St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-01-14
CAUSES OF lOCkJAw.


CAUSES OF l0CkJAW.
vsrsseaos q the Malsdy aaA Remedies
Employed In lts Trsatosst
Old residents on Long Island arc
aware that greater number of per-
sons in proportion to the inhabitants
die Of trismus and tetsnus there than
in any other part of the State or Of tho
United States. This is particularly
true OF the eastern towns and villages.
Visitors are astonished at the concern
manifested over a slight cut bruise or
incisiOn that would be almost unnoticed
elsewhere. Cautions regarding cold
after an injury seem to them SUPER
fuOus, but the natives know better.
and dread lockjaw because they have
seen SO many cases of the disease. in
many instances in their own families.
Its prevalence is accounted for by the
climate and other influential causes
which predisposc the system to il. and
1t is = noticeable fact that animals.
particularly horses, are Is much SUBJ
ject to it As human beings. Although
tetanus is not always fatal. it invaria-
bly, leaves the systems Of those once
affected with a constitutional liability
to renewed of the attack from slight
exciting causes Trismus is included
in the more general term tetanus. It
is an uncomfortable sPssmodic contrac-
ton Of the muscles of the lower jaw
and is simply the disease commonly
known rs lockjaw.
When all the voluntary muscles OF
the body are attacked under the same
conditions the disorder is known as
tetanus. It usually begins with con-
traction of the muscles of the throat
and lower jaw. but lockj.w is some
times a purely local affection. It is y
spasmodic affection produced by SYM
pathetic or reflected irritation caused
by local injury. A remarkable fea-
turc of tetanus is the absence Of con-
stitutional disturbance. When it is at
tended with local irritation. such rs
wound or other injury. it is known rs
franiatic; when no visible cause exists.
it is called idiopathic. 1t may be acute
or chronic. the first usually the result
Of an accident and almost invariably
fatal. The chronic Ur idiopathic form
sometimes. though rarely. yields to
skillful treatment. Diseases involving
the teeth. gums or jaws often cause
trismus or lockj jaw in adults. and it Is
often the result of teething in children.
Horses seem very susceptible to tho
and many cases are known on
Long Island where . slight sadtlle-gall
or abrasion caused by an ill-iitting
harness. has been followed by lockjaw.
When they are exposed 10 cold after
injury. the disorder is most to be feared.
1t is thought by some authorities that
lacerated wounds produce tetsnus
more frequently than incised ones;
but although this may be true in re-
gard to human subjects. horses and
other animals appear to suffer moro
from inciscl ones. A nail run into tho
loot is the commonest of all causes of
lockjaw in horses. The acute form of
tetanus is developed when symptoms
quickly follow the injury. Death
usually follows in from twenty-four
hours to ten days after the appearance
II the hrst symptoms. After the lapse
II twenty-one days the patient or sub
icct is regarded rs out Of danger.
Risus saronmicMs. or tetanic grin. is q
down Of the corners of the
b.. &ho continuation <>e Nho f~c:~l |
When this occurs all doubt
is dispelled as to the presence OF
frismus. and the patient is regarded
beyond all earthly assistance. This is
often seen in dying people. and was
particularly noticeable on the battle
field and in the hospitals during tho
civil war. Tctanus is distinguishablo
from spinal meningitis and from ccrc-
bro-spinal meningitis by the absence Of |
infiammstory symptoms. and from tho
affection BY the absence Of |
or headache. dclirum. and
coma The consciousness Of the patient
it also from epilepsy.
Poison BY strychuine produces symp-
IONS 50 nearly akin to tetanus a. to
puzzle the most learned and skillful
physicians Rabies. or hydrophobia,
Is sometimes mistaken for it
The remedies are many. and physi-
,ians disagree ~ to tho most eficacious
treatment Chloral-hydrate. chlOro-
orm. ether. nicotine. quinine. NOR
,hine and other drugs arc used. and
he patient is nourished . generously
Is the nature Of the malady will per-
nit-N y Tunes.
LACE MADE OF STEEL.
l New IaveatSoa which VIM Crooee Q /