3G2 
MR. YOUATT’s veterinary LECTURES. 
powder of post, if it was ever used, and the mica panis of the 
human practitioner, occupy. 
Mr. Percivall, in the first volume of The Veterinarian, 
relates a satisfactory case of the power of opium and aloes over 
tetanus, assisted, indeed, by a copious bleeding at the com¬ 
mencement ; and, more so than my friend is willing to allow, by 
a second equally copious bleeding by the farrier-major during his 
absence. 
Local applications. Blisters .—Can I call to my aid the power¬ 
ful principle of counter-irritation ? Will any local application— 
any severe blister along the course of the spine—be of service? I 
fear not. This is a disease of the spinal chord, and of the infe¬ 
rior columns of that chord; and there is too much integument, 
and ligamentous and cellular substance, and thick muscle, and 
dense bone interposed to afford any rational hope that a blister 
along the spine, however severe, could have effect on irritation 
or inflammation so deeply seated. 
Besides, I can hardly reconcile myself to the application of a 
counter-irritant in such a case. I have to do with a disease 
the very essence of which is nervous irritability. The muscular 
fibres along the course of the spine are those which are in the 
highest state of excitation : fibrils of the same nerves are carried 
on to the integument; and the susceptibility of the integument 
over the whole of the spinal region is increased to an extreme 
degree. It seems to me that a blister would increase rather than 
allay the nervous erythism. I confess that this is the light in 
which I have always regarded the application of blisters along 
the spine in cases of tetanus. I cannot call to my recollection a 
single case in which decided good effect has been produced by 
them; and I have had ocular demonstration, that I have added 
to the torture of an animal already suffering too much. 
Perspiration .—There is one local application, however, which 
I can make with some prospect of good effect. If I can excite a 
profuse perspiration along the spine, and keep it in full action for 
many successive hours, or even days, I should, at least, unload 
the congested vessels of the part—I should relieve the sensitive 
fibrils from some compression, and materially lessen the suffer¬ 
ings of the animal. By this maceration, as it were, of the mus¬ 
cular fibre, it may possibly become so debilitated, and attenuated 
too, as to be incapable of its former extreme spasm; and I know 
that the whole system must be affected by long-continued profuse 
perspiration from any part. Therefore I have generally been in 
the habit of recommending sheep-skins applied warm from the 
recently killed animal, and renewed as soon as they begin to be 
offensive: over this, and extending from the poll to the tail, 
should be double or treble clothing. • 
