192 
TRAUMATIC TETANUS. 
and when irritated was retracted and shielded by the haw; he 
moved slowly, stifly, and with difficulty; his tail was erected in 
a straight line with the back, but without vacillation; pulse 55, 
small and at times indistinct; respiration not perceptibly af¬ 
fected. The jaws partook of the spasm; but they yet preserv¬ 
ed motion sufficient to admit of a ball being administered. I 
directed that he should be removed into a box, lose six quarts 
of blood, take two ounces of purging mass, be warmly clothed, 
and have his legs bandaged with flannel. 
6th. I visited him again. He appears in all respects much 
' the same as on the evening of the attack. His appetite has 
been better than could be expected ; and he continues to have 
limited use of his jaws. He has not yet purged ; but his last 
evacuation is soft and en masse. Oatmeal gruel is made for him, 
of which he drinks frequently, swallowing however but little 
at a time. Two drams of opium to be administered in ball to 
him morning and evening; to begin to-morrow morning; and 
the whole spine, from head to tail, to be shorn and afterwards 
blistered with strong ointment of cantharides. 
8th. He appears no worse. The purgative medicine has 
freely operated, and he is taking the opium morning and even¬ 
ing : the balls being made small and given with the aid of a 
stick. The blister has taken good effect, particularly upon the 
neck. He eats both corn and hay, and drinks his gruel. 
10th. I saw him about four o^clock, p. m. The farrier-major 
and dragoon were in the box along with the horse. The former 
told me that he had just finished bleeding him again, to six 
quarts, in consequence of his appearing about an hour before 
to have become suddenly worse. (I was sorry to hear this ; be¬ 
cause I had determined in my own mind to abstain from further 
venesection : however, I had not expressed any such opinion 
to the farrier, and therefore he had acted—very properly—acr 
cording to his own judgment.) He reported to me that the res¬ 
piration and pulse had suddenly got up,’^ and that the horse 
appeared to have turned altogether worse.” I now for the first 
time perceived his breathing to be quickened, and that there was 
-heaving of the flanks, though by no means violent or laborious. 
The pulse also had risen to 65; but, all this, had it not been 
for the report of the farrier-major, in which I place great faith, 
I should have attributed to the loss of blood. He had had no 
evacuation since the day before; in consequence of which he 
was ordered to take more aloes combined with calomel; to have 
injections ; to continue the opium twice a day; and to have 
the blister repeated to the spine. 
12th. Bowels freely opened. Respimtion tranquil—pulse 45, 
