DISEASES OF THE BRAIN AND NERVES. Ill 



The symptoms are spasm or cramp of the muscles of the jaw, 

 which prevents the horse from openhig his mouth, or if he is 

 able to open it a little, it is not suflScient to enable him to feed 

 or masticate, though he sometimes appears to have a good a2)pe- 

 tlte. Occasionally there is a considerable flow of saliva from the 

 mouth, and the tongue has been found diseased. The disease 

 gradually increases, and the spasm or cramp extends to the 

 muscles of the neck, back, and limbs, so that when the animal is 

 made to walk, he a[)pears as if all his joints were stiffened ; his 

 nose is poked out, his ears and tail erect, and sometimes his 

 eyes are distorted. The nostrils are generally expanded, and 

 the breathing often disturbed. On the first appearance of the 

 disorder the horse often seems to ail little, but neighs upon any 

 one entering the stable, and seems eager for his food ; in the 

 latter stages, however, the cramp is so general and so painful, 

 that it is distressing to look at the animal. The affected muscles 

 feel exceedingly hard, and the animal moves as if he was a single 

 piece : the least motion is painful, and agitation produces the 

 greatest distress. Sometimes the disease is entirely confined to 

 the head and neck, and then it is more likely to be curable than 

 when the spasm becomes general. This local affection is called 

 by surgeons Tris7>ms, whilst the other is designated Tetanus. 

 Opium and camphor are generally considered the most effectual 

 remedies for locked jaw, and when the mouth is so close, or the 

 power of swallowing so diminished, that medicine cannot be in- 

 troduced into the stomach, it is thrown up as a clyster. 



A late writer, Mr. Wilkinson, has published an account of 

 twenty -eight cases of locked jaw, twenty-four of which he 

 cured ; but in all the successful cases, the jaws were sufficiently 

 open to admit of medicine being given, though with difficulty, 

 while, in the four fatal cases, they were so close as to prevent any 

 medicine from being introduced. Mr. Wilkinson first gives a 

 purgative and an emollient clyster; he does not bleed unless the 

 pulse points out the propriety of that evacuation. He directs 

 the jaws, and all other parts affected with spasm or cramp, to bo 

 well embrocated with a mixture of oil of turpentine, olive oil, 

 liquid ammonia, and mustard, and afterwards covered with fresh 

 sheep skins, the flesh side inwards; which must be continued 

 and changed as often as is necessary, so as to keep up a constant 

 perspiration from the parts. After the operation of the purgative 

 he gives a drench, composed of opium, camphor, and assafoetida, 

 one drachm of each or more, according to the occasion, and 

 throws up a clyster composed of the same ingredients, with a de- 

 coction of rue. If the disease continue, and the horse become 

 costive, the purgative and emollient clyster are repeated, and the 

 opium, &c. discontinued until the effect of the purgative has 

 ceased. Mr. Wilkinson appears to have been very diligent and 



