TETANUS. 187 
Antitoxine is possessed of affinity for toxine and draws it away from 
the nervous centers which it particularly prefers; but it is without 
action upon the toxine already fixed by the nervous cells, Recently 
Wasserman has shown that tetanic poison loses also its toxic proper- 
ties when it is mixed with the crushed cerebral substance of a healthy 
animal. 
All traumatic lesions can be followed by tetanus, whatever their 
extent, depth, or serious nature may be. Observation has shown their 
frequency after wounds of the lower regions of the extremities, of the 
genital organs or of the head. Bruised, irregular wounds, gun-shot 
wounds, those by tearings, crushings, those containing foreign bodies, 
fistula, pricks, burns, congestions, are peculiarly exposed to it, 
In horses, the traumatic lesions which are most commonly followed 
by tetanus are: Punctured wound of the foot by nails, corns, quittors, 
interferings and wounds made by harness. In most cases it follows 
deep, irregular wounds, involving tendons, bones, articulations and 
nerves, or those containing a foreign body—splinter of wood, projectile, 
metallic fragment, piece of leather or cloth, vegetal parcel or small 
gangrenous stricture. 
Wounds of operation, like accidental traumas, may be complicated 
with tetanus (/etanus of operation). It has been observed very often 
after castration of males, the introduction of serum, various foot oper- 
ations, less commonly after ovariotomy, the operation for inguinal or for 
umbilical hernia, caudal myotomy, amputations of the tail, removal of 
tumor, firing, the application of a blister, puncture of the caecum. 
Insignificant superficial traumatisms are sufficient for its apposition ; 
sometimes it follows venesection, a simple cutaneous puncture, even 
from an hypodermic injection. 
In females, more commonly in cows, it is observed after parturition 
or abortion (puerperal tetanus). Most of the cases related in bovines 
have been observed in cows after difficult labor, wounds of the vagina, 
uterus, or imperfect delivery. 
In young-borns, principally colts and lambs, tetanus may be a com- 
plication of umbilical phlebitis, especially when it is purulent, gangrenous 
or septic (tetanus of new-borns). In lambs it is not rare to see the 
disease become enzootic. 
Tetanus generally makes its appearance from the third to the fifteenth 
day of the wound, sometimes the second, or even the first; at others 
more lately, during the third or fourth week, in some cases only when 
the wound is already cicatrized. The difficulty in moving, stiffness of 
tthe extremities, extension of the head on the neck, are the first troubles 
noticed. Sometimes the contractions are generalized from the start, 
‘in others they began on the head and neck, on the hindquarters, or the 
muscles in the neighborhood of the wound and gradually extend to 
