256 SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF TETANUS WITH ACONITE. 
mash ; fever greatly subsided ; extremities less swollen and 
painful. 
18th. — Animal appears a great deal better; begun to walk 
round her box ; appetite better. Continue balls as before. 
19th. — Ordered walking exercise ; appetite improves ; 
looks livelier ; swelling of limbs considerably decreased. 
20th. — Animal walks sound ; instructed the owner not to 
give too much food until she gets stronger. Treatment 
discontinued. 
SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF TETANUS WITH 
ACONITE. 
By J. W. Hill, M.R.C.V.S., Wolverhampton. 
Aconite as a medicine in veterinary practice is with many 
of the profession no favorite agent, while, on the contrary, 
by others it has been, and, I think, justly so, strongly 
advocated, particularly in those diseases where spasmodic 
action of the muscles from a highly irritable condition of the 
nervous system exists, as well as in cases where inflammatory 
action runs high. Lately, I have had an opportunity of trying 
its effects in that generally fatal disease, tetanus, and I am 
happy to say with most successful results. 
The chief property of aconite being to subdue nerve force, 
it is not surprising that it should allay that extreme nervous 
excitation which is one of the leading symptoms of tetanus. 
On December 19th, 1870, I was requested to attend at F. 
Sparrow's, Esq., of Trysull, to examine a nearly thorough- 
bred grey mare. Upon my arrival I found the animal in 
question to be suffering from tetanus ; the muscles of the head 
and neck, and, in fact, the whole of the muscles of the body, 
were more or less in a state of spasm. The head was held 
straight out and fixed, as it were, in a vice, and if attempted 
to be moved a protrusion of the membrana nictitans over the 
eyes was the result. The ears were erect, the tail quivering, 
pulse rapid and small; the mare could, however, open her 
jaws to the space of about an inch. Upon questioning the 
attendant I learnt that she had been in this state since the 
previous Wednesday, after having had a hard day with the 
hounds. Five days had thus elapsed before calling in pro- 
fessional aid, the owner being from home. I immediately had 
her removed to a loose box quite apart from the other 
