136 



" Tetanus may originate in some disorder of the blood, or 

 nerves, without a wound, when it is called idiopathic. That 

 which is caused by a wound is traumatic." As the foot of the 

 horse is so frequently the subject of the traumatic variety of 

 tetanus, and is especially exposed, and susceptible, to disorders 

 of the blood, and nerves, from pressure of its horny envelope- 

 ment, may we not, more frequently, regard the blood and 

 nerve disorders of this organ as the source at least of some of 

 the idiopathic forms of this disease met with in veterinary 

 practice ? And further, may we not, with possibly good results 

 in all cases of supposed idiopathic tetanus, proceed to treat 

 the feet in the same manner that I shall recommend for adop- 

 tion in all cases where traumatic tetanus is distinctly traceable 

 to a wound of the foot ? 



"Tetanus may be caused by wounds and external injuries 

 of every description, but especially by lacerated and punctured 

 wounds of the hands and feet ; wounds irritated by foreign 

 matters, or in which nerves are exposed. 



11 It is probable, however, that in most instances some con- 

 current or predisposing cause, in addition to an external injury, 

 is required to produce tetanus. Of such causes, the best estab- 

 lished are, first, an irritable state of the gastro-intestinal 

 mucous membrane ; and second, exposure to cold, damp, night- 

 air, especially during warm weather. 



" The same causes, cold and visceral irritation, which pre- 

 disposes to the traumatic, may of themselves produce the idio- 

 pathic tetanus." 



MYSTERIOUS INTERTRANSMUTATIONS OF DISEASE. 



If the veterinary pathologist will here recall the doctrines 

 and facts relating to the sympathy that exists between the skin, 

 the mucous membranes of the lungs, and the abdominal vis- 

 cera, and then add those of the feet to this list of sympathetic 

 tissues, he will not find it difficult to perceive the feasibility of 

 the view I have entertained for some time, namely, that in cer- 

 tain conditions of the nerve structures, and forces, of the foot 



