The times., 1897-08-10
THE CURTIS CASE PROVES IT
Unfortunately After the CoIored
Man at the Emergency Had En-
tirely Recovered From His Lock
jaw He Died of Pneumonia--
Liquid Food Reached His Lungs.


23d OF July by rusty iron nail. He paid
but little attention to the wound
and tetanus or Iockiaw did not manifest
itself unt1 week afterward. On the
I'd of August his condition had reached
such an alarming stage that ii was neces-
sary to remove him to the Emergency Hos
pital, where lie was subjected TO the anti
toxiue treatment.
This consists in injecting a fluid into the
body, Which counteracts the influence OF
tie tO%IDe caused b. the injury. From the
first, Curtis condition improved. Upon
his entrance it was necessary To deaden
the pain he experienced by choral, but as
soou as the antitoxine had thoroughly
perneated the system, the mans suffer
ings noticeably leSssened and there was at
once an appreciable rela axation OF both
the muscles OF the jaw and the abdome n .
BY Thursday he was able To open his
jaws a., inch, and could readily maintain
conversation. Friday saw an increased
relaxation Of the jaw, and a much more
normaltenperature and pulse. During this
period Curtis was steadily nourished with
milk, whisky, and consomme. There was
no necessity 10 force the food down his
throat. nor To remove any of his teeth, as
is Sometimes the case.
While the greater part of his food passed
readily down his throat occasion ally po--
tions of it would get into his windpipe
Coughing fits almost invariably followed.
Friday night the patient began to exhibit
symptoms II pneumonia and his condition
grew rapidly worse by Saturday.
Tn,
lions of toxine had been given, but the
relaxation Of the muscles became more and
more pronounced. Yesterday all traces of
lockjaw had disappeared. Curtis was able
TO work his "a ws with the greatest freedom
and could open his mouth wide enough to
permit the insertion of fist.
However, the pneumonia grew steadily
worse and at 6 O'Clock yesterday morning
he died from its effects.
The physicians al the hospital are en-
tirely satisfied with the result of the anti
toXine treatment Had not pneumonia
develop ed hey yassertt that Curtis would have
heen well today
The pIcumonIa, however, was developed
indirectly 10y the tetanus There are two
kinds OF pneumonia, Ordinary" and for
eign toayn The first is generally the re-
suit OF cold. The latter is caused by the
presence OF something other than air in
the lungs
In Curtis case the stiffness of his throat
muscles in the first few days of his treat
nent did not permit the epihlottis TO con.
tract. aud consequently whenever he at.
tempted 70 swallow part of his food
would trickIe down his windpipe, lodging
in the lungs, where it soon produced a
violent inflammation. From this inflanima-
ton he died
Dr. Vaughn, assisted by the hospital staff.
performed post-mortem examination on
the remains at 11.30 O'Clock yesterday
morning. The body was in no way emaci-
ated and all the organs. with the ex-
ception OF the lungs, appeared To be in
most healthy state. The lungs, however.
were ALMOST solid, the lower part Of each
being very badly consested. There were
no indications OF tetanus TO be found.
DR.. Vaughn, who has been treating the
case, said 10 a Times man: There is no
Doubt that the antitoxine treatment is
an unqualified success. Curtis was suf-
fering from tctanus in its most acute form,
and his system was thoroughly impregnated
with the germs OF the disease. We gave
4itn elAhNtn III jtCttOHs Dtbhcen 1ueSQdy
and Friday, with such splendid results
that by yesterday the man was free from
all symptoms of lockjaw. On Friday 1
noticed change iu his temperat ture, how
ever, and soon found that he was suf-
fering with a violent case of pneumonia,
which was the cause of his death.
This IL the second case in which l have
hcen concerned in Washington W here anti
toxine was employed III the treatment OF
tetanus. The first patient who was
treated was cured by serum obtained
from guinea pigs. However, in that in
stance the tetanua was chronic and by
no means So severe as this. The man
recovered after a short Course OF treat
ment and is living in the city today.
THE virus We have been using ON Curtis
is obtained from horses and is much more
satisfactory. 1t most undoubtedly eff
fected a cure and it is unfortunate that
pneumonia should have developed.
"a number of physicians have called to
see Curtis and there is no doubt among
the medical profession that the new cure
is efficacioUs and sure"
''Is it not tie rule that the injuries
which cause lockjaw are located in the
foot?'' was asked.
''Yes: almost Invariably tetanus results
from a wound in one Of the extrenities.''
This is bncaus the hands and face are
more exposed than the other parts OF the
body and the wound becomes befouied by
dirt. Rusty nails are dangerous, not SO
much on account of the rust, but more SO
because OF the dirt which is found on
them. The bacilIi of tetanus are found In
all earth and dirt. That's why 1t is al
ways eXpedient and necessary carefully to
cleanse and wash all wounds.
Il do not believe that any more of the
bacilli OF tetanus Were left in Curtis body,
but shall make careful experiments to de-
the flesh about the place where the nail
entered, as / will be more likely TO find
them there If any are left. As a rule these
baciIli do not &C far from the place of
injury, and il there are any traces still to
be found ! will be most likely to discover
them there
The PaSteur and antitoxine treatments
have proved &c be successful cures for
diseases which have been always pro-
nounccd incurable. The medical pro-
fession viii behold greater strides yet In
the direction of curing other disorders now
regarded as fatal, and it viii be only
question Of time ere certain cures for con-
sumption and blood poisoning will be dis
covered.
Saturday and Sunday Excursions