342 The Farmer's Veterinary Adviser. 



and if not stopped drops in harness, first, it may bo, 

 starting to one side, or reaiing up so as to fall back over 

 the driver. If stopped on the first sign of failing, the 

 attack may usually be warded off. If it has taken place, 

 the loosening of the harness and a few minutes rest will 

 generally bring the animal round, so that he can get on 

 hif) legs, but he remains nervous and excitable for several 

 days. 



Prevention. Treatment. In plethoric young horses im- 

 prove the condition by restricted diet and regular increas- 

 ing exercise, or turn out to gi'ass for a time. Give an 

 occasional laxative and diuretic. Avoid tight or badly 

 fitting collars or whatever presses on the veins of the 

 neck. Shelter the top of the head from the direct rays of 

 the sun by a sunshade. Wear a wet sponge constantly 

 between the ears when at work. "When the premonitory 

 symptoms appear, stop, slacken the collar, cover the eyes, 

 apply cold water or ice to the head and neck ; blood may 

 even be drawn from the palate, the temporal artery or 

 the jugular vein. This should be followed by an active 

 purgative (aloes, Glauber salts,) and nerve sedatives 

 (chloral-hydrate, bromide of potassium). A laxative diet 

 must be kept up for some time or a run at grass allowed. 



LOCK-JAW. TBISMUS. TETAinjS. 



This consists in persistent (tonic) cramps of the volun- 

 tary muscles. When confined to those of the face it is 

 trismus or loch-jaw, when general tetanus. 



Causes. Wounds, especially of unyielding structures, 

 like the foot, the firm fibrous layers covering the limbs, 

 shoulder or croup, or the bones (tail). Wounds implicat- 

 ing large sensory nerves, or enclosing rust, gritty matters, 

 or castrating clamps, or subject to chafing as between the 

 thighs, are occasional causes. In other cases exposure 

 to cold or wet or a continual dropping on some part of 

 the body is the cause. In stUl others it appears without 

 any obvious reason, though probably from internal lesions. 



