ON TETANUS. 
373 
sometimes successful. But, however that may be, it is always 
necessary to inquire into the causes of tetanus, in order to com¬ 
bat them ; and if the causes cannot be discovered, a strict anti¬ 
phlogistic system may be pursued with less scruple in the treat¬ 
ment of this disease, almost always fatal. 
When tetanus follows the ceasing of the suppuration of a 
wound, that discharge should be re-excited by the application 
of mild excitants. If the wound is closed, it should be re-opened ; 
if foreign bodies, as splinters, exist in it, they must be removed. 
Finally, when from the locked-javv the animal is unable to swal¬ 
low, some have advised that the operation of cesophagotomy 
should be performed, in order to permit the introduction of me¬ 
dicaments and food into the stomach. 
Elemens de Pathol. Vet.^ vol. i, p. 54. 
TETANUS IN A DOG. 
By M. Debeaux, ill.F., Chasseurs de la Garde Boyale. 
Nov. 4, 183.5.—I WAS desired to examine a spaniel. He was 
a beautiful animal, and had suddenly disappeared from the house 
of his master. On the fourth day, however, he returned worn 
out with fatigue and hunger. 
In the excess of their joy, and forgetful of his emaciated state, 
they gave him as much as he would eat; and on the following 
day he appeared to be very ill. His owner thought that he was 
poisoned, and I was sent for. I found him with his mouth 
filled with foam; his eyes weeping, the pupils dilated, and the 
conjunctiva much injected ; his neck spasmodically contracted, 
and immovable ; and the spine of his back considerably bent, 
and exceedingly tender. Before my arrival they had given him 
some milk, and oil, and broth, and medicine, but of what kind I 
could not discover, therefore I prescribed nothing at first. Every 
symptom soon disappeared, but they returned an hour afterwards 
with greater severity. The dog was then couched on his belly ; 
his fore-legs extended and stift’; the muscles of the neck power¬ 
fully contracted; the pulse small and accelerated; convulsive 
tremblings of the limbs ; continual hoarse howling for twenty 
minutes, when tlie voice gradually died away. The convulsions 
increased in violence, they were renewed every three minutes, 
and, when they remitted, the dog seemed to be completely ex¬ 
hausted. 
A dozen leeches were applied at the pit of the stomach; laxa¬ 
tive injections were administered, and anodyne embrocations 
were rubbed on the back and neck. 
