El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-07-04

previous the fatalities had reached ~
with 2,736 injured; in 1897, 5S dead
and 1907 injured; 1906, 81 dead ana
1851 injured; 1905, SO dead and S,16S
injured.
Figures compiled by the Journal
of the American Medical Association
shows much larger totals than those
of the Tribune largely because more
time is taken in preparing them ana
many cases that are reported as IN
iuries at the time later result fatally
These figures show that in the last SIX
Years there have been 1882 deaths ana
27,9SO SERIOUS injuries. Of course the
vast majority of these were children
Fireworks Cause Most Injuries
Of 32S persons injured last year II
was found that the following weapons
shared the responsibility:
Fireworks 123; cannon, 81; FIRE
arms, 4S; gunpOwder, -; tOrpedoes, SIX
top pistols, As; bomb canes, five; run
aWays II. While the toy pistol ranks
fourth in this number of injuries
caused il leads the list by wide mar
Din in the fatalities. In fact, 1T Is TINS
Implement of destruction against Whlch
the efforts of the cities are CHERRY
directed for # is from its wounds that
most of the lOekjaw cases develop
1t frequently happens that the tet-
anus infection results from the Wau-
ding of the blank cartridge, which
penetrates the skin, and as the IN
Jury at first seems trifling the VIC
tim is apt to neglect it. The symp-
toms of infection do not appear IN the
early stage of the disease, but usually
when he is dying
= The virus of the tetanus bacll1' Oh
course, is a potent factor IN the OUT
come of any case, still the general
means of treatment judiciously used in
creases the chances for recovery III
many doubtful cases The CHIEF pre-
cautions to be taken after a case has
developed is to guard the patient
against any excitement or stimulus that
might bring on commissions
1t is essential that floors should be
Dadded in order to prevent noise or
Earring, and doors should be so guard
ed as to prevent any possibility OF
s.amrning. Darkness is also an aid
In the treatment morphOe is freely
administered together with choral ana
bromides in order that the patient may
be kept in stupor, if possible II
these drugs fail resort is frequently
had to chloroform when exhaustion
follows the spasms.
Germs Are Everywhere.
The baciIli which causes tetanus are
commonly found in the soil, particular
" in garden soil, in the ordinary dirt
of streets and dwellings. in stable man
ure and in other similar substances
The germs are harmless until they
find their way into the tissues Of the
body. They do not multiply IN the
presence of Il free supply of fresh
air. and. therefore, they are dangerous
only when they find their way into
wounds from which the air is excluded,
particularly the deep narrow wounds
commonly known as ''puctured wounds
The fact that the toy pistol usually
makes a puncture wound is the expla-
nation for the many fatalities result
ing from its use on the Fourth When
the germs have found their way into
the tissues OF the body it makes little
difference whether the wound be large
or e.lan, painful or otherwise. II
the conditions are favorable they null
tiply so rapidly that the entire sys-
TEN is soon affected
The danger Of tetanus is so great
that the service of a Surgeon is, of
course, imperative but where the VIC
tim is not able TO secure medical at
tention at once these general princi-
pies should be borne in mind The
baciIH which are TO be dreaded are
those which may become buried in the
recesSes of the liberation or hidden in
the depths of the puncture- They
must be reached and removed if pos
sible, and If removal is not pOssibel they
must be destroyed and the wound must
be left in such q condition as to prevent
growth of any remaining bacilli which
have escaped destruction.
Wound should be Blcd.
To accomplish these results it is nee
essary that the wound be laid open;
first to render possible the washing
away of the bacilH by means of water
or germicidal solutions, and in the
second place, TO expose the wound to
the fresh air and thus prevent the
multiplication OF the bacilli-
1t is usually considered a good plan
TO allow the wound TO bleed freely as
the blood may wash away any re-
naming germs after the washing No
attempt is made to close the wound or
prevent scar by drawing the walls of
the wound together. for, one health
officer has remarked, it is better for
a patient to recover with a scar than
70 die without one
TOmorrOw-The Confectionery Trade.