INFECTIOUS DISEASES. 103 



Severe cases die and mild eases get well, in the majority of 

 instances. The prognosis should, however, always be guarded. 



What treatment is recommended? 



There is no specific treatment as yet, and the various methods 

 used have proved unsuccessful in the majority of cases. 



The drugs used are opium in large doses, aconite, chloral hy- 

 drate, bromide of potassium, calabar bean, Indian hemp, belladonna, 

 curara, alcoholic stimulants in excess, chloroform, ether. 



Bloodletting and counter-irritation have been employed, but 

 should not be recommended. 



Do not excite the patient; it is often claimed that the less 

 you do, the better; if in the country, it is often well to turn the 

 animal out and leave him alone. 



In the city we put the animal in a dark box-stall and keep him 

 quiet; keep the people away, and have one person to care for him, 

 with the orders that the attendant do everything quietly, so as not 

 to excite the animal. The attendant should move around easily, 

 making no sudden motion. 



Do not give solid medicines, as a rule ; the medicine should be 

 given in liquid form and concentrated, and given with a syringe. 



Suppositories may be used in some eases, composed of mor- 

 phine and atropine, one-half or one grain each, used twice a day. 



These are often good, and do not produce any irritation, as do 

 medicines given by the mouth. 



The laity say a sudden shock will cure tetanus, as throwing the 

 animal overboard, or shooting off a gun over his head, or throwing 

 water on him ; also sudden blows. Others say that by placing sheep- 

 skin over the loins, letting it remain there until it rots, will cure 

 these cases, but all these are whims, and should not be recommended. 



The sheet anchor is to keep the animal quiet; the use of sup- 

 positories or hypodermics or liquid medicine, by the mouth, in con- 

 centrated form, and in some cases the inhalation of chloroform or 

 ether. 



Also, feeding the animal per rectum in some cases, or by hav- 

 ing gruel in a pail, and when the animal is left alone he will often 

 suck it up. 



Tetanine (anti-toxine) has been used with varying success, 

 but up to the time of writing it cannot be relied on. Probably in 

 the near future it may be improved so as to produce the desired 

 effect. 



