The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-06-21
PATRIOTISM
AND POWDER
DISASTERS RESULTING FROM
INSANE CELEBRATION CAUSES
FLORIDA BOARD OF HEALTH
TO ISSUE BULLETIN

The following bulletin has been is
sued by the Florida Board of Health;
Patriotism and Powder!
There's a connection 'betW cen the
two which would be remarkable if
it had not been proven to be rather
intimate by the experiences of the past
years. The near approach of the
summer holidays. Of which the ''Glor-
ious Fourth is the occasion or inspt-
ration. makes the subject timely.
The disasters resulting from the in
sane celebration of the Fourth like
typhoid fever, malaria and other sad
yisitatiOns, are preVentable. They
are without reasonable excuse ex-
Ceptlng that Of ignorance, which isn't
acceptable as an excuse IN these en-
of gunpOwder in firearms or fire
works results in fatal injury or in in
Simultaneous death. the doctor, Of
course, hasn't a chance. The coroner
should be summoned. But in the muI-
titude Of accidents that pepper the
skin with burned powder that bring
shattered fingers and blinded eyes
the feature that make the small boy
a hero to his comprehensive great
est danger is not from the superficial
damages that might have come from
other causes than exploding fireworks
1t is in the slow-cOmparative slow
development Of tetanuS, resulting fire.
Quently in complete fiexion Of the vol
untary muscles and producing lock
jaw.
In its final development the death
of the victim is attended by horrible
suffering not unlike that produced by
hvdrOphObia. The spasms Of excru-
Ciating agony in both diseases are I'M
relieved by the unCOnsCICUSness OF the
victim, and he dies a lingerin" death
realizing his fate and enduring the
, limit OF pain TO which humanity can
reach.
1t IS not likely, In the present gene
raj indifference to the possibility Of
accidents Of this kind even in the
best regulated families. that We shall
see any remarkable lesssniuG Of this
danger. 1t Is We'll, therefore, To he
prepared for ito realize that how
ever slight powder burn may ap-
pear if it has broken the outer skin.
there is a decided danger ard risk in
not taking every step TO avoid fatal
II a person. child or adult. is at
! tackled by a dog presuma bly, affected
with rabies, he takes no chances but
hunts up the doctor. and he gets to
him quick. The danger from a pow
der burn is TO less serious and the
prudent man Will be equally prompt
in consulting the physician. An anti
toxin for tetanus has been perfected
which IS as dependable in the proven
ton of this disease as is the Pasteur
treatment in the prevention of hydro
phobia. Its use should be encouraged
in all injuries of this nature even
though they be apparently Of only
moderate severity.
The bacillus of tetanus. the germ
that makes the real trouble following
powder burns. is more or less Of a
mystery, but medical science has him
under surveillance, Investigating his
habits and method Of work The doc
tors have found him an enemy not to
he trifIed with. They have discovered
also that he cannot thrive in the pre-
sence of oxygen. It's fatal to him
| Therefore, he cannot tnflict injury on
the surface of the skin or wherever else
may be exposed to the air. He must
and does work beneath the surface and