General Diseases. 357 



various eruptive fevers are common enough in children, 

 second attacks of distemper are rare amongst dogs— while 

 such second cases, when they do occur, are invariably of a 

 slight and temporary nature."* 



TETANUS.' 



This disease is of rare occurrence in canine practice. It 

 is divided into Idiopathic, i.e., where no visible cause is in 

 existence ; and Traumatic, when it arises from injury or 

 wound. . 



Tetanus consists of, or denotes, an uncontrollable spas- 

 modic contraction of the voluntary muscles. It is ex- 

 ceedingly painful, and usually fatal. 



The disease may assume a local or general form, i.e., it 

 may be limited to the jaws, producing lock-jaw ; or it may 

 extend to a part or the whole of the trunk, and give rise to 

 partial or general rigidity. 



Causes. — Changes of temperature, exposure to cold and 

 wet, excessive fatigue ; injuries by wounds or bruises ; 

 irritation to the nerve extremities, or main trunks ; the 

 presence of . irritants in the stomach and intestines ; 

 strychnia. 



, Symptoms. — When the jaws only are affected the head is 

 poked out, the jaws are tightly closed, the angles of the 

 mouth are drawn back, the mouth filled with frothy saliva, 

 and the eyes fixed in an unnatural and often hideous 

 position. 



Whatever portion of the animal is affected, this is drawn 

 and deformed. 



In general tetanus the patient, if able to walk, moves 

 stifHy, or, as it were, «// 0/ « j>2>c^. The ears are pricked, 

 the. tail is carried out straight and has a quivering motion ; 

 the affected muscles have a tense corded feel, and the limbs 

 are straight and set. During a spasm the animal falls over 



* Veterinary Journal, Sept., ■1876. 



