370 PRINCIPLES OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 



glands. It is not a very fatal disease. The mortality varies 

 from 1 to 3 per cent., but may reach 20 per cent, in certain 

 epizootics. Under ordinary circumstances convalescence occurs 

 in a week or ten days. 



Cause. — -The cause of strangles is a germ known as the Strep- 

 tococcus equi. This organism lurks in public sale stables, livery 

 barns, and about places where horses are kept in numbers. In 

 the late winter and spring months these animals are particularly 

 liable to acquire the infection. The period of incubation varies 

 from four_tQ eight days. One attack usually affords life-long 

 immunity. 



Symptoms. — In typical cases there will be found a rise of 

 temperature to 104° to 106°F.; general depression; congested 

 mucous membranes; profuse nasal discharge, at first of a watery 

 nature, then thick and yellowish; moist cough; swelling of the 

 lymph-glands under the jaw — which at first are hard, hot, and 

 very tender, later they soften and pus discharges either externally 

 or into the mouth. 



Treatment. — A comfortable stall and light, laxative ration 

 must be provided. Of course, the patient should not be kept 

 at work. Cleanse the nostrils with moistened absorbent cotton 

 two or three times a day. For internal medication nothing gives 

 better satisfaction than artificial Carlsbad salts. If the fever is 

 high, quinin may be administered. The treatment of the swollen 

 glands in the throat is purely surgical. To hasten abscess 

 formation a poultice may be applied. As soon as the abscess 

 "points " it should be opened with the finger or a blunt instrument 

 to allow the pus to escape. Syringe out the abscess cavity twice 

 each day with 3 per cent, carbolic acid solution. 



TETANUS 



Tetanus is a typical acute, infectious disease of the nervous 

 system, characterized by spasmodic contractions of the muscles. 

 Strictly speaking, it is not a communicable disease, although 

 tissue from an infected wound is capable of causing the disease 

 when inoculated into a guinea pig. The mortality varies be- 

 tween 55 and 90 per cent. 



Cause. — The disease is caused by the tetanus bacillus, a spore- 

 forming, toxin-producing organism that is naturally found in 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



