TENT ANUS, OR WOK-JAW. 



529 



to feed, his hunger amounts to starvation ; he will make every effort 

 to suck up gruel or fluids, when, from the fixity of. the jaws, he is 

 unable to masticate. The breathing, at first not much altered, be- 

 comes difficult and loud. The symptoms generally reach their cli- 

 max about the third or fourth day. :' 



The causes of this disease are numerous. It commonly occurs 

 in consequence of wounds, when it is called traumatic tetanus; ifj 

 which case it is not developed until about the period the wound is 

 considered healed ; it may occur from causes not apparent, when it 

 is distinguished as idiopathic tetanus ; but it is generally produced 

 from a wounded nerve or bunch of nerves, pricking the tail, and 



very often from docking, punc- 

 tured wounds in the feet from 

 glass or nails, and sometimes 

 from exposure to cold. Sum- 

 merville says, "I have known 

 one case to occur from fright." 

 Worms and other intestinal ir- 

 ritation sometimes give rise to 

 it. The pulse is almost normal 

 for the first few days. As the 

 disease advances, the pulse 

 'quickens, and the animal is com- 

 pelled to stand on his legs un- 

 til death, if it terminates fatally. If favorably, a relaxation of the 

 muscles begins from the fifth to the seventh day. 



Treatment.— First, as the disease is of a nervous character, qui- 

 etness is of the greatest importance. The animal should be re- 

 iftoved to an isolated place, or cool, dark, roomy loose box, by him- 

 self, and the cause of the disease found. If from docking, the next 

 joint should be taken off the tail. If from a wound in the foot, the 

 Wound should be opened up and made new, and an application of 

 digestive ojntment inserted, so as to produce a healthy flow of mat- 

 ter. Or, as soon as opened up, diligently foment with warm water, 

 after which cover with belladonna, and apply poultices of linseed 

 meal and opium or hyoscyamus to soothe and allay the irritation, 

 and give promptly at the same time a strong purgative, such as — 



Aloes (Barbadoes) v 7 dr. 



Calomel .;. : , . . .. 2 dr. 



• GiVeU in solution or ball, as most convenient. 



. Injections ,ot alkaline solution of aloes should also be given, as 

 it is of the greatest importance to get the bowels open early. Bella- 

 34 a 



Fie. 840.— A Test lor Lock-jaw. 



