General Diseases. 357 
various eruptive fevers are common enough in children, 
second attacks of distemper are rare amongst dogs—while 
such second cases, when they do occur, are invariably of a 
slight and temporary nature.’* 
TETANUS. 
This disease is of rare occurrence in canine practice. It 
is divided into /dzopathic, t.e., where no visible cause is in 
existence; and Yvaumatic, when it arises from injury or 
wound. 
Tetanus consists of, or denotes, an uncontrollable spas- 
modic contraction of the voluntary muscles. It is ex- 
ceedingly painful, and usually fatal. 
The disease may assume a local or general form, z.¢., it 
may be limited to the jaws, producing /ock-jaw; or it may 
extend to a part or the whole of the trunk, and give rise to 
partial or general rigidity. 
Causes.—Changes of temperature, exposure to cold and 
wet, excessive fatigue; injuries by wounds or bruises; 
irritation to the nerve extremities, or main trunks; the 
presence of irritants in the stomach and _ intestines ; 
strychnia. 
Symptoms.— When the jaws only are affected the head is 
poked out, the jaws are tightly closed, the angles of the 
mouth are drawn back, the mouth filled with frothy saliva, 
and the eyes fixed in an unnatural and often hideous 
position. 
Whatever portion of the animal is affected, this is drawn 
and deformed. 
In general tetanus the patient, if able to walk, moves 
stiffly, or, as it were, a// of a piece. The ears are pricked, 
the tail is carried out straight and has a quivering motion ; 
the affected muscles have a tense corded feel, and the limbs 
are straight and set. During a spasm the animal falls over 
* Veterinary Journal, Sept., 1876. 
