ON ANTIPHLOGISTIC TREATMENT IN TETANUS. 505 
by the common fever powder or ball of antim. pot. tart, with pot. 
nit., &c., or by digitalis. It is highly probable that hyoscyamus and 
liq. ammon. acet., and also belladonna, in full doses, would like- 
wise be available while the inflammation maintains the acute type; 
but, as this passes into the asthenic, then add full doses of cam- 
phor or spts. setheri nit. to such of these as appear best suited to 
the circumstances of the case ; or opium, camphor, and hydr. chlo- 
ride, may be given, or iodine, adding stimulants and tonics, if effu- 
sion or debility indicate their use. The state of the bowels claims 
attention throughout the disease. Aperients and enemata may 
be required, and, for constipation, the tobacco fumes might be 
tried. 
It is of great importance to keep up a free perspiration by means 
of clothing or the application of sheep-skins; but, having seen much 
irritation and mischief follow the employment of blisters, I do not now 
use them. I can state the same of amputation, which seemed to 
me to be founded on fallacious reasoning; as the disease, once esta- 
blished, goes on independent of the condition of the wound. Plenty 
of tepid water, thin mashes, and gruel, should be allowed, care- 
fully adapting the nutritive quality of the diet to the stage of the 
disease. In many cases the patient will not refuse medicine in 
his mash or water, which is very desirable ; and when no other 
mode of administering it than by the nose is practicable, we should 
not hesitate to avail ourselves of it, as experience shews us that 
horses are occasionally saved by that course, and hence its supe- 
riority to locking the door upon him and putting the key in our 
pocket*. 
I have seen acute delirium occur in the disease, and which was 
subdued by blood-letting and other remedies ; and, also, an aggra- 
vation and distress to the animal from venesection being carried 
too far, — a stimulant was then used with benefit. 
Many years ago, on being called to a mare very ill in this dis- 
ease, I bled her freely at the wish of the owner. The result was, 
too great a depression of the vital powers; and, either from want 
of action, or physical change in the blood (the inability to take food 
preventing a renovation), congestion of the lungs ensued, and, I 
suppose, the owner was satisfied, like many others under similar 
circumstances, that she died of inflammation of that organ. In- 
deed, I freely acknowledge my conviction that the alarming ana- 
sarca that occurred in this case resulted from pushing the sedatives 
too far, aided by the season of the year, &c. 
* It was laid down as an axiom in treating tetanus by a veterinary surgeon 
who produced an essay on the disease, that it was the best practice to lock 
the door and put the key in our pocket, and leave it to chance : so fallacious 
and imperfect would have been our plans of treatment. 
VOL. XVIII. 3 Z 
