Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-06-29
HOW TO FIGHT rErANus GERM
Surgeon Wyman of Marine Hospital
Tells What to Do in Case.

| With the approach of July 4 the
question of warding off possible cases
| of lockjaw thru burns and bruises
OF explosives arises. While the sane
fourths of the last few years have
minimized the danger. still there Is
4 plenty Of room left for accidents that
might be serious.
! Surgeon Wyman of the marines hos
| ing advice In case of an accident and
how to guard against tetanus:
During the last five years there
have been 7S6 cases of tetanus as the
result of Fourth of July celebrations.
OF which 721 have died, a mortality of
! 80 per cent Six hundred and eight
or so per cent of the cases resulted
from blank cartridge wounds. The
| number of cases resulting from blank
cartridge wounds has steadily de-
creased from 1863 in 1903 to So in 1907.
| but the cases following other wounds
have not fiuctuated. This warrants the
belief. that, while wounds from blank
cartridges are properly cared for 9TH
err hurts are not scientifically treated.
Cartridges lead in the number Of
cases of tetanus following Fourth Of
July, with 60 in the last five years.
Giant crackers come next with ~,
while cannon crackers come next with
21, firearms with 20 and powder
with CO.
The warning. which was prepared
by Past Assistant Surgeon John F.
Anderson, gives this explanation OF the
origin and operation OF the tetanus
bacillus:
"The bacillus Of tetanus, or its
spore form, is found in earth. especial
lily garden earth, stable manure, the
dust of the streets, stables and human
habitations.
when tetanus spores are intro
duced under the skin they at once ger
inmate IL oxygen is excluded and be-
gin to elaborate tetanus toxin
HPhysicians often treat blank car
fridge and other Fourth of July in
juries, unless Of a serious character,
as trivial" says the warning. "con-
tenting themselves with picking out
the plainly seen pieces OF Wad. pow
der, etc, and applying dressing. In
a few days the patient returns, and
then, when 1t is too late. anti-toxin IS
given, the wound Is thoroughly cleaned
out. and. perhaps, a piece OF Wad or
! clothing found in 1t.
sit should be an invariable proceed
ure that all Fourth OF July wounds be
!, laid fully open under local or, prefer
ably general anaesthesia, and all for
eign material and necrottc or badly
injured tissues removed, as the pres
| ence of blood clots and necrotic tissue
| favor anaerobic conditions, which are
essential for the development of the
tetanus organism. After the wound
has been thoroughly cleaned out 1T
should be swabbed out with strong
carbolic acid, at least % per cent.
followed by a washing with 95 per
cent alcohol to. prevent further action
Of the acid. Some surgeons use per-
oxide Of hydrogen instead OF carbohc
acid
/ "After cauterization, by whatever
method used, the wound should be
thoroughly washed out with solu-
ton Of bichloride of mercury and
packed with gauze soaked in a sat
! urated solution OF salisylic or boric
acid. and a large wet dressing of the
same solution applied. In no case
should the wound be closed, but 1t
should be allowed to heal by granula-
ton. The dressing and packing should
be renewed every day."