482 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SURGERY 



bacillus, but the blood or serum of the horse and donkey ex- 

 hibit agglutinative properties. This normal agglutinant 

 power of the horse's blood is found in animals strongly im- 

 munized against tetanus. Thus, in relation to the horse 

 Julien has stated that, after immunization, the normal agglu- 

 tinant property has increased a thousand fold. Immuniza- 

 tion also develops agglutinant properties in an animal that 

 does not exhibit them before, — the rabbit. The results of 

 these investigations show that agglutination cannot assist 

 in the diagnosis of tetanus. 



PROGNOSIS. — The prognosis of tetanus is always 

 grave. It is frequently fatal. Its gravity is demonstrated by 

 all the various statistics. The average mortality in the horse 

 is about 70 to 75 per cent, in the ox from 50 to 60 per cent, 

 in the small ruminants and in the hog 90 per cent and in the 

 dog about one-half of the cases recover. The maximum 

 gravity is exhibited in the young, particularly the nev/ born. 

 In the case of lambs it is invariably fatal. 



The prognosis of tetanus depends upon the duration of 

 the period of incubation. According to the duratioir of't-lie 

 period of inculcation the distinction is made between the 

 acute and the chronic form. The first, which is '.character- 

 ized by the rapid appearance of the symptoms',* is always 

 fatal. In the second, on the contrary, the contractions which 

 make their appearance after a long- period of incubation, do 

 not generalize. This form is capable of being cured, and 

 that without medicine. The prognosis should be based upon 

 the rapidity of the invasion of the contractions, on their lo- 

 calization, on the intensity of the trismus and paroxysms, on 

 the acceleration of the respirations, and on the elevation of 

 the temperature. 



TREATMENT.— The treatment of tetanus is prophy- 

 lactic and curative. 



Prophylactic Treatment. — Knowing that tetanus is al- 



