The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-12-19
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
CURE FOR LOCKJAW.

PIKEsvILLE, Nd, December 18th, 1903.
Editors Baltimore County Union II see in your
tnra Club Is in"yirinS for treatment Of IoeEiaw
Mr.. Thomas G. Brown, brother-in-law of your
correspondent, who was manager on the Sedden
4 NarsOn's sugar plantation in Louisiana for
many years, has told me lockjaw was a very fire.
quent occurrence with mules in the South in
hot weather. especially when working in cotton
and sugarcane fields. The cure is well known to
every driver of mule and he must obey the
standing order: Put boy on the mules back
and plunge both into the river and stay until the
mule was cured. unless he became exhausted,
when he was allowed to come ashore short
time for rest When he revived sufficient they
plunged in again and so on until he was thor
oughly cured. which seldom failed.
While spending day in Westminster, Nd. a
few years ago. with Mr.. Edward Lynch. the horse
and mule dealer, his son-in-law, DIR. Matthias.
believe, is his name, sent fine sorrel horse to
Mr.. Lynch's stable to know what was the matter
with him and for treatment. &c. A crowd soon
gathered around. 1t was lock5aw, Tor Wnicn ne
exhibited every symptom. All said kill him at
once there is no cure. The order was given
and the horse sent off to be killed. In the mean
time / succeeded in persuading Mr.. Lynch's
brother John to take the horse to Mr. Airheart
Winters mildam, mile or two away, and treat
him as they do similar cases in the South. Away
he and a colored man started about 10 or ii A. NJ.
and about or O'Clock in the afternoon Mr.
Lynch came riding through Westminster at a
lively gait on one horse and leading the much
convalescent patient when a great cheer was
given and your correspondent received the con-
gratulations of ALL The horse was put in Mr..
grass while a small bag of ice was placed upon
his head and horse blanket on him was kept
saturated with ice water. This horse lived and
rendered valuable service for many years and
was afterwards burned up in the livery stable of
Mr.. Thomas or Thompson, of Westminster.
Mr.. John Lynch could use prOf9ne scripture
at times until one could almost smell sulphur.
After he returned to Westminster and the ex-
citement was over he amusingly related his ex,
him. and the getting of the horse in the milldam.
After much persuasion he got the coon" to
mount the horse and with much more persua-
sion he got both in the dam, when the horse be-
sSR s Snsss9fq
substituted for the coon" a long pole, which he
tied one end to the horses mouth and with the
other end in his hand he stood upon rock and
guided the horse around and about him until he
was we'll enough to start home. John says this
coon" is quite revivalist. In his morning and
evening devotions in the hayloft he begs that no
more of Brother Lynch's mules or horses will
ever be affected with lockjaw.
One of the finest and best bred colts the writer
ever raised was castrated at two years old.
Through neglect of proper treatment lockjaw
took place. Having neither river nor milldam
near and the colt being unable to walk, substi-
tuted water from running fountain near the
stable door by forming bucket brigade and ap-
plying the fresh spring water as rapidly as pos
sible until the colt, after many efforts. stood
upon his feet and we quit the application of
water In a short time. possibly half an hour,
he had a relapse. We renewed the application
of water with the same success and another re-
lapse followed this treatment and reaction was
kept up evidently until we thought the colt was
well and we left him. AS it has been years ago
since this occurred / do not now recollect
whether we went to the field or to bed. but the
colt died and believe that an extended applica-
ton of the bathing process would have guaran-
teed a cure.
Mr. Brown claims that lockjaw is brought on
by excessive pain. which may be caused by a
small or large sore. sometimes scarcely notice
able. The patients suffering causes him TO take
greater control. IL possible. of his nervous sys-
TEN. The object OF cold water is to lessen the
rightly of the patient. which can be done by
water being the most available, is used. DIR.
Matthias horse had slight sore. about the size
of dime. ON his withers, caused. possibly, by
the rubbing Of the pommel of the saddle, and
did not extend through the skin.
Hoping this article may find place in your
columns and prove a benefit to the Gunpowder
Agricultural Club and all your other readers,
am most respectfully an advocate of cold water
application as a cure for lockjaw.
CHARLES 7. COCKEY.