LOCKJAW OR TETANUS

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 16212, 29 September 1924, Page 2

LOCKJAW OR TETANUS

\ Popular fallacies are very difficult to overcome, and most people still believe that a cut between the thumb and first finger is particularly apt to cause lockjaw. Lockjaw or tetanus is a disease caused by a specific germ, the bacillus of tetanus, which is usually introduced into the system by means of a wound, and sets up a train of symptoms through its action on the nervous system, which culminates in convulsions, and finally in death. The jaw muscles are usually the first to he affected, and stiffness and difficulty in opening the mouth are the first symptoms noted, whence the popular name. The tetanus bacillus is almost a normal inhabitant of the alimentary canal of the horse and domestic fowl, and is therefore very common in stable and farmyard manure. It thrives best in the absence of oxygen, and so punctured wounds are more dangerous than open or superficial ones. Any wound that is soiled by earth or manure, &c. should therefore he extra well cleaned, preferably swabbed with peroxide of hydrogen. This does not mean painting the surface of the skin, but getting right down to the bottom of the wound. In case of doubt it is better to get medical attention at once, as usually when the first symptoms appear, viz; stiffness of the jaw muscles, or convulsions, it is too late to do anything. Protection may be obtained by injecting anti-tetanic serum as well as surgically cleaning and opening up the original wound. Fortunately'it is a relatively rare disease in this Dominion, but odd cases occur every year, and most of them might have been prevented by using more care in treating seemingly injuries.