The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-05-01
Tetanus-Lock-iaW.

A recent correspondent inquiries:
"How many days after an injury to toes
or fingers is lock-jaw likely to set in,
and after how many days may the dan
ger be considered past?h A disease in
volving such extreme peril as tetanus
is very naturally viewed with proper
tional horror and apprehension, and in
stead of answering our correspondent
in ''Notes and Queries" we devote a
little space to the subject here; and we
shall confine ourselves, as he does, to
that form of disease known in surgical
practice as traumatic tetanus, as that
is the only one popularity recognized.
It is well to correct at once an I'M
preston which is very common and
which causes much needless alarm. It
is the general belief that severe, and
especially lacerated, wound is ex-
tremely apt to cause lock-iaw; hurt,
for instance, from q ''rusty nail"
Now, this is not all true. It will, by
most people, be deemed very strange,
but it still is strictly true, that tetanus
has very little to do with the severity
of the injury; a single smooth cut (for
example, slight surgical operation)
may cause it, as may also blow even
of no great violence. On the other
hand, the most terrible mangling and
tearing may go free. And so extremely
small is the number of cases, in COM
parison with the multitudes of injuries
daily received, that every effort ought
to be made to quiet the popular appre-
hension. Cases of tetanus do occur,
but they are very few in their sum
total.
There can be no question that the
physical condition of the person injured
has much more to do with the develop
ment of the disease than has the Sc.
verify of the injury. Except in special
localities, it is almost impossible to in
duce tetanus in person who is in good,
vigorous health. Depressing causes OF
every sort tend to its origination, and
hence the well known fact that injuries
and surgical operations during the ex-
haustion of a severe military campaign
develop tenatus at a very alarming rate
The disease is purely nervous in its
origin and its nature, and because OF
this whatever lowers the nerve foroe,
| that is, the life force, favors its incep-
| ton. But though nervous only at first,
| organic changes in blood vessels (and
| probably also in the blood) as well as
other tissues speedily follow, and these
| then play their own destructive part.
Tetanus may follow an injury almost
instantly, certainly within an hour,
| though this is not common, and it may
| be delayed several weeks. Instances
| are on record where it has waited full
month, but this is also not common.
From the third day to the tenth is the
range in general. After the tenth day
| few cases occur, and even il they do,
the danger is not great, for they are
milder in proportion to the lateness OF
their origin, and many such recover.
Of those beginning early the prognosis
is frightfullY unfavorable. Some writer's
even go so far as to say ''it is doubtful
| if there be any authentic case of re-
covery under such circumstances, but
this is certainly not true, as we have
personal evidence to prove recovery is
| possible.
The treatment must of course be left
to the best skill to be obtained in the
emergency. Opium in very large doses,
together with proper care of the wound,
is about all that would lie within the
reach of professional person.
Chloroform or ether might be inhaled,
by means of napkin or sponge, to
check the violence of spasms, but theiI
effect is quite transitory, and to be Of
any real efficiency must be pressed
more urgently than any one but a per.
son thoroughly trained would be likely
to do.-SclentGfe american.