TETANUS. 129 



attend universal spasm, continued, without intermis- 

 sion, for many days. The cramp, however, forms but a 

 portion of the agony which the horse during an attack 

 of tetanus must undergo. The system is in a state of 

 unnatural excitement ; the entrance of any one into 

 the stable — a hand laid upon the body — even the 

 noise of an approaching foot — any sight, sound, or 

 touch, may throw the animal into convulsions, or pro- 

 duce such aggravation of the symptoms as shall con- 

 vulse the entire frame. 



In every case of tetanus, we are, of course, most 

 anxious to learn the cause ; probably, upon pushing 

 our inquiries, we may gain some information on this 

 head. There has, perhaps, been some slight injury ; 

 a nail has been driven too close ; or a piece of glass 

 has cut the foot; or a blow has been lodged just above 

 the eye ; or the knees have been recently broken ; or 

 the stable fork has been used to strike the horse about 

 the legs, and the point of it has only gone a little 

 way into the back sinews. Sometimes an operation 

 has been recently performed: and let not the pro- 

 prietor blame the surgeon, if such should have been 

 the case. Any puncture, however small, may pro- 

 duce tetanus ; but it may not follow the most severe 

 and the largest wounds. No means we know of can 

 start it up, and no care or skill can prevent its appear- 

 ance. We may learn, however, that the tail has 

 been docked or nicked. The wounds have very 

 nearly healed, and they may look as well as could be 

 desired; or they may all at once have assumed an 

 unhealthy appearance ; a thin ichorous fluid may be 

 discharged from them, and there may be a spongy 

 G 5 



