The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-18
TRAUMATIC TETANUs.
How DIR. Reagan, of Plainfeld, Cured the Son
of Hon. John Hanna.

How DIR. Reagan, of Plainf:eld, Cured the Son
of Hon. John Hanna.
Plainfield Progress
Three years ago this summer Horace Hanna.
ten-year-old son of the late Hon. John Hanna,
member of Congress from this district. cut on
the end of his thumb with a sickle. Dr. Jesse
Reagan, of this place, dressed the wound, but in
about two weeks, when 1t was nearly healed,
traumatic tetanus set in, and, as the people here
well knew. the boy recovered from the attack.
Now. reading the extraordinary claim made
for the New York case that it Is the only re-
covery in the history of the world" we con-
cluded to interview DR.. Reagan on the case of
Horace Hanna. We asked him to give the his
tory and treatment of it. He said:
about the fifteenth day after the accident,
when the wound nearly healed, the first
symptoms of traumatic tetanus appeared. They
increased for three days. From the third to the
fifth day they were at their worst opisthotonos
1.-THE head and heels drawing bsckward) prevail
ing TO q very marked degree. The jaws we're
firmly locked from the second to the tenth day,
when they opened about one-fourth of an inch.
/ made up my mind then that the patient would
recover. A slight but steady improvement had
been noticed from the fifth day On the ff-
teenth day the boy was able to walk about the
room, and could open his mouth sufficiently to
eat soft solids, as soft-cooked eggs, etc. Pre-
vious to this time his diet had been rich milk
and beef tea. with moderate stimuants Of
brandy ard whisky. 1t was not till from the
oath to the Both day that he was able to masti-
cate food.
las to the treatment. gave ten grains OF
bromide Of potassium every four hours and ten
grains of hydrate of choral every four hours
alternating the medicines For the purpose OF
inducing rest. gave one-eighth of grain OF
morphine on the third night and one sixth of
grain on the fifth night, but it failed to accom-
plish the desired result. AS ssimulants. after
the third day. / gave moderate amounts OF
brandy and whisky.
1.-THE use of bromide and choral in tetanus.D
continued the Doctor, lis not original with me,
as they have been used in late years. But
gave them in much smaller quantity than usual
I did this because in the only other case which
ever had in private practice, and in greak
many which came under my care or obserS
walton as surgeon in the army DUR
ing the war, / had seen none but
fatal results from the heroic treatment, such as
is said to have been given by Dr. Taylor. and all
the other remedies which usually given in
very large quantities. The surgical treatments
of traumatic tetanus the laying open OF the
wound, amputation, and the resection of the
principal nerve leading from the wounded
part and nerve stretching. The medical
treatment is the giving of large doses OF
the opiates, ehloroform, woorara, caabar bean.
and powerful sedatives and stimulants and
nourishing food. The food is essential But
have seen these remedies all tried, always In
powerful doses, and also all the surgical opera
tions, and always with failure and that is why
| adopted miider treatment in Horace Hannas.
case.