67 



ears drawn closer together; the nostrils are nauch dilated; the 

 legs stand apart; the eyes indicate excitement and anxiety, the 

 mncoiis membranes are injected (reddened): some muscular 

 groups, principally the masseters and the muscles of the back of 

 the neck, are hard and distinctly outlined, as if carved: the mtis- 

 cles of the jaws, neck and shoulders, back, lumbar region, croup 

 and tail are as hard as wood. 



The tail and ears are elastic; when they are moved they imme- 

 diately return to their former position. 



Thei-e is profuse sweating when the animal is disturbed or when 

 in a spasm; respiration is accelerated and laborious. When ap- 

 proaching the patient in order to examine it the excitement in- 

 creases instantly; the lower jaw is pressed hard against the upper, 

 and can not be separated from it, even by the most violent trac- 

 tion upon it; on parting the lips a fetid liquid runs out of the 

 mouth, which is more or less filled with particles of food; if the 

 head is lifted the whole mevibrana nictitans obscures the greater 

 part of the eyeball. 



Backing is extremely difficult or even impossible; turning is 

 also very laborious; the trunk, neck, and shoulders can not be 

 flexed, the extremities are as stiff as stilts. 



Course. — The course of tetaniis is variable, according to the in- 

 dividual. It commonly develops rapidly, and death takes place 

 in two or three days. In some cases death occurs more slowly 

 within four to eight days on an average. In others, again, where 

 the spasm is moderate and of little extent, the disease may con- 

 tinue for several weeks. ' 



Recovery before the third week is rare; about this time the 

 spasm begins to decline, the appetite returns, respiration becomes 

 calmer, and the movements more free; very often recovery takes 

 place only at the end of five or six weeks; there may be a con- 

 tinuance of the stiffness of movement and tension of the extensors 

 of the spinal column for a long period of time. 



Treatment. — A systematic course of food and the freedom of 

 the patient from all kinds of excitement are the two main indica- 

 tions of the treatment. It is advisable to place the patient in a 

 dark stall, so situated as to be isolated and free from all noises, 

 and only one man should be in attendance, as strangers entering 

 the stall of a patient affected with only a mild attack may cause 



