TRAUMATISMS BROUGHT ABOUT BY ANIMAL AGENCIES 149 



knowledge of the habits of these animals. The most dangerous 

 region to travel through is tall grass, as the hunter or traveller and 

 the wild beast may meet suddenly, and it is here that an accident 

 is more likely to occur than in more open scrub country. Another 

 prevalent cause of accidents is the beating by means of men on foot 

 of jungle or bush into which a wounded animal has retreated. The 

 especially dangerous animal under such circumstances is the tiger, 

 and as eminent as authority as Sir Samuel Baker has especially 

 drawn attention to this fact, and has stated that if no elephants are 

 available then a herd of buffaloes should be driven through the 

 jungle, as they will quickly dislodge the tiger. The possible presence 

 in the vicinity of the mate of the attacked animal should always be 

 borne in mind, as the omission to remember this simple fact has often 

 led to unpleasant accidents. 



The physical signs and symptoms produced by these bites and 

 mauls may be divided into general and local. With regard to the 

 former, immediately after being bitten or mauled the victim, if 

 able to stand, feels giddy, turns pale, becomes unable to stand, 

 and, if the injury is at all severe, quickly passes into a condition of 

 shock with a weak pulse, cold extremities, pinched and drawn face, 

 and weak voice, and may become insensible, which, indeed, is often 

 his condition when first rescued in the severer cases. As a rule he 

 remains in a more or less torpid condition, sleeping day and night, 

 and suffering severely, when aroused, from thirst and pain. All 

 these symptoms are more accentuated in Europeans than in natives. 



Usually reaction sets in fairly quickly, the temperature rising 

 to 101° to 102° F. or even more, while the pulse is generally quick, 

 ranging about 110 to 120 beats per minute. Usually the torpor 

 continues for some time, but delirium may intervene. The mouth 

 and throat continue to be dry, and thirst is still a marked symptom. 

 Locally the injured region may show rends and tears in the skin, 

 lacerations of the muscles, tendons exposed and torn, vessels and 

 nerves injured, and perhaps torn across, with more or less haemor- 

 rhage, bones may be exposed, bruised, broken, or dislocated, joints 

 may be exposed, opened, and injured. Around the injured regions 

 the parts are bluish or red in colour, and swollen, and quickly 

 become oedematous, firm, and hot to the touch. 



If the wounds are but slight, the inflammation may remain super- 

 ficial, but usually the great danger is a cellulitis associated with pus 

 formation and intermittent fever. A more serious complication 

 is spreading or acute traumatic gangrene. Later, as the patient 

 recovers, there is the liability of sinus formation and of stiffness in 

 joints. 



It is very important to remember that malaria can occur as a 

 complication, and that therefore some of the intermittent tempera- 

 ture may at times be due to this cause. There is no difficulty with 

 regard to the diagnosis as a rule, as there is generally a history to 

 be obtained, while the local signs are sufficiently indicative'^of the 

 condition, but the prognosis with regard to even slight woimds 



