480 PRINCIPLES OF VETERHSTARY SURGERY 



which diseases may exhibit some analog^f with it. Laminitis 

 has a single common symptom with tetanus : difficulty of 

 movement. This is differentiated by the absence of trismus, 

 rigidity of the neck and trunk, etc., and by symptoms pecu- 

 liar to it : heat and sensibility of the hoofs, etc. In rabies 

 there is rigidity instead of contractions, fits of rage, tend- 

 ency to bite, etc., which must not be confounded with the 

 paroxysms of tetanus. And besides the jaw is paralyzed in- 

 stead of locked. Cerebro-spinal meningitis which manifests 

 itself by tinsmus, grinding of the teeth, tetanic contractions 

 of the masseter muscles, etc., is distinguished from tetanus 

 by the succession of the periods of excitement, depression, 

 vertigo and finally coma. 



In ruminants cerebro-spinal meningitis is somewhat simi- 

 lar; but the spasmodic contractions differ by remaining local 

 aild of short duration. The existence of cerebral symptoms, 

 and the appearance of progressive paralysis also assist in 

 making the differentiation. In the dog, tetanus must be dif- 

 ferentiated from rabies and strychnin poisoning. Rabies, 

 especially dumb rabies, exhibits several points in common 

 with tetanus, but the paralysis of the inferior jaw and the ab- 

 sence of permanent general contractions are sufficient to pre- 

 vent all errors. Strychnin poisoning exhibits paroxysms of 

 but a few minutes duration. The progress and the reflex 

 excitability are sufficient to make a differential diagnosis 

 from tetanus. 



During the period of incubation tetanus .cannot be 

 diagnosed. It can not be recognized until the contractions 

 appear. If such a diagnosis were possible preventive inocu- 

 lation of antitetanic serum could be successfully applied in 

 every case, as it certainly hinders the appearance of the con- 

 tractions if used before incubation. It may therefore be un- 

 derstood that means have been . sought to make a hurried 

 diagnosis of tetanus Courant wondered whether the phe- 



