RAVAGES OF LOCKJAW

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1932, Page 16

RAVAGES OF LOCKJAW

NEW SOUTH WALES CASES.

EXTRAORDINARY TOLL.

Sydney, Oct. 20.

Tetanus, cornmonly known as lockjaw, is taking an extraordinary toll inNew South Wales this year, and in recent weeks there have been 10 deaths. Some of the cases have baffled the medical profession, particularly that -of a man who died six months after he had suffered the injury that was the direct cause of the infection. A mild sensation was caused by the announcement that two patients at a country hospital—a young girl and a woman—had died from tetanus shortly after operations performed in the institution. These’ deaths were attributed to the gut that was used on the wounds. Last week a Sydney man trod on a rake, and although the wound healed quickly, within 10 days he was dead from tetanus, all efforts to save his life being fruitless. Doctors say that the tetanus germ itself is rather a weakling but it develops a seed which defies heat, drying, starvation and antiseptics. For these reasons it presents a grave problem. The germ cannot grow in oxygen, and so dies rapidly in the fresh air. Grown artificially in laboratories it learns to tolerate a little oxygen, and in the process loses much of its virulence. But even though the germ may die when conditions are against it, the spores csrry on, and they have unimaginable vitality. If a dried spore is given the opportunity of infecting a deep wound it develops into an ordinary tetanus germ again, from which, in a few hours, or days, poison spreads back to the brain and the spine of the victim. Spores have been found virulent on a dried splinter, kept in the air and sunlight, after I'l years. They are, it is considered, probably immortal. The prevalence of tetanus has caused some alarm in Sydney, and the health authorities have issued special adviee with the idea that the people shall avoid the dangers which attend ordinary wounds. In the schools, also, special lessons are being given. There is a plentiful supply of anti-toxin at the hospitals, but although soine lives have been saved this treatment is not always successful,