323 
CASE OF TRAUMATIC TETANUS. 
By Thos. D. Broad, Veterinary Surgeon, Trowbridge, Wilts . 
August Ylth, 1846. — I was called to a distance of four miles 
to examine a horse that had been lame in the off fore leg about a 
fortnight. Upon examination, I found a nail, about an inch and a 
half long, in the inner commissure of the foot, which had induced 
suppuration. I pared the foot out thin, applied a poultice, and 
gave physic. 
19 th. — Lameness nearly removed ; but a few granulations 
appearing at the place the nail came out of, I applied a little dress- 
ing which the owner had by him — I believe it was acid, sulph., ol. 
tereb.. ol. olivee ; stopped the foot, and ordered the dressing to be 
repeated for a few days, thinking the foot would be well in the 
course of two or three days. 
2 5th. — I was desired to call and see the mare, as she did not 
appear very well. I accordingly went, and found her labouring 
under the first symptoms of tetanus. The pulse was 60, and 
irritable, the leg very much swollen, and a part of the skin of the 
heel, up nearly to the fetlock, about to slough, in consequence of the 
dressing having been carelessly allowed to run over that part at 
each dressing, which I considered to be the cause of the tetanic 
symptoms, as the foot had healed : the bowels were constipated. 
Treatment . — I had her placed in a loose box, in a quiet situa- 
tion ; I then put into her mouth, with a stick, 'a strong dose of 
physic, the jaws being too much closed to admit the hand ; 
ordered the leg to be fomented all day, and a poultice when not 
fomenting; a pail of thin gruel to be placed in the manger, and no 
other person but the attendant to be allowed to see her. 
2 6th. — Pulse 80 — much worse — bowels not acted upon — head, 
neck, and tail as straight and stiff as possible — in attempting to 
move, she appeared as though she would fall — the jaws were 
quite closed — the leg not so tender: she had drunk a little gruel. 
Treatment . — Aloes Barb. 3iij, calomel 3j, put in by the side 
of the mouth in a very soft state ; poultice the leg ; gruel as 
before ; and leave her quiet. 
27 tli . — Pulse 80. Much the same as yesterday — bowels slightly 
acted upon : has drunk a little gruel. 
Treatment. — Aloes Barb. 3ij, calomel. 3ss, which is held in 
the mouth some time until partly dissolved, then it is swallowed. 
28 th. Pulse 75. Bowels acting nicely — spasms rather less — 
the skin of the heel sloughed : she attempts to take up a little 
mash — drinks gruel freely. 
