Omaha daily bee., 1910-07-04
Things You Want to Know
Cost Of the
Celebration.

two with 2,7Ss injured: in 1907. fitty-eisht
dead and S,SO7 injured; 1906 fifty-one dead
and 1851 injured, 1901 ffty-n dead and
S.l6s injured.
Figures compiled by the Journal Of the
American Medical Association show much
larger totals than those of the Tribune.
largely because more time Ne taken In pre-
pairing them and many cases that are re-
ported as injuries at the time later result
fatally. These figures show that In the
last six years there have been 1OS2 deaths
and q $50 serious injuries. OF course, the
vast majority Of these were children.
OF s2S persons injured last year IL was
found that the following weapons shared
the responsibility; Fireworks l2S; cannon,
81; firearms, Is: Eunpowder, ~; torpedoes.
g. toy pistols. A6; bOrnboanes, E, runaways.
H. While the toy pistol tanks fourth In
the number OF injuries caused, II leads the
list by a wide margin IN the fatalities. In
fact, Il is this implement OF destruction
against which the efforts Of the cities are
chiefly directed for II is from Its wounds
that most OF the lockjaw cases develop. 1t
frequently happens that the tetanus in
lection results from the wedding OF the
blank cartridges. which penetrRtes the skin.
and as the injury Ut FIRST seems trifling,
the victim is apt to. neglect It. The symp-
toms OF infection do not appear in the
patient In the early stage OF the disease,
but usually when he is dying.
The virulence OF the tetRnuE bacillL Of
course is a potent factor IN the outcome
Of any case. still the general means Of
treatment judiciously used increases the
chances for recovery In many doubtful
cases The chief precautions TO be taken
! after a case has developed Is TO guard the
| patient against any excitement or stimulus
! that might bring on commissions. 1t il es-
sential that floors should be padded In
order to prevent noise or EARRING. and doors
should be guarded TO prevent any
possibility OF slamming Darkness is also
an aid. In the treatment morphine IL
freely administered together with choral
and bromides in order that the patient
may be kept in a stupor II possible. If
! these drugs fail, resort is frequently had
to chloroform when exhaustion follows the
spasms.
| The bacilli which causes tetanus ars
commonly found in the SOIL. par ticulaIly in
garden soil. In the ordinary dirt of streets
and dwellings. in stable manure and IN
other similar substances. The germs are
harmless until they find their way into
the tissues OF the body. They do not null
tiply in the presence OF a free supply OF
fresh air, and, therefore, they are dan
gerOus only when they find their way
into wounds from which the air 10 eK-
cluded, particularly the deep narrow wounds
commonly known as ''punctured wounds"
The fact that the toy pistol usually makes
a punoture wound is the explanation for
the many fatalities resulting from It's use
on the fourth. When the germs have found
their way into the tissues OF the body IL
| 81. a
be large or small painful or otherwise. II
the conditions are favorable they multiply
so rapidly that the entire system is soon
. affected.
The danger OF tetsnus is so great that
the service OF a surgeon is, OF course, i'm
perative but where the victim Is not able
10 secure medical attention at once these
general principles should be borne In mind
The bacilli which are TO be dreaded are
those which may become buried In the
. recesses OF the laceration. or hldden #
the depths OF the puncture They must be-
reached and removed II possible, and Il
removal Is not possible they must be de-
stroyed and the wound must be left In such
! a condition as to prevent growth OF any re-
I naming bacilli which have escaped destruc.
ton
E To accomplish these results It Is necessary
that the wounds be laid open; first Il
, render possible the washing away OF TIA,
r bacill by means of water or germicidA
= solutions, and in the second place, to ex
e pose the wound TO the fresh air and thu
e prevent the multiplication of the bacilli
. II is usually considered a good plan to al.
d low the wound to bleed freely, as tn,
b blood may wash away any remaining germ
: after the washing. No attempt 10 mad
6 to close the wound or prevent a scar b.
d drawing the walls Of the wound together
4 for. as one health officer has remarked
e IL is better for a patient TO recover witt
e scar than 10 die without one
= BY TGEDEKIc J. XAsKxM.
= TomcrTOw-''Ths confS0t4Oasry TRADE