• In some cases tetanus is due to irritation of the stomach and intestines, 

 caused by worms or collections of sand which have been ingested ; and 

 sometimes irritation of the womb following abortion is a cause of this dread 

 malady. 



Tetanus, when not due to a '\vound or injury, is generally traceable to 

 cold and damp, especially after exhaustion. Horses wlien clipped are 

 sometimes afterwards attacked ; and similarly sheep, when exposed to cold 

 and wet immediately after being shorn, not uncommonly manifest the 

 symptoms of tetanus. 



It has been observed that lock-jaw is more prevalent in certain districts 

 than in others; for in .some parts of the country it is very frequently met 

 with while in others it is as rarely seen. In Lincohishire it is fairly 

 common. Sometimes it occurs as a local disease, and Professor Williams 

 records that in the summer of 1858, he witnessed ten cases in a fortnight, 

 and of these some were due to injuries, while the others where not 

 traceable to wounds of any kind. In the human species it has been noticed 

 that tetanus is very common in the tropics, apart from any injury. As to the 

 real nature of tetanus there is some doubt. Some hold the traumatic form 

 to be due to irritatipn of the nerves implicated in the wound, and, think that 

 the spasms result in consequence thereof. In support of this it has been 

 aro-ued that many cases of lock-jaw following docking have recovered after 

 repeating the operation higher up. Yet it must nevertheless be remembered 

 that recovery does not invariably follow the repetition of the operation, and 

 moreover, some very mild cases of traumatic tetanus recover without any 

 treatment whatever. 



We are of the same opinion with those who view tetanus as a blood 

 disease, and several reasons can be advanced in support of this theory. 

 Firstlv, we have seen that tetanus often occurs without any injury. 

 Secondly, tetanus is more prevalent in certain districts than in others, and 

 is sometimes localised to certain parts of the country, affecting several 

 animals at once. There is, however, no proof that tetanus is ever 

 contagious. Thirdly, the resemblance of this disease to rabies or 

 hydrophobia, which has been shown by that eminent pathologist, M. Pasteur, 

 to be due to certain low forms of vegetable life, suggests a similarity in the 

 nature of the cause. Lastly, tetanus is said to be transmissible to man if 

 the flesh of animals which have died of this disease be partaken of. This 

 statement requires confirmation. 



Tetanus may be acute or chronic, and there are also several varieties 

 which have received various names from the particular muscles mainly 

 involved. 



W^hen lock-jaw owes its origin to a wound, it usually manifests itself in 

 from 10 to 28 days after the infliction of the injury, or it may occur even at 

 an earlier date than this. Generally a stiffness about the neck and lower 

 jaw and of the muscles near the seat of injury is first noticeable. There is 

 difficulty in mastication and swallowing, together with increase of the saliva 

 and a peculiar champing of the teeth. If the head be suddenly elevated, or the 



