loO 
TliTANUS. 
probed it, and found it to be about a quarter of an inch deep, yet 
it did not heal. The colt was very poor, and fed badly, and 
he had been turned out to grass by day, the weather being un¬ 
commonly mild; but, to prevent the cold from injuring him, he 
had tied some flannel around the throat.” I examined the colt, 
and remarked, that the flannel might as well be taken away, and, 
as for the wound, I thought that it was very nearly healed; but 
particularly recommended him to attend to the general health 
of the animal—to give him nourishing diet, such as oats, 
bran, carrots, turnips, &c., as he was considerably out of 
condition. 
In about a week from this period I received a message from 
the owner of the colt, briefly informing me, that, in conse¬ 
quence of attending to my advice,” viz., taking off the flannel 
bandage, that the colt had taken cold, and had ‘ becomed locked 
jawed and, as he believed that I was instrumental in producing 
this complaint, he thought that I ought to attempt to cure it, 
free of expense.” I did not exactly relish this message ; but, 
having nothing better to do at the time, I soon reached the 
farmer’s house. I found the poor suffering animal labouring 
under a case of acute tetanus. The limbs were stiff, and almost 
immoveable,—the nostrils expanded and drawn up,—the eyes 
distorted,—the countenance haggard, and expressive of extreme 
agony. The spasms were violent, and almost constant; and, ere 
I had been present half an hour, a violent convulsive fit put an 
end to his misery. 
I proceeded immediately to dissect the animal, which I did 
with the greatest minuteness, particularly the parts immediately 
surrounding the throat, &c.; but not the slightest morbid ap¬ 
pearance was perceivable in the nerves of the part. I examined 
the brain and spinal marrow, and they were likewise free from 
disease, except a slight inflammatory tint in their investing mem¬ 
branes. But, on viewing the stomach and bowels, the cause of 
the disease was very apparent. The stomach was considerably 
inflamed, particularly at its pyloric orifice, and the small intes¬ 
tines were covered with dark gangrenous patches at different 
places. There were likewise a large number of bot-worms in the 
stomach, and fortunately so for me, for the farmer no sooner saw 
them, than he exclaimed, ‘"There! that’s enough; I see the 
cause of this complaint—it’s the worms. I knew two horses 
that died of locked jaw before, from these here things. There’s 
enough there to lock the jaws of all the horses that I have got.” 
I said, fortunately for me; for if the farmer had not been sa¬ 
tisfied as to the cause in his own mind, I should probably have 
lost a good customer for the future. 
