386 BOVINE PATHOLOGY. 



times seen in newly-born animals as Trismus nascentium. 

 It is also attributed to over-driving (when it may depend 

 on soreness of the feet) and the presence of irritants in 

 the alimentary canal. The latter, besides (probably) 

 causing the disease, increase its intensity, as is proved by 

 the beneficial effects of catharsis. To induce this extremely 

 large doses of powerful drastics are given, and it is wonder- 

 ful with what impunity. Once trismus has set in adminis- 

 tration of medicines in the ordinary way is difficult, but croton 

 oil may be placed on the tongue. Other agents may be 

 given per rectum, but the best method is subcutaneous 

 injection. Thus, morphia may be administered, or prussic 

 acid, or a trial may be made of the nitrite of amyl. Chloro- 

 form inhaled is found to relax spasm temporarily, and the 

 same effect follows its administration per rectum ; it 

 exerts no permanent influence. In these cases quiet 

 must be substituted even for ordinary nursing measures. 

 The patient must be placed in a dark and hushed place, 

 and left there with a free supply of gruel available and a 

 good bed. The wound to which the attack is attributed 

 may be treated by sedative applications and poulticed. 

 Moller has shown (see ' Veterinarian,^ 1880) that tetanus 

 cannot be produced by transfusion of blood from a 

 tetanic to a healthy animal; it, therefore, is not specific, 

 as some suppose. No definite post-mortem lesions have 

 been observed, but in many cases there are congestion 

 of the spinal cord and its membranes, softening of the 

 cord, and accumulation of fluid between the membranes. 



An interesting feature of this disease is the height to 

 which the internal temperature may rise. Some of the 

 highest readings on record in the human being were 

 taken from acute cases of this disorder. 



Paralysis — Palsy — is also a symptomatic condition 

 referable to many different causes, and varying much in 

 its characters. It is loss of voluntary motor power in a 

 few or many of the muscles of the body, and generally 

 is accompanied by a similar condition, anaesthesia, loss 

 of sensory power. This union of the two conditions is 

 the result of the proximity of the sensory and motorial 



