PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 475 



ward become general. The patient then exhibits general 

 rigidity. He walks with difficulty. All of the muscles are 

 strained, projecting and hard, and display convulsive trem- 

 ors. The ears are straight and the eyes wide open and 

 drawn toward the temporal canthi. The pupils are dilated, 

 the eyebrows knitted, and the forehead crimped. The neck 

 is stretched out, straight and rigid, the back is straight 

 or curved and the tail projects backward. The four legs 

 are stiff and carried in abduction. The flanks are tucked, the 

 hypochondria prominent and the abdomen taut and hard. 

 There is dysphagia, dyspnoea and a hard, irregular pulse. 

 The patient moves with difficulty and falls to the floor. 



The progress of the disease is variable. It mav exhibit 

 paroxysms that simulate rabies. In fact, the spasms of the 

 pharynx render deglutition difficult and the voice hoarse. 

 Death occurs during a fit. Recoveries are frequent. AVarnes- 

 son cured 59 per cent. Convalescence lasts about one 

 month. 



LESIONS. — Tetanus has been the subject of numerous 

 anatomo-pathological investigations, but no constant, specific 

 or absolutely characteristic lesions have been found. Most 

 of the lesions found in post-mortem are commonplace or 

 secondary, dependent on complications resulting from tet- 

 anic infection. Therefore, very dififerent lesions are found 

 in every organ and in every portion of the body. 



The initial wound cannot always be found. When the 

 period of incubation has been long, cicatrization may be 

 complete. Often, however, a deep, anfractuous wound, con- 

 taining a hsemorrhagic exudation, is found in the region of 

 the trauma. Neuritis has been found extending a short dis- 

 tance from the wound. 



The subcutem may be the seat of ecchymoses and effu- 

 sions incident to the falling or struggling of the patient on 

 the floor. Fractures of the cranium and abrasions of the 



