452 
REPORTS OF CASES 
large fungoid growth about the size of a'beechnut fastened 
to it. Besides this, in numerous places were small ulcerations 
and in other places small nodular growths. This undoubtedly 
was the cause of his sudden death, and serves very well to 
illustrate how distemper may be complicated and terminated. 
THUMPS ACCOMPANIED BY SPASM OF THE MASSETER MUSCLES 
—OR TEMPORARY LOCKJAW. 
By The Same. 
On the evening of September 23d I was called to see a 
brown gelding about six years of age. On questioning the 
groom, 1 obtained this history : the horse had been out to 
pasture for six weeks and had had no grain. He was brought 
to the city last Saturday, the 19th, and was cared for as he 
had been before he went to the country—fed grain and given 
the usual amount of exercise. He was driven a distance of 
about five miles and then put in the stable, when it was ob¬ 
served he began to breathe very rapidly and sweat profusely. 
When they tried to remove the bit great difficulty was exper¬ 
ienced, the jaws being firmly set; for this reason I was called. 
On examination I found the temperature ioi°, pulse so fast l 
could not count them, the artery being like a piece of wood; 
the membranes very much congested ; breathing about 80 
per minute and at the flank a plain thump was seen; the 
jaws were closed and could not be moved ; the masseter 
muscles were hard and prominent. A slight stiffness behind 
was also noticed. I made a diagnosis of thumps with a spasm 
of the masseters. For treatment I ordered absolute quiet and 
as soon as able, drinks of whiskey. 1 then left. When we 
called this morning, I was told, that gradually he stopped 
thumping and cooled off, and about ten o’clock his jaws 
became loose and he ate hay and drank freely of whiskey and 
water. This morning his temperature, respiration, and pulse 
were normal. He had eaten his usual breakfast and was all 
right to all appearances. Walking exercise was ordered. 
Thumps pure and simple are not uncommon among light 
roadsters, but it is very rarely accompanied by the locked 
jaw. I think the cause of it was the sudden change of food 
and the hard drive on a very warm day. 
