DEATH FROM TETANUS. Wellington, December 17.

Otago Witness, Issue 2286, 23 December 1897, Page 34

DEATH FROM TETANUS. Wellington, December 17.

An infant named Ida Sparks died in tbe hospital yesterday from tetanus, aad as there was no evidence to show how the disease was contracted mi inquest was held this afternoon. W. C. Fitzgerald, chemist and public vacoinator, stated that he vaccinated the child a few weeks ago. He afterwards learned that 12 months ago its mother knt a child a few days old from tetanus, and a medical man theu expressed the opinion that the disease was contracted from the stable adjoining Suarks's house. AU due precautions were taken in vaccinating the child Ida, and tho vaccine was obtained from the Government distributor. He had never known of another case -of tetanus after vaccination. He vaccinated a Dumber of other children on the same day, but there had been no trouble with any of them. Dr Ealke in his evidence said the earth beneath a foal stablewas a favourite habitat for the bicillus of tetanus, and the child being next door t j such a stable, might absorb it through a wound or bruise. Dr Campbell and Dr Young agreed with this theory. Dr Evvarb said filth from horses was a fertile source of tetanus. It was possible for the tetanus bacillus to be in the lymph itself; but if that were so the same lymph would in all probability develop tetanus in other cases. Dc Eyffe, who made a post mortem examination of the body, Eaid mosb probably tetanus arose from a secondary cause, and not from vaccination ; aud *Dc Adams expressed a similar opinion. The jury returned a verdict that the child died from tetanus and that there was no evidence to show how it was contracted.

A correspondent in Notes and Queries a°ks •when the Hon. John M'Kenzio will be at his home at Shsg Point. Ab time of writing the (printed in an early page) nothing defioite was known on the point, but a later telegram states that Mr M'Kenzie leaves for the south on Thursday.

It is not generally known that the late 'Mr George Jooe3, of Oamaru (father of Mr G. Jones, M..L C ), had, like many o jher early settlers, to take up arms to defend his home in the Hutt Valley when the Maoris were threatening to destroy the infant settlement near Wellington. Though ready and willing to assist in protecting his own and his neighbours 1 homes, he, however, strongly opposed the proposal to go further afield and leave his family defenceless, and we undertfc%nd that it was in support of this i>riooit>lfi that he decided to leave tbe coloay.