TETANUS, OR LUCKED JAW. 189 



out any effect. The manner in which it is given may have some 

 influence. If there be great liurry to take advantage of the relaxation 

 of the spasm, and pour down the whole drink quickly, in one body, 

 it is very likely to find its way into the paunch. Jf the medicine be 

 given a little at a time, or suffered to run gently down the throat, it 

 will probably flow into the fourth stomach and the intestinal canal. 



Tlie hoicels must he opened. After the first dose of Epsom salts 

 and Croton farina, half-pound doses of salts should be given every 

 six hours until the desired effect is produced ; but after the first day, 

 the Epsom salts may be changed with advantage for common salt. 

 Injections should be administered every third hour, (four or six 

 quarts at least,) and in each half a pound of Epsom salts should be 

 dissolved. If four or six doses of medicine have been given, and the 

 animal continues constipated, the pulse, ear, and horn should be 

 examined as to the degree of fever ; and if any is indicated, and if 

 the pulse does not plainly denote debility, a second bleeding must be 

 resorted to, and carried on until the circulation is evidently affected. 



If the animal still remains constipated, the physic is accumulated 

 in the paunch; and that stomach is not disposed to act. Strong 

 doses of aromatics and tonics must now be added to the physic, to 

 rouse the paunch to the expulsion of its contents, and should that 

 fai!. rt-course must be had to the stomach pump. The oesophao-us- 

 tube must be introduced into the gullet, and carried down into the 

 rumen, and warm water must be pumped in until that stomach over- 

 flows ; and then the contents will either be vomited, or pass through 

 the third into the fourth stomach, and so into the intestines, and the 

 purgative effect will follow. This instrument is invaluable ; and 

 on the smallest farm, would soon repay the expense. 



Purging being established, an attempt must be made to allay the 

 irritability of the nervous system by sedatives ; and the best drug, 

 and the mainly effectual one, is opium. The crude opium dissolved in 

 warm water, and suspended by means of dissolved gum or the yolk 

 of an Q^g, will be the preferable form in which to give it. The dose 

 should be a drachm three times every day, and increased to a drachm 

 and a half on the third day, if the effect of the smaller dose be not 

 evident. At the same time the action of the bowels must be kept 

 up by Epsom salts, common salt, or sulphur, and the proportions of 

 the purgative and the sedative must be such that the constitution 

 shall be under the influence of both. It may be necessary to suspend 

 the sedative for a dose or for a day, when costiveness threatens. The 

 animal should be supported by mashes, which it will sometimes eat, 

 or at least suck the moisture from ; and as soon as there is any 

 remission of the spasm, the beast may be turned in a field near at 

 hand dm-ing the day, and taken up at night. 



A seton of black hellebore root in the dewlap may be of service. 

 It is introduced into a part not under the influence of the disease, 

 8 



