The treatment is, above all, of a preventive nature, investigation having proved that injections of anti-tetanic serum, before the first appearance of tetanus, are invariably effectual.
If, therefore, one case of tetanus appears in a byre at calving time or in a flock at the season when the lambs are castrated, no hesitation should be felt in preventively inoculating all the castrated animals and the cows which have calved. The quantities required are, for a cow 10 cc. (about 3 fluid drachms) and for a sheep 5 cc. of anti-tetanic serum.
This treatment, however, should be supplemented by general hygienic precautions and internal treatment, such as irrigation and disinfection of the parts affected.
Curative treatment has little chance of success. Experiments have also proved that when the first symptoms of tetanus appear, anti-tetanic serum is powerless to prevent the development of the disease. Nevertheless, as its gravity is in direct ratio to the quantity of toxin absorbed, and as the degree of this absorption depends on the length of time that the place remains infected, the first thing to be done is to disinfect and, in certain cases, curette the wounds which are believed to be the source of mischief. Although antiseptics have little action on Nicolaïer’s bacillus, they may be used. Solutions of iodine appear most active, both as regards ordinary wounds and infection of the uterus.
General tonics, diuretics, and lukewarm gruels can be given. Unfortunately the patients are often unable to swallow them. In such cases both liquids and medicines may be directly introduced into the rumen by puncturing the parts with a trocar and canula, the latter being left in position.
Intravenous injections of large quantities of normal salt solution are also of considerable value, 4 to 6 quarts per day for an ox and 20 to 40 fluid ounces per day for a sheep.
ACTINOMYCOSIS.
Actinomycosis is a disease produced by a fungus belonging to the group of oomycetes (Actinomyces bovis) which develops in the depths of living tissues in man and the ox, producing grave and sometimes incurable lesions, most commonly in and about the jaws.
Actinomycosis is very common in America, and is also met with in all parts of Europe.
Symptoms. The disease assumes many different clinical forms, but it more frequently attacks some parts of the body than others, and by far the greater number of cases occur in the ox.