DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 243 
head almost exempt in some cases, and have the body and limbs 
perfectly rigid and incapable of movement without falling. 
Tetanus may possibly be confounded with spinal meningitis, but 
the character of the spasm-locked jaw, retraction of the eyeballs, the 
difficulty in swallowing due to spasms of the muscles of the pharynx, 
and above all, the absence of paralysis, should serve to make the 
distinction. 
Prevention.—When a valuable horse has sustained a wound that it 
is feared may be followed by tetanus, it is well to administer a dose of 
tetanus antitoxin. This is injected beneath the skin with a hypoder- 
* mic syringe. A very high degree of protection may in this way be 
afforded. This antitoxin should be administered only by a competent 
veterinarian. 
Treatment——The animal should be placed in a box stall without 
bedding, as far as possible from other horses. If in a country dis- 
trict, the animal should be put into an outbuilding or shed, where 
the noise of other animals will not reach it; if the place is moder- 
ately dark, it is all the better; in fly time it should be covered with a 
light sheet. The attendant must be very careful and quiet.to prevent 
all unnecessary excitement and increase of spasm. Tetanus antitoxin 
appears to be useful as a remedy in some cases, if given in very large 
quantities early in the disease; otherwise it is useless. Subcutaneous 
injections of carbolic acid in glycerin and water (carbolic acid 30 
grains, glycerin and water each 1 ounce) appear to be useful in 
some cases. Injections should be given twice daily. 
A cathartic, composed of Barbados aloes 6 to 8 drams, with which 
may be mixed 2 drams of the solid extract of belladonna, should be 
given at once. This is best given in a ball form; if, however, the ani- 
mal is greatly excited by the attempt or can not ewallow, the ball may 
be dissolved in 2 ounces of olive oil and thrown on the back of the 
tongue with a syringe. If the jaws are set, or nearly so, an attempt 
to administer medicine by the mouth should not be made. In such 
cases one-quarter of a grain of atropia, with 5 grains of sulphate of 
morphia, should be dissolved in 1 dram of pure water and injected 
under the skin. This should be repeated sufficiently often to keep the 
animal continually under its effect. This will usually mitigate the 
severity of the spasmodic contraction of the affected muscles and 
lessen sensibility to pain. Good results may be obtained sometimes 
by the rectal injection of the fluid extract of belladonna and of can- 
nabis indica, of each 1 dram, every four or six hours. This may 
be diluted with a quart of milk. When the animal is unable to swal- 
low liquids, oatmeal gruel and milk should be given by injection per 
rectum to sustain the strength of the animal. A pailful of cool water 
should be constantly before him, placed high enough for him to reach 
it without special effort; even if drinking is impossible, the laving of 
