ON ANTIPHLOGISTIC TREATMENT IN TETANUS. 
501 
tions in their character ! the former having acquired a considerable 
degree of toughness and elasticity, while the latter will be crisp, 
harsh, and brittle, still not the slightest alteration of colour will be 
observed. It must be evident that, in this latter portion of horn, 
suppression of evaporation was not the cause of its texture being 
rendered more friable, as that could not have been present; and, 
therefore, I cannot see how we are to arrive at the conclusion, that 
the ill effects produced by the application of grease or oil to the 
crust is, through the medium of its arresting the function of evapo- 
ration “by closing the surface of the horn,” thus preventing the 
escape “ of the more fluid portion,” which, remaining, causes the horn 
to be destroyed “simply by the action of its own constituents.” 
If this really were the case, how difficult would it be for us to 
account for the good effects produced by the application of tar or 
any agents of this class, as they also are agents which prevent the 
process of evaporation! It. appears to me to be a farce to talk of 
evaporation taking placing from the surface of the crust, when we 
know that the evaporating pores in it commence at its superior 
border, and terminate at its inferior one. 
In conclusion, I beg to give it as my firm opinion, based upon 
strict observation, that the benefit which accrues from the use 
of tar in brittle feet is through the medium of its becoming ab- 
sorbed and filling up the hiatus left by the non-secretion of a 
principle similar to it, which principle is highly necessary for the 
maintenance of the natural toughness and durability of horn. 
ON THE ANTIPHLOGISTIC OR SEDATIVE MODE OF 
TREATMENT IN TETANUS, WITHOUT THE USE 
OF OPIUM. 
By JOHN RELPH, M.R.C.V.S . , Sibergham, Cumberland. 
A STOUT single-harnessed grey colt, four years old, and full of 
flesh, belonging to W. Blamire, Esq., was docked, and the stump 
cauterized on the 19th of May last. He lay out on the night of 
the 6th of June, and was forced over a fence by other horses. After 
this, he was noticed to be not altogether right : there was an awk- 
wardness in his gait, and he did not masticate with his usual free- 
dom. The latter symptom was referred to imperfection in the 
teeth ; the former to fencing and exposure to rain. 
He became worse. A moderate quantity of blood was taken 
from him on the 10th, but the disease progressed, and I was called 
to Thackwood to inspect him on the night of the 12th. I found all 
the well-marked symptoms of tetanus strongly developed. 
