HYOSCIAMUS NIGER IN TETANUS. 
295 
astringency. If there is one principle in the treatment of te- 
tanus more important and more universally admitted than 
another, it is, that little or no benefit can be expected until 
the bowels are freely opened ; and they will certainly be more 
freely and speedily operated upon if every thing possessing an as- 
tringent property can be dispensed with. Having dispensed with 
the use of opium, I have found little difficulty in obtaining this 
object. The bowels have always been well opened in about thirty 
hours, and often in much less time, and they have been kept suf- 
ficiently relaxed by the administration of a few drops of croton oil. 
It may be deemed presumptuous in me to recommend the dis- 
use of vesicatories, although I am certainly bound to advocate a 
method of treatment that I have found successful. Instead of 
blistering the spine, mercurial ointment, strongly impregnated with 
hyosciamus was well rubbed at intervals on the inside of the 
thighs. My reason for abandoning the use of blisters is, that 
tetanus is a disease accompanied by violent irritation ; and if 
remedies can be dispensed with that are attended by, or do pro- 
duce local, and increase general irritation, such a mode of treat- 
ment is worth a trial. Blistering, I do admit, appears to be indis- 
pensable when softening of the spinal cord is to be dreaded ; but I 
think that is rarely or never the case in idiopathic tetanus. If it is 
at any time the consequence of this disease, it must be of a trau- 
matic description. 
The subject of this case was a grey gelding, seven years old, in 
good condition, and well known in the sporting world. I saw him 
on the 28th of December last. He exhibited every symptom of 
tetanus. The teeth were closed to within half an inch — the tail 
elevated and quivering — the nostrils raised and expanded — the re- 
spiration quickened — the pulse full, strong, and about 60. He fre- 
quently broke out into violent perspirations, and he started at every 
motion and noise. 
I abstracted nine quarts of blood, and administered eight 
drachms of aloes in solution, with two drachms of hyosciam. nig. 
and twenty drops of croton oil. Injections were thrown up — he 
was clothed warmly, the box was cool, and he was kept as quiet 
as possible. The medicine was administered by means of a long 
small horn, the top of which was cut off, and the base closed with 
a cork. 
29 th . — No amendment — the teeth now firmly closed — the ge- 
neral irritation increased. The draught repeated, ten drops of the 
croton oil being omitted, ten drops of hydrocyanic acid substituted. 
Apply the mercurial ointment as already described to the whole 
of the inner part of the thighs. 
3(B/t. — The bowels freely acted upon, and the general irritation 
