The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-07-16
LoCKJAW AND TOY PISTOLS.
New York Physicians Advise That
the Wenpon BE Prohibited.

New York, July 15.-Owing to the many
cases OF tetanus, the demand for antitoxin
has been so great that the board of health
has run out of its supply, and the hospitals
have been obliged to procure it from va
rious manufacturers. 1t was said at Roose-
welt Hospital that the serum obtained in
this way is quite as good and equally ef-
fectiye as that furnished by the city, a
doubtful recommendation, however, as the
value of the serum is by no means proved.
Two patients in Roosevelt who have been
treated by the new method OF cerebral in
iections of anti-tetanic toxin are still alive.
William Ramberg is doing well, and there
is some hope of his recovery; the other
Leo Hagar, is in a precarious condition,
which does not yield perceptibly to the
treatment. These patients are said not to
suffer greatly, owing TO the administration
of anti-spasmodics.
Much interest is felt by the medical pro-
fession in the development of the method
of injecting the antitoXin serum into the
brain of the patient, and the important
questions of the moment are, Why is the
toy pistol responsible for so many cases
of lockjaw? Is the soil of certain parts Of
the city peculiarly favorable TO the devel-
opment of the tetanus bacilli, or is the
These questions cannot as yet be an
swered in any but a speculative way; it
is, however, certain that the toy pistol
in this instance has been the direct cause
of the disease. The wound made by a
blank cartridge is serious one, as
the wad penetrates deep into the hand, in
most cases a very dirty hand and in some
instances is not removed. The edges of
the wound are confused, and in conse-
quence of having a low vitality, take up
the poison very quickly.
The germ of tetanus is supposed to exist
in the soil, and is believed to be carried
upon the dirty hands of boys. The germ
thus has chance to enter the wound.
In great number of cases lack of aseptic
treatment is responsible for much OF the
trouble. The difficulty of successful treat
ment lies also in the fact that, notwith-
| standing the merit of the methods en-
! ployed, the application is delayed and the
patient is so deeply inoculated with the
| poison that cure is impossible and, as has
| frequently happened, the remedy is en-
| ployed as a forlorn hope. II the antitoxin
might be injected simultaneously with the
! incubation, as is done with animals on
which experiments are made, it is thought
that the treatment would be in most cases
effective.
Many physicians are agreed that the toy
|
inflicted by them are looked upon as the
most frequent cause of lockjaw Dr. Hotch.
kiss, one of the Bellevue surgeons. who
has had charge of many of the cases, SAID
on this subject:
Without doubt the increase in tn,
number of cases of tetanus this year is ow.
ing TO the fact that for some years pas
the toy pistol has been suppressed. In tn,
face OF present facts there can be no doub
that they should be forbidden by law. n.
being dangerous to life, and a crusad,
should be made against their use In III,
dispensaries many mothers gave as an ex
cuse for buying the pistols that the,
| thought they were cleaner and safer thar
| firecrackers, as being less likely to ex
plode. This, of course, is untrue"
I DR.. Hotchkiss also said: mo absolut,
reason can be given for the increased mum
Der of tetanus cases following the 4th O
July this year. 1t is held by some au
thorities that atmospheric influences hay,
much 10 do with 1t, and that certain sol
is favorable to the increase of the bacilli
Tetanus has prevailed at different time
among soldiers during wars, and was par
ticulariy prevalent during the campaign
of the French in Egypt and the Crimea"
DR.. Hartley, who has given the treat
ment OF tetanus much attention and ha!
brought the method now in general use I,
its present perfection, is not discourage,
by the unsuccessful application of il It
many cases. realizing that many of then
were too far advanced for the antitoxin L
exert n beneficial effect.
The number Of deaths from lockjaw IL