39 TETANUS. 
One peculiarity of tetanus is too marked not to be noticed. Persons 
have complained of the wooden appearance of the body; but, in severe 
cases, the height of the animal seems diminished and the length shortened. 
This appearance is more than the result of mere imagination. Many of 
the bones are divided by a fibro-cartilaginous substance: this substance 
force can compress. For that reason, a man is shorter when he retires 
at night than when he rises in the morning. No weight, however, can 
act with the energy of excited contractibility, and of that tetanus is 
composed: all the muscles are violently in action or energetically con- 
tracting. A single muscle, when excited, shortens to that degree, which 
moves some portion of the body; but, when the entire mass of muscles 
simultaneously contract, they compress the frame, as in a vice. The 
grace of the animal is lost; the height is diminished, and the length is 
lessened, under so powerful and general an action. 
All kinds of treatment have been tried for tetanus, and it is said that 
each has resulted in success. The majority of these popular methods, 
however, are sheer barbarities; and if they were successful, they were so 
against probability. The plan at present adopted is much more humane: 
the animal’s shoes are removed, that no sound may follow the tread, and 
a solitary shed is strewn with refuse tan. Food, in the form of an ample 
malt mash and a pail of thin gruel, is placed within easy reach. The 
shed must be approached but once daily—then by the man most accus- 
tomed to the horse; and he speaks soothingly as he nears the building 
to change the provender. 
This species of treatment, when preceded by a large dose of purgative 
medicine, is usually successful. Mix four drachms of aloes or six drachms 
of aloetic mass, and four drachms of extract of gentian, with one scruple 
of croton ferina. This tremendous purgative may be confidently given, 
as everything during this disease depends upon the maintenance of quiet, 
and upon getting the bowels open. 
As all people, however, may not live where solitude can be com- 
manded; then, give the purgative, render the room dark, and allow as 
few curious visitors as the pleading of sincerity cannot prevent intruding 
upon the sick and disabled quadruped. Pulling the animal about to 
administer medicine seems to do more harm than the most powerful 
drugs can counteract. Permit no blisters; sanction no firing: counter- 
irritants, however beneficial in other cases, are positive irritants, when 
applied to a body nervously excited to the highest degree. Graut per- 
mission for no operation to be performed, as any person of ordinary 
imagination may picture the effect of bustle, followed by sharp pain, 
upon a creature which cannot endure even the slightest sound. 
Should, however, the case last so long as to warrant fear of the 
