Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-03
TRYING AN EXPERIMENT
Toaine Being Used on Lockjaw
Patient.
Interesting Medical Case mt the
Emergency HOspitnl-Wntch-
ing the Symptoms.

One Of the most interesting expert nents
1t mas ever been the duty of the physicians
at the Emergency Hospital to perform was
conducted there today. 1t is a novel one
so few cases of the kind coming to the at
tention of the medical fraternity here. and
the result will be watched with more than
usual interest. 1t is seldom that there is
an opportunity to try the experiment on
patient of administering an injection OF
toxine for the amelioration and cure of
tetanus or lockjaw.
The patient in this case is colored man
by the name Of Richard Curtis, who lives
with his family at 22OS H street, and the
case is a well-defired one as regards the
disease. About ten days ago Curtis, who
is about thirty years of age. driver by
oct upation, stepped a nail which was
sticking out of board.
The wound made was painful one but
nothing serious, it thought, would re-
suit from it, and some healing stuff was
applied. 1t continued to grow worse, how
ever. and became infamed and extremely
painful. Tie wound was on the sole OF the
left foot midway between the ball and the
heel, in most sensitive spot. About three
days ago tue symptoms of tetanIs began to
appear, and grew mere marked up TO today.
The muscles of the face and neck became
rigid. and those of the chest also became
involved The rigidity of the facial muscles
was so great that this morning the patient
could talk with only the greatest difficulty
and could swallow only liquids. 1t Is nee
essary for food to be administered In liquid
form. and the patient has hard work to
swallow.
This morning Curtis was taken to the
Emergency Hospital in the ambulance, and
toxine secured for the operation. This tox
inc, similar to that which is administered
in diDhtheretic cases, is obtained from
horse which has been afflicted with te-
tanus, and is prepared specially for lock-
Jaw cases.
Curtis was placed on the operating table
and a portion of the toAine injected in his
and was then removed to a room, where he
will be kept in as absolute quiet as possible,
and anything which will have a tendency
to excite him will be avoided. Tetanus IS
in some respects similar to hydrophobia. in
that a patient is rendered much worse by
any exciting influences. The patient has
slight commissions, being generally contrac-
tons of the limbs.
These are frequent There is no bowling
of the back so far, which Is one of the last
stages of the disease
DIR. Ba,r of the hospital staff stated
that injections of the toxine In cases re-
ported had been productive of excellent re-
suits, and that though the patient had
gone longer, perhaps than was best with
out receiving the treatment, he was hope
full of the good effects. He stated that the
patient. would most likely show the result
of the treatment in twen.y-four hours.
The case is such a fine one from the
medical standpoint. that If the patient re-
covers it will be considered a magnificent
victory for the curative properties of the
cases of diphtheria. and this experiment
will determine its efficacy for tetaDus