380 DISEASES INVOLVING NERVOUS SYSTEM 



Tetanic symptoms have been noted in cases of intestinal 

 irritation in the horse due to the presence of ascarides. The 

 symptoms, however, are very mild and the case usually 

 yields to proper treatment, such as giving a vermifuge. 



Tetany is a rare condition in animals. It may occur when 

 a torn or severed sensory nerve heals in the lips of the wound 

 (castration). 



Course. — The course is very varied. Some cases die in two 

 or three days, while others may live two or three weeks and 

 the disease terminate fatally. Death usually occurs, how- 

 ever, in three to ten days after the appearance of the first 

 symptoms. Cases which terminate fatally usually grow 

 steadily worse from the beginning. There are, however, 

 exceptions. Sometimes the patient dies suddenly from res- 

 piratory arrest or the aspiration of food (oats) when recovery 

 seems probable. The course in local tetanus is benign pro- 

 vided it is not complicated with trismus. 



Where the termination is favorable, the contractions of the 

 muscles become less after the second week. Convalescence 

 usually lasts four to six weeks. 



Prognosis. — The mortality in tetanus is 55 to 90 per cent. . 

 The disease is not so fatal in the ox as in other animals. In 

 sheep the mortality is 95 to 100 per cent. * 



The 'earlier the disease appears after infection and the more 

 rapidly and severely the symptoms develop, the 1 more fatal 

 the attack. Fever is a bad sign. Where the patient is 

 unable to eat on account of trismus the termination is usually 

 fatal. Severe dyspnea may lead to hypostatic congestion of 

 the lungs and death. On the other hand, if the case develop 

 gradually, after a long period of incubation, and the symp- 

 toms of generalized tetanus are not severe, no fever is present 

 and the appetite retained the outlook is more favorable. 

 Even in these cases, however, the prognosis should be made 

 with caution, as fatal complications may occur at any time. 



Treatment. — Hygienic. — The patient should be removed to 

 a quiet, darkened stall. There is no objection to a mare 

 being allowed her foal or a horse its team mate. Idle curi- 

 osity seekers should be kept away. The animal should be 

 given soft food, and water kept within constant reach. Slings 



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