280 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JouRNAL. [1 APRIL, 1900. 
Wounds occurring in regions where the structure is most tense, and paris 
that are held firmly together by means of unyielding tissues, seem to 1? 
the development of tetanus than injuries in the laxer tissues. 
The operations of docking and castration are often followed by tetanus aa 
Gastric derangement, due to irritation of the stomach and inter 
caused by worms or other agents, has been known to give rise to this disea = 
condition. In some instances uterine disorders, following abortion, 
frequently given rise to tetanus. Horses, when exposed to cold and 
especially after being clipped, or after extra severe work or exhaustiod: 
induce an attack of tetanus. val 
By some authorities tetanus is considered to be a blood disease, and sev 
reasons have been advanced in support of this view, viz. :— 
1. Tetanus often occurs idiopathically without any injury. ; Fs 
2. It is more prevalent in certain districts than in others, and 18 son 
times enzootic, affecting several animals in the same district. 
is, however, no proof that tetanus is ever contagious. as 
3. The resemblance to hydrophobia and strychnine poisoning sugs® ; 
similarity in the nature of the cause. a 
4. Tetanus is said to be transmissible to men by eating the flesh 
animals which have died of this disease. 
damp, 
may 
Varieties. 
Trismus, or Lock-jaw.— When the muscles of mastication are affected. i. 
Opisthotonos.—When the muscles of the superior cervical and te 
region are especially affected, producing elevation of the head and cWY 
downwards of the spine. ; 
Tetanus lateralis, or Pleurosthotonos—When the muscles on one side as 
affected. aa 
L’mprosthonotos——Here the inferior muscles are involved, causing the 
to be drawn towards the heart. 
Tetanus may be acute, sub-acute, or chronic. 
Symptoms. ten 
When the origin is due to a wound, it usually manifests itself in fro 
to twenty-eight days after the infliction of the injury. and 
Premonitory symptoms are manifested by a stiffness about the neck ity 
lower jaw, and of the muscles near the seat of injury. There is di are 
in mastication and deglutition, together with increase of the secretion of *# 
and a characteristic champing of the teeth. ar 
When disturbed, or the horse’s head be suddenly elevated, there dean 
peculiar and characteristic protrusion of the third eye-lid, or technically ea 
as the membrana niclitans over the eyes, which withdraw within the orbits, 
causing the animal to expose the white conjunctival surface at every convw® 
retraction. the 
The stiffness, especially in the muscles of mastication and those ing 
upper part of the neck, becomes more marked and soon spreads to neighbor ok 
groups of muscles, more especially those in the region of the abdomen, »* 
and hindquarters. “eee 
Then the tetanic condition becomes so marked that it is recognised “al 
by an ordinary observer. The limbs are extended and kept apart; the iif 
stands out and is elevated, and if moved the animal has a peculiar * 
straddling gait which shows signs of great discomfort and pain. grst 
The pulse in the sub-acute stage is not materially disarranged in ee 7) 
instance, but in a day or two it becomes accelerated. To the touch it 18 
hard, and incompressible. . 
In the acute stage the pulse becomes accelerated in the very early ee 
of attack. 
