In the third case, which occurred 12th June, 1822, the head was drawn
permanently on one side, and the whole body formed a kind of bow, the
dog walking curiously sideways, often falling as it walked, and
frequently screaming violently. I ordered him to be well rubbed with an
ammoniacal liniment, and balls of tonic and purging medicine to be given
twice in the day. The dog gradually recovered, and was dismissed cured
on the 20th.
On the 16th November, in the same year, a bull-terrier had a similar
complaint. He had been tried in the pit a fortnight before, and severely
injured, and the pain and stiffness of his joints were increasing. The
head was now permanently drawn on one side. The dog was unable to stand
even for a moment, and the eyes were in a state of spasmodic motion. He
was a most savage brute; but I attempted to manage him, and, by the
assistance of the owner, contrived lo bleed him, and to give him a
physic-ball. At the same time I advised that he should be destroyed.
His master would not consent to this; and, as the dog occasionally ate a
little, we contrived to give a grain each of calomel and opium every
sixth hour. In the course of three days he was materially recovered. He
could stand, but was exceedingly weak, I ordered the calomel lo be
omitted, but the opium to be continued. Three days afterwards he was
sent into the country, and, as I heard, perfectly recovered.
The following is a very interesting case of tetanus, detailed by M.
Debeaux, of the Royal French Chasseurs:
A favourite dog was missing. Four days had passed, and no intelligence
could be obtained with regard to him until he returned home, fatigued
and half-starved. He had probably been stolen. In the excess of their
joy, the owners crammed him with meat until he became strangely ill. His
throat was filled with froth, the pupils of his eyes were dilated, the
conjunctiva was strongly injected, his neck was spasmodically
contracted, and the spine of the back was bowed, and most highly
sensible to the touch. M. Debeaux was sent for; it was an hour before he
could attend. The dog was lying on his belly; the four limbs were
extended and stiff. He uttered the most dreadful and prolonged howling
every two or three minutes. The surgeon ordered the application of a
dozen leeches to the chest and belly; laxative medicines were given, and
embrocations applied to the spine and back.
Three days passed, and the symptoms evidently augmented. The excrement
was dark and fetid, and the conjunctiva had a strong yellow tint.
Leeches were again employed; emollient lotions and aperient medicines
were resorted to. The sensibility of the spine and back was worse than
ever; the animal lay on his belly, stretching out his four limbs, his
neck fixed, his jaws immovable, his voice hoarse, and he was utterly
unable to move.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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