240 
THE VETERINARY ART IN INDIA. 
have been negligently treated, particularly if punctured wounds ; 
also after operations, even when every thing appears doing well ; 
and it frequently attacks without any violent predisposing cause. 
The pricking of a shoe nail will frequently be attended with 
loss of appetite and a rough coat, which, if not timely remedied, 
is sometimes succeeded by a locked jaw. 
The general symptoms are an increased irritability of the senses, 
as sight, hearing, smell, &c. The muscles of the whole body are 
contracted, the head is drawn back, the animal points his nose 
upwards, his flanks shrink up almost to the spine, the eyes are 
drawn within their sockets, the pulse is quick, and the jaw more 
or less locked. Internally these symptoms are reversed, for in 
the stomach and bowels there is scarcely any irritability left, con- 
sequently the action of medicine will be proportionably less. 
Relief is seldom procured in this disease, and the only pro- 
bability of it must depend on stimuli internally employed. Mr. 
Coleman thinks it proceeds from increased irritation, and men- 
tions his having made trial of almost every medicine, and that in 
opium alone he has sometimes succeeded. If increased irritabi- 
lity is the cause, opium should first be administered in small 
doses, and gradually increased as follows : — Take two drachms of 
opium, dissolve it in half a pint of hot water, and pour it down 
the throat by means of a horn. This should be repeated every 
four hours, doubling the quantity of opium each time, until the 
dose contains an ounce, and this should be continued until 
symptoms of relaxation in the system appeared. Clysters may 
also be injected of the following : — 
Take of camphor two drachms, triturate it in a mortar with 
about a table- spoonful of sugar, then add, gradually, of boiling 
water two pints, and tincture of opium four ounces. This may 
be injected when the beforementioned draught is given, first 
adding two quarts of cold water to give more bulk to the clyster. 
The quantity of opium recommended may appear very great; 
but when it is considered that the stomach and intestines have 
nearly lost their sensation, nothing but violent and penetrating 
ingredients will have any effect. As our only hope is in opium, 
and as even opium does not always make an impression on the 
system, it must be obvious that a union of powerful medicines is 
alone likely to succeed. Heat is prejudicial, the animal should 
be therefore kept in a cool place, and without clothes. 
The horse seldom survives more than a few days in this state, 
as the brain becomes exhausted. 
[To be continued.] 
