92 
TETANUS CURED BY ETHER. 
peutic catalogue have been used in tetanus. Antiphlogistics, 
sudorifics, diaphoretics, revulsives, purgatives, antispasmodics, 
special excitants of the nervous system, all by turns have been put 
in practice, either separately or in combination, and all with occa- 
sional though rare success. 
It was thought a favourable opportunity to have recourse to 
ether, whose action on the nervous system is so diametrically 
opposed to those by which tetanus itself is produced. Moreover, 
the success already obtained in the treatment of tetanus in man 
by the same remedy proved an encouragement to make such an 
experiment. 
On the 8th JUNE, the day of her admission, she was clothed 
and kept hot with sheep skins ; and besides, had prescribed for 
her vapour baths, laxative drinks, and clysters. Considerable 
difficulty was experienced in getting her to swallow liquids, the 
contractions of the muscles of the jaws offering all but insurmount- 
able obstacles. 
June 9. — The trismus is a little augmented, as well as the ten- 
sion of the muscles in general. At the slightest outward excitement 
the face becomes contorted, the ears erect, the nostrils dilated, and 
the jaws make a grating noise ; the general spasms become more 
intense ; the nictitating cartilage is thrown over the cornea ; and 
the region of the neck, croup and thighs, acquire the hardness of 
marble. In spite, however, of her trismus and difficulty of deglu- 
tition, the mare is eager for solid food ; she seizes a little hay 
between her lips, which from their tense and rigid condition are 
without the power of transferring it to the mouth. During the day 
may be observed, profuse sweats about the ears, and sides of the 
neck, in the flanks and insides of the thighs. The pulse is small 
and wiry; the pulsations of the heart strong and hurried. Respi- 
ration slow and deep. The limbs still remaining as stiff and im- 
moveable as four posts. 
The laxative drinks are continued ; and, at twice, is administered 
to her twenty grammes (nearly 3vj) of the aqueous extract of 
opium. Such, however, is the difficulty of moving the jaws that 
it is impossible to force her to swallow the medicine : hardly is it 
introduced into the mouth before it is all rejected. 
JUNE 10 & 11. — The disease has advanced; every symptom is 
aggravated. The trismus, the tension of the muscles, especially 
the extensors, is at its height. Respiration is short and deep ; the 
flanks are drawn up to their utmost ; they are, indeed, almost 
motionless ; and the pectoral muscles are so rigidly contracted that 
the ribs are rendered immoveable. The animal is ever on the 
verge of asphyxia. Those members the more distant from the 
centre of gravity are constantly in a complete state of inflexibility, 
