The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-16
OF INTEREST TO DOCTORS.
LOckJav Treatment at City Hospital
A Unique baltimore Case.

Lockjaw, modern medical science has
demonstrated, is caused by bacillus and is
not a muscular affection, as was formerly
popularity supposed. DR.. c.. f. Ferguson,
superintendent of the City Hospital, has
been treating a patient suffering with this
disease for several days and he now seems
to be on a fair road 10 recovery. His name
is Lafayette Sterritt. Some time ago he
received a nail thrust in the foot. 1t was
not very painful and healed with no ap-
parent evil effects. About a week ago,
however, symptoms of lockjaw were de-
tected and they grew rapidly worse. He
was removed to the hospital, where his
friends supposed he would die.
DR.. Ferguson explains that lockjaw is
caused by what is known as tetanus bacil-
lis, a species of disease germ that is found
in or near the ground. Soil about stables
is frequently prolific of the germ. Owing
to its environments a wound in the foot is
more apt to cause the disease than a wound
to the hand or other portion of the body.
Tetanus bacillus is apt to gather on rusty
nails sticking in boards lying on the
ground DR.. Ferguson says thai it is not
because or a wound in the muscles that
lockJaw follows but it is all due to the
You might take a bright nail ard drive
it into the foot without producing lockJaw, .
said he. The disease attacks the spinal
chord and base of the brain. The first
symptom is the contraction of the muscles
of the jaw. AS it progresses the spinal
muscles also contract. In commissions the
patients neck is drawn back and his chin
IS thrown in the air, his head apparently
trying to reach his heels"
'What is the treatment?'
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ant-toxin."
DR.. Ferguson explained that tetanuS anti
toxin is different from the anti-toxin used
in diphtheria, although it is prepared in
much the same manner. The horse is in
nnarlQf ted with farnnI1G nniGnn mt tho
germ itself. TIL bacillus is placed in a
~gelatinous culture where it grows and de-
veiops. This is filtered. All bacillus is re-
moved. The poison alone is injected into
the animal, beginning in very small quanti-
ties and increasing the amount as the blood
becomes Injured to it until a sufficient
amount is in the system to kill the animal
# it were all introduced at one time. From
the blood of the animal the tetanus anti
toxin is prepared for treating patients suf-
fering with lockiaw.
The method of preparing the remedy is
very expensive. A sufficient quantity for
one injection into the blood costs s.. Up
to yesterday DR.. Ferguson had admins
tered three injections into the arm of the
patient. Already the muscles of the jaw
show signs of relaxation and the patient is
cheerful and hopeful, although he suffers
much.
DR.. e. D. Clark, city sanitarian. has re-
turned from Baltimore, where he went to
testify in a 5000 damage suit against
Johns Hopkins Hospital. The plaintiff was
James Wilson, a man siXty-seven years old,
who was a patient in the hospital while
DR.. Clark was a student of the university
and an inferno in the hospital. He was in
charge of the ward in which Wilson was
treated. An operation was performed for
enlarged prostate. The patient recovered,
although the operation was unusually Sc
we're and he was an old man. He was per-
suaded TO believe that he had been damaged
by the surgical operation and brought suit.
DR.. Clark went to Philadelphia to testify
Nhnf fha nrFaraffnn WAS necessary TO SH We
the old mans life. Some interesting evil
dence was introduced. The old man was
the worse witness for himself, as he sat In
the courtroom apparently as well as any
of the Jurors. The hospital management
was more anxious to show that the opera
ton was necessary than to avoid paying
the $4,000 Wilson demanded, in order To
protect the reputation of the institution.
DIR. Clark received a telegram after his
return yesterday informing him that the
court had taken the ease from the Jurg and
found for the hospital in every particular.