EASTERN COUNTIES VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 487 
lias been previously made. It only remains, therefore, to discuss the 
best means by which this desirable end can be attained. If the patient 
can take gruel, flour water, mashes of malt, linseed, and bran, boiled 
a ^y or carrots, and green food, a great object will be gained, as 
by a judicious selection we can then induce a sufficient quantity of 
nutriment to be taken for all necessary purposes, acting, at the same 
time, as a medium for the introduction of the medicine into the 
system. 
How far we may be justified in the adoption of nutrient enemas 
under less auspicious circumstances must be left to the judgment 
and discretion of the surgeon. In the majority of these cases, 
probably, they are not to be recommended, for the reasons above 
stated ; but I can conceive that there may be instances in which 
they are not only admissible, but may be used with decided benefit. 
No absolute rule can be laid down in the treatment of disease; the 
scientific practitioner will rather depend upon the peculiarities 
presented by each case and the idiosyncrasies of each patient, to 
indicate the means best calculated to remove disease and restore the 
system to its normal condition. 
One word more on this subject, and I have done. Let the 
animal’s food and medicine be suspended in such a manner as shall 
enable him to reach it with the least possible eflbrt, and let it be 
given only twice daily. Allow no one to enter the box but your¬ 
self and the usual attendant on these occasions, except in cases of 
absolute necessity when additional assistance is required. 
Much more might be written upon the treatment of this disease, 
and perhaps it might be of some little interest to notice some of the 
absurdities that have been practised in a bygone age, as well as by 
our contemporaries; it might also be amusing to recount the 
wonders (scarcely less than miracles) effected by practitioners of 
the old school, both past and present (if only you had faith to 
believe them), to compare with the results of our own practice, but 
I waive that privilege, and shall content myself with repeating my 
conviction that the method of treating tetanus recommended is based 
on sound principles, and affords a reasonable hope of success in all 
cases where cure is practicable. 
My personal experience of tetanus is limited, as I have never 
seen but seven cases, the particulars of which I w ill, with your per¬ 
mission, briefly describe seriatim. Case first w'as a calf that had 
been castrated by myself, of which little care had been taken, and 
was much exposed; the case had not progressed satisfactorily, as 
a kind of erysipelatous inflammation had been set up from the 
period of operating about ten days previously ; and I well remember 
that, although this w'as the first case I had ever witnessed, the 
peculiarly expressive appearance of the sufferer enabled me at once 
to form a correct diagnosis. The treatment consisted of w^arm 
fomentations to the scrotum, a stimulating embrocation to the 
spine, and warm clothing. An attempt was also made to administer 
an aperient, but without success, as the power of deglutition w^as 
lost. This case terminated fatally in two days. 
