Tetanus is announced by an appearance of excitement. The tail is erect; the ears pointed forward; the head elevated; the legs stiffened and stretched out. This aspect of excitement is not temporary. The groom passes through the stable and the attitude is maintained. He wonders "what ails the horse?" It seems all alive; yet, though the groom shout out "come over," the order is obeyed with difficulty. The food is not eaten. It is picked and strewed about, but not devoured. When master returns home, the groom wishes he would "just look" at the horse. It is very strange indeed! Why, the tail is quivering and the body feels quite hard—not like flesh. Hopes are expressed and the "veterinary" sent for. He proceeds at once to the manger, observing the animal as he approaches. With one hand he raises the horse's head. The haw is projected over the eye, and a case of tetanus is recognized.
Most persons know what bellyache and cramp are. Well, these are but spasms affecting different parts of the body: tetanus is spasm affecting every part of the body at the same time. The spasm is always present; but it admits of aggravation. Any painful operation, any sudden fright, or the slightest sound, will produce a paroxysm, during which the horse's body is fearfully contorted; and the animal writhes as it falls to the ground. Left alone, however, the horse may rise after some time; for nothing causes the quadruped so much dread as an inability to stand. It may totter or fall about, but it refuses to lie down, even though rest must be greatly needed and would act as the best of medicine. It stands day after day in the same spot. It does not move, as any motion may bring on one of those terrible paroxysms. The matter is rendered worse by the brain, during the entire period, being sensible. Every pain is felt, and the wretched animal has leisure to appreciate its agony. This is bad enough; but the torture is aggravated by the appetite of the animal not being dormant. Hunger still exists, and a sense of starvation augments the suffering. The jaw is closely locked. The creature cannot feed; but the presence of hunger is no supposition, for if a mash be held to the mouth, with a look of piteous gratitude the liquid portion is often drawn through the closed teeth. Hunger frequently impels the horse to make a desperate effort. The jaws are forced a little way asunder; a morsel is seized between the incisors; mastication commences, but cannot be perfected. The agony attendant upon motion forces the famishing creature to desist; and the poor horse is often found with a mouthful of hay firmly clenched and hanging from the mouth.
SHOWING HOW FAR AN ANIMAL WITH THE DISEASE IS CAPABLE OF MOTION.
The animal may have been conspicuous for its beauty. The harmony of form may, in it, have been united to agility of limb. The creature may have been the pride of its proprietor; but a few days of this disease will work a mighty change. The limbs are moved with difficulty; the body has lost all its undulating grace; and the flesh has parted with its elasticity. The master in vain seeks for the object of his admiration in the painful sight which he then looks upon.
One peculiarity of tetanus is too marked not to be noticed. Persons have complained of the wooden appearance of the body; but, in severe cases, the height of the animal seems diminished and the length shortened. This appearance is more than the result of mere imagination. Many of the bones are divided by a fibro-cartilaginous substance: this substance force can compress. For that reason, a man is shorter when he retires at night than when he rises in the morning. No weight, however, can act with the energy of excited contractibility, and of that tetanus is composed: all the muscles are violently in action or energetically contracting. A single muscle, when excited, shortens to that degree, which moves some portion of the body; but, when the entire mass of muscles simultaneously contract, they compress the frame, as in a vice. The grace of the animal is lost; the height is diminished, and the length is lessened, under so powerful and general an action.
All kinds of treatment have been tried for tetanus, and it is said that each has resulted in success. The majority of these popular methods, however, are sheer barbarities; and if they were successful, they were so against probability. The plan at present adopted is much more humane: the animal's shoes are removed, that no sound may follow the tread, and a solitary shed is strewn with refuse tan. Food, in the form of an ample malt mash and a pail of thin gruel, is placed within easy reach. The shed must be approached but once daily—then by the man most accustomed to the horse; and he speaks soothingly as he nears the building to change the provender.
This species of treatment, when preceded by a large dose of purgative medicine, is usually successful. Mix four drachms of aloes or six drachms of aloetic mass, and four drachms of extract of gentian, with one scruple of croton ferina. This tremendous purgative may be confidently given, as everything during this disease depends upon the maintenance of quiet, and upon getting the bowels open.