172 
W. J. COATES. 
REPORTS OF HOSPITALS. 
-C03- 
NOTES ON INTERESTING CASES. 
By W. J. Coates, D. V. S., House Surgeon of American Veterinary 
Hospital. 
Idiopathic Tetanus-Treated by Prussic Acid and Alcohol—Re- 
covery. 
Case I. A bay mare, nine years old, was taken out early to do her 
usual work, when she was noticed being stiff in walking. When ad¬ 
mitted, her symptoms were those well marked of tetanus—spasms of the 
muscles of the body, elevation of the tail, trismus, salivation, nostrils 
dilated, on the slightest excitement profusion of the membrana nictitans 
and a straddling gait when made to walk. Carefully examined for any 
traumatic lesion, none could be found. The treatment consisted in 
keeping her bowels open, diluted alcohol in from two to four oz , three 
times a day, and hydrocianic acid three ter die in one drachm dose in¬ 
creased slowly to two drachms, perfect quietness. Towards the third 
week she began to improve rapidly, and was discharged on the fifth 
week. During the whole disease, the temperature did not rise above 
-luUf degrees Fahr. 
C f se II—Another bay mare which, having been sold, was in the 
dealei s stable waiting for her owner to take her away. One morning 
she was found stiff when backing out of her stall. She was left without 
treatment for four days, and then sent to the hospital of the College 
She presented all the symptoms of idiopathic tetanus ; not the slightest 
scratch could be found on her body. The spasms were with her more vio¬ 
lent than in case No. 1 ; in fact, she was perfectly blind by the constant 
presence of the membrana nictitans over her eyes ; her jaws were closed 
lght, and her difficulties to take food, liquid or solid, were very great. 
er treatment consisted in hydrocianic acid, from half a drachm in¬ 
creased to three drachms three times a day ; diluted alcohol, from eight 
o we ve ounces a day, and rest. At the beginning of her trouble, she 
also received chloral hydrate, four drachms twice a day, but this was not 
continued. About the beginning of the fourth week she showed im¬ 
provement, and was discharged at the end of six weeks. Perfect quiet¬ 
ness was carried with her as much as possible. Her highest tempera- 
ture was 100£ Fahr. ^ 
