The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-11-20

THERE have been frequent accounts
in the newspapers Of late regarding At
tacks Of lock jaw, or tetanus, with usrl-
ally fatal ending. 1t is said that there
are more cases Of this terrible affection
in the United States than in any other
temperate countries, owing to the highe,'
and more sensitive nervous Organization
of the inhabitants. 1t is marked by AZ
Involuntary, persistent, intense, palntu
contraction or cramp of the voluntary
mn sclcs. nearly the whole body being
sometimes affected. The different SCI
of muscles arc generally affected in
certain degree of order, the muscles q
the neck, jaws and throat almost alway
giving the earliest evidence of the pre-
ence OF the disease. The patient expc'
riences difficulty and uneasiness in bel'i-
ing or turning the head, and is app 10
imagine that he has a stiff neck. H.
also finds it rather hard to open hi
mouth. Finally, the jaws close, somr-
times gradually, though with great firm
ness, and occasionally, it is said, all OF ~
sudden, and with snap. Along witt,
or very soon after the symptoms hav
appeared, the deglutitory muscles areil
tluenced, aud very soon an acute pal |
at the lower part of the sternum, extent
inc to the back, sets in, and is frequent
excruciating. This depends, in all pro'''
ability, upon cramp OF the diaphragm,
and is subject to paroxysmal aggrav;.-
ton. The spasm extends to the muS.
cles of the trunk, to the large mus
cles If the extremities, to the muscles Of
the face, and lastly to those of the tongue,
hands and fingers, which often obey
the will Of the sufferer after all Othe1
voluntary muscles have become fixed.
The muscles affected continue perm .
nently contracted until either death o
recovery has taken place, and some o
them, the muscles Of the abdomen, 70
example, are so rigid as to sound like 1
; board when struck with the fingers
The spasms grow more violent ever.
ten or fifteen minutes, commonly begin
ming by an increase Of pain at TIN
; sternum, and lasting from 12O to Isl
! seconds. As the disease advances tn
paroxysms become more frequent. tn
strong muscles Of the back general
overcome the muscles 10 front OF tn
: body, and then the patient is frequentl,
obliged, during the paroxysms, to res
solely on his head and heels, while hi
> body is arched and elevated. Durin:
the exacerbations, the face Of the suffer
err often assumes frightful appearance
!; The tongue is likely to be badly bitten
: aud the contractions are occasionally 81
violent a. to break the teeth and rup
= ture powerful muscles. Death result
u generally from combination Of causes
:, but mainly from sutfOcatiOn, couples
4" with loss Of power and degenerate az
:, ton Of the heart. The two chief source
!. of tetanus are exposure to cold or dam
= : and bodily injuries. When the formt
- happens the disorder il called idiopatl
= ic; when tho latter happens it is ira,
"" matte, which Is much more frequer
= than the other form Of the disease. T,
= tanus is liable to follow any sort Of hur
:. from Il triding cut or scratch to . con
: pound fracture or the severest oper,
:. ton, and is much commoner in tropic
y !. than in temperate climates.-New 70,
!" TfDley. -5