Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-01
TETANUs.
Fourth Of July Accidents and the
Lockjaw.

From the New York Herald
In the last monthly report Of the presi-
dent of the state board of health is a rec
ommendatIon that the local boards pro-
vide themselves with requisite amount
of tetanus antitoxin to be prepared for
Fourth of July accidents. The stgnifi-
canoe of this reminder is plain enough. 1t
is simply quite apparent that there will
be use for the remedy In spite of the
rapidly growing protest against cele-
brating the holiday in the old way. 1t
might also be added that ambulances be
in readiness and numerous beds be in
waiting for the injured youngsters.
Already the impatient boy is busy with
his ffrecracker. and burst toy cannon
has scored the first death.
There are strict ordinances, to be sure,
against the sale of dangerous explosives,
but the temptations to ignore them are
numerous enough to cause due alarm as
to ultimate consequences.
The indulgent parent who may be rea-
sonable on any other point not only al
lows his youngster to take chances
against well-pronounced source of dan
ger, but often directly abets him in SO
doing. To abolish explosives altogether
seems foolish to him until perhaps his
child loses an eye, is bereft of an arm or
q leg or Is writhing in the agonies Of
tetanus. Thus. in spite of accidents and
mortality statistics. the fun must go on
And so it will until 1t Is absolutely for
hidden in the present dangerous forms.
Popular opinion is certainly beginning
to favor such a compulsory movement. At
the recent meeting of the American Medf-
cal Association in Boston this representa-
tive body of physicians strongly declared
in favor of abolishing fireworks of all
kinds and called for a national law on
the subject. The daily press of the coun-
try shows a like eagerness in such d.
rection. We shall evidently come to 1t by
Il 10
best we can with the restrictions as they
are. Therefore let us have plenty Of
tetanus antitoxfn at hand and fight the
cases of lockjaw SO sure to occur.
But why should tetanus SO frequently
follow apparently trivial injuries? Simply
because wounds from explosives are most
easily infected by the tetanus microbe.
The bacilli are not contained in the pow
der itself, but in the ordinary ground dirt
upon the urchin's hands, on his toy pistol
or on the firecracker Itself.
These organisms are VIGOROUSLY prolific
In certain garden soils and in the various
molds of rubbish. The explosives simply
scatter the pathogenic germs into the
deep tissues OF the hand, arm or face
and the mischief is done. There they
multiply for days and sometimes for
weeks until the system gets thoroughly
poisoned and the characteristic spasms
appear. In the meantime the wound has
healed and its infiiction is usually for
gotten.
Because severe symptoms do not show
themselves at first, no particular treatment
is considered necessary. This is always
a serious mistake. Every wound far
from being of no moment, requires prompt
surgical attention. Even then there is no
absolute surety that all the injecting ma
terial can be removed by the most care
full cleansing. Consequently medical au-
thorities agree that the immediate injec-
ton of dose of antitoxin is a very nee
essary prophylactic measure against pos
sibie trouble later. Every powder wound
it is true. is not poisonous. but no one can
be sure TO the contrary. Every lesion of
the sort is at least suspicious. The deeper
and more penetratinf Its character the
greater the risk.
When we know all this and appreciate
the trouble and worry of the thing we
may well ask IL the mere enjoyment of
the venturesome youngster Is sufacient