New-York tribune., 1899-07-14
PAINFUL KNOWN.

PAINFUL KNOWN.
The extraordinary number Of cases Of lockjaw
caused by injuries received in celebrating the
Fourth this wear attracts attention in every par;
Of the country Every day adds 10 the number OF
deaths and Of those afflicted with the disease
which is one Of terrible agony.
DR. Gerardus H. Wynkoop. In speaking OF the
disease yesterday said:
Heretofore there have been but few cases OF
tetanus In this city or neighborhood but the South
Shore Of Long Island has been peculiarly afflicted
by IT, especially about Great South Bay. where
there have been larger number OF cases in the
last twenty five years than In any other locahty
hereabouts So great has been the tendency 10
lockjaw there that injury such as the cutting OF
ones foot while In hing would cause great ner-
vousness until sufficient time had elaspsed 10 pre-
cude the possibility Of lockiaw. ! cannot account
for the large number Of cases at present nor 90
know Of any one who | do not understand
where tetanus first received the name Of lockjaw
as there is no more reason for calling It that than
there is for calling the hoarseness OF the throat
that accompanies hydrOphobia barking.
''Tetanus when IL appears usually follows torn
wound but seldom clean cut one The lacerated
condition Of the flesh gives odgment to dirt carry
ing e germ or else the germ enters by at
mospheric contact The poison Is wholly expended
on the nervous system. that the sufferer passes
into convulsons and remains so until death super
venes and 1t s without exception. the most terrl-
BILE death I have witnessed
1T is only WITHIN the last two or three years
that any cases Of lockjaw have recovered ana II
is the hope that in future the serum treatment
will permit the cure OF large percentage OF cases
So far II has not wholly prevented death, nut II
has apparently prevailed in some cases The Whole
question Of antitoxns yet in its infancy. and
tbera has been more done In diphtheria anttoXns
than any other DR.. Doty has succeeded with a
yellow fever case by this treatment out Win re-
rd ~ s use in cases Of tetanus, II is too early
- axnress an opinion as its value. 1t Is sup
osed that the body has a resisting power 10 germ
a,seases In large number of cases this power Oh
,r,orc. is feeble and ..is has led Investigators
- -. - increase this resisting power III mas
| SIan 6iscovered LAT by introducing INTO IaIs
animals such horses or asses germs oi ,S q,
in such quantities as the anlnai s - aoie ~ 20 nartc
haconoes after time mmunzed from that PdItc a.
I 5tsaase The serum Cthe luid or the plOod) Is
hen collected and injected into human Veisn b
and in many cases Ola OF a nu,T thus be Accomplishment
In iocktaw the injection OF serum u tndue % 6er 10
brain The skull first being trepanneo IN oruef u
| reach the brain. ,,.s ,ha ornearance Of
Anotnei IN the disease follows
.sTar,, one has probably suffered rom cIanP a.,
The leg Now Imagine If you can s9ch crstnp IN
ever! Sontracticn OF the muscles In locktaw that ~
IS tne GV in ts piaced on his her back the body
tsT ha1ds ike a bow until It is resting only on u1e
head and the heels he tha Blood vessels which
lncrease ~ natient 70 become red as a lobster
wbWe the pores Of the skin discharge s%ea. o !.
s,reans Convulsions follow each o'hsi "ltl = @ ea'
Saniditv and so great is the agony OF me suneret
n9 dose of opates is sufficient 10 a1ord relle
short ~ a fatal one AS touch OF Verltaoe norro
sus sardoncus usually impars 10 tne ys safT rom
pne re eight days before death mercifuly puts al
| endt to agony.