PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 469 



An opposite incurvation is rarely observed; the head is 

 lowered by the muscles of the neck, and drawn downward 

 between the forelegs, and the vertebral column is curved up- 

 ward : this is emprosthotonos. Reference has been made to 

 lateral curvature — pleurosthotonos — but this is a rare entity. 

 The cause of these various attitudes cannot be explained, 

 unless they be attributed to the seat of the original trau- 

 matism. 



Whatever may be the form of tetanus and the extent of 

 the contractions, the latter are not permanent. From time 

 to time they lessen for a time and then are followed by 



Fig. 46. 

 Acute Tetanus. (Youatt.) 



spasms, These crises or paroxysmal seizures supervene on 

 the leagt excitement. The patient is remarkably susceptible 

 te the ]§ast noise, fi vivid light, the slightest contact, the ad- 

 niinistf^tion of medicines, the taking of the temperature, 

 etc., ^11 of which are ecjually liable to provoke paroxysmal 

 fit^, convulsions or general gpagms of variable violence. 

 Spasms of sufficient violence to e^use rupture of certain 

 muscles haye begn' obseryecl. Several vertebrae may even 

 be crushed, and the patient may be th.r§wn to the flgor dur.: 

 jng the seizure, 



The temperatur? of tetanic siibjects is usually abqve nor= 



