168 CATTLE. 



limbs, and those by which the impressions of surrounding objects arc 

 conveyed to the mind. Fir.st, of the diseases of the nerves of motion. 

 There' is a fluid or influence conveyed from the brain, through the 

 medium of the spinal chord, to the various parts of the body, by 

 means of which those parts are moved. In health that influence is 

 communicated in a uniform succession of undulations, or pulses. In 

 disease, it may rush on violently and without interruption ; if that be 

 only partial to a single muscle, or one set of muscles, the animal is 

 said to be cramped ; if this violent and uninterrupted action extend 

 over the frame, he labors under tetanus ; if the stream of influence 

 be rapid and strong, but there are suspensions, he has fits ; and if the 

 nervous influence be altogether withheld, there is palsy. 



Tetanus is not frequent in cattle, but it is seldom that a beast 

 recovers from it. Its approach is rarely observed until the mischief 

 is done. The animal is off its food, ceases to ruminate, is disinclined 

 to move, and stands with its head protruded, but there is no dryness 

 of the muzzle, or heat of the horn, or coldness of the ears. The next 

 day the beast is in same state ; has scarcely moved, and is straddling 

 behind, can scarcely be induced to alter his position, and, if made to 

 turn, turns all together. It is found that the jaw is locked ; a dis- 

 covery which might have been made two or three days before, when 

 the ox might have been saved. 



Working cattle are most subject to tetanus, because they may be 

 pricked inlhoeing ; and because, after a hard day's work, covered with 

 perswration, they are sometimes turned out to graze dunng a cold 

 and wet nio-ht. Overdriving is a common cause of tetanus. 



The treatment must be the promptest ; bleed until the pulse 

 falters, or rather until the patient blows, staggers, and threatens to 

 fall. There is nothing so likely to relax spasm of every kind, and 

 even this excessive and universal one, as bleeding almost to fainting. 

 Twenty, and even twenty-four pounds have been taken, before the 

 desired eff"ect was produced, and those cases oftenest do well, when 

 the constitution resists the bleeding long, and then gives way. 



One eff"ect, not always lasting enough, follows the bleeding ;^ the 

 spasm is somewhat relaxed, and the jaws can be opened a little. 

 Advantage must be immediately taken of this to pour in a dose of 

 physic. That which is most active, and lies in the smallest compass, 

 is the best ; and half a drachm, or two scruples of farina of the Croton 

 nut should be given in gruel, w4th, if it can be administered, or as 

 soon as it can, a pound or a pound and a half of Epsom salts in 

 solution. This must be followed up until the bowels are well opened. 

 All other means will be thrown away until brisk purging is produced. 

 There is sometimes a great difficulty in this. The direction which a 

 fluid takes, or the stomach into which it goes, is uncertain. It may 

 pass on at once through the third and fourth stomachs, and produce 

 its effects on the bowels ; or it may accumulate in the paunch, with- 



