SPASMS OF THE MASSETERS 
37 
could swallow; told owner I would call again next morning. 
Mare became easy and quiet about midnight, and was left to 
herself for the rest of the night. When I called next morning- 
found patient somewhat improved and very anxious to drink, 
but was still unable to swallow. I inserted a tube through nos¬ 
tril into oesophagus, attached the hose of a syringe, and gave her 
about two gallons of water, in which half an ounce of potassium 
nitrate had been dissolved. This acted like magic, and in a 
few minutes she was able to swallow and was anxious for feed. 
Ordered her kept in shade and fed lightly. 
Case II .—Bay pony, taken up from pasture and driven into 
town, a distance of about nine miles. Symptoms similar to 
Case I, with well marked emprosthotonos ; would place head 
almost to ground between the front legs with seemingly an 
attempt to turn a summersault. Treatment similar to above, 
but used tube about three hours apart. Symptoms soon sub¬ 
sided. Case did well. 
Case III .—Bay mare with colt by her side ; had been kept 
in a small paddock. Served early in the morning of ninth day 
and put in box stall. In the course of an hour or so owner no¬ 
ticed a slight spasm of the diaphragm, but as the mare appeared 
busy eating hay from a manger he thought there was nothing- 
serious and left her until evening, when her condition was 
worse. I was called, and found patient with a well marked 
spasm of the diaphragm and masseters, etc. Mouth full of hay 
semi-masticated. Treatment same as previous cases. No im¬ 
provement. Mare died at 5 A. M. 
An English Veterinarian, advocating the standing 
method of castration, urges as an advantage that such a 
small number of instruments are necessary that they can be 
readily carried on the operator’s bicycle, while by the old means 
40 or 50 feet of rope would be cumbersome on the machine. 
In America the greatest argument against his contention would 
be that our stockmen would not permit a veterinarian alight¬ 
ing from his bicycle to have anything to do with his colts. 
At the examinations of the New York-American Veterinarv 
College last month eleven were recommended to the Council of 
the University for the diploma. 
