TETANUS. 515 



but little susceptible to the action of antiseptics, they cannot be- 

 come virulent under ordinary circumstances, unless accompanied 

 by certain bacteria, which can be easily destroyed or rendered inert 

 by an antiseptic. Here, the indirect action of the antiseptic em- 

 ployed is of paramount importance. 



Remember that any person who has been attending a case of 

 tetanus, will be liable to infect the wound of an otherwise healthy 

 horse, if he touches it, unless he has taken the precaution to 

 render his hands and instruments perfectly clean (p. 70). There 

 is ample evidence to prove that tetanus has been frequently trans- 

 mitted to animals with fatal effect by ignorant or careless men in 

 this manner. . 



TREATMENT.— The treatment of tetanus, after the symptoms 

 have become manifest, has, been up to the present, eminently un- 

 successful in lessening the mortality from this terrible disease. If 

 the patient has received a comparatively small dose of the poison, 

 he will recover in all probability ; if a large one, he will die, despite 

 every effort of the veterinary surgeon. The injection of immune 

 serum is usually made into the jugular vein (p. 648) every two or 

 three days in doses of 20 cubic centimetres (about ^ oz.). The 

 injection of serum into the brain is a complicated operation. 



Naturally, the first thing to do is to try to destroy any of the 

 exciting poison or germs within reach. Hence, if the wound 

 through which the attack has been made can be found, open it 

 out, and destroy its surface by means of the knife, the firing iron, 

 or caustics. Its thorough disinfection by means of undiluted 

 carbolic acid ; a solution of 40 grains of chloride of zinc to the 

 ounce of water ; or lunar caustic will be advisable. As the spasms 

 of tetanus cause intense pain and exhaustion, do everything to 

 soothe the animal and to keep up his strength. Owing to the 

 long continuance of the disease, medicines are of little use ; 

 quietude being the chief consideration. If possible the patient 

 should at once be put into slings, not alone to afford him rest, but 

 also to prevent him from getting down, in which event the 

 excitement brought on by struggling to get up again will probably 

 lead to a fatal termination of the disease. The horse should have 

 a plentiful supply of nutritious gruel, milk, and- hard-boiled eggs 

 mashed up either in the gruel or milk, which he can suck up 

 even when he cannot chew his food. The best soothing medicine 

 to give is chloral hydrate (p. 616), 2 oz. of which may be given 

 during the day in a liquid mash. Three and a half oz. of it daily 

 in enemas (p. 643) is advised. 



33* 



