES OF THE HORSE. 



has been either effusion of blood between the membranes cover- 

 ing the lumbar region of the spinal cord, or anchylosis of the 

 lumbar vertebra?, or exostosis in the great foramen. In other 

 cases I could see nothing to cause it, except that the spinal 

 marrow appeared somewhat softer than usual. 



" In nearly all the instances that have come under my ob- 

 servation, 1 could trace the origin of the disease to wrenches, 

 falls, or blows ; and I have little doubt tliat the hardness of the 

 "round, and the manner in which the horses are picketed, 

 together with the falls they get, owing to the carelessness of the 

 native grooms in forcing them in and out of the ferry-boats, in 

 their way from one station to another, are fertile sources of the 

 disease. The frequent occurrence of fractured ilia, in that 

 country, can only be attributed to the same causes. 



" I cannot, however, consider the difficulty of going up and 

 down hills any proof of fluid in the spinal sheath; but I at- 

 tribute it to the want of energy in the hind quarters — the 

 propelling influence being mainly in the hind quarters when 

 going up hill, and there being a necessity for extending them 

 more under the body in going down hill. 



" With respect to the remedial means had recourse to, I believe 

 them to be nothing worth, not even as palliatives. I have seen 

 counter-irritants in the form of deep firing, blistei's, setons, 

 sheep skins, &c., employed; but they have been of no avail. I 

 cannot, therefore, advocate any of them." — Ed.] 



Tetanus. 



This dangerous, and often fatal, disorder may be either 

 Symptomatic, or Idiopathic ; the former when it proceeds from 

 an extei'nal injury, the latter when otherwise occasioned. The 

 former, also called Traumatic, is most commonly caused by punc- 

 tured wounds of the foot, such as pricks in shoeing, or stepping 

 on a nail in the streets. Sometimes it happens after docking, 

 nickino;, or geldins; ; but seldom till two or three weeks after the 

 0})eration. So likewise when it is caused by punctured wounds, 

 which are generally in a healing state, or nearly well, before the 

 locked jaw takes place. Idiopathic tetanus may be produced 

 by exposure to wet and cold, and is often complicated with in- 

 flammation of the liver, the lungs, stomach, and bowels ; which, 

 indeed, is one cause of its great fatality. According to Gibson, 

 it is sometimes caused by botts in the stomach. I have seen 

 two cases which appeared to be caused by the irritation of worms 

 in the bowels. It may be produced by violent exertion ; and I 

 have seen a case where it took place in consequence of severe 

 punishment in the riding-school. In the latter stage of stomach 

 staggers the jaws are sometimes locked, and the disease sometimes 

 comes on when no cause can be assigned for it. 



