Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1936-06-05
SELF-DOCTORINC
A MENACE TO
GOOD CONDITION

A death recently reported to the
State Department of Health shows
the dangers of self-doctoring. The
death occurred in Baltimore County
and was that Of man, 76 years old.
The brief record shows that on the
28th of February, he ran nail into
his foot. He bathed it in hot water.
used peroxide, tried salt water, salt
bacon. turpentine, and liniment on it.
The foot was slightly swollen on
March 5; on Mar the man developed
a stiff neck. He sent for his physic
ian who ordered his immediate remov-
al to a hospital. He died at the hos
pital the next day.
Lockjaw has been responsible for
nearly 200 deaths in Maryland during
the last ten years. Because the
deaths from lockjaw are listed under
the scientific name for the disease
tetanus-they are likely to attract as
much attention." DR.. r. H. Riley, Di-
rector of the State Department of
Health, said. "as they would if the
more familiar name were used.
"Lockjaw is caused" he continued,
"by a germ that is found in the dust
that floats in the air, in dirt from the
streets and roads, and particularly in
manure and in dirt around stables and
barns. The tetanus germ-the germ
that causes lockjaw-flourishes only
when the air is shut off. The germs
are inactive until crushed into a
wound from which the air is excluded.
Then they begin to develop. AS they
grow they throw off a powerful poi
son which causes the agonizing con-
traction of the muscles characteristic
of the disease. The muscles of the
jaws are among the first to be affect
ed, hence the name lockjaw.'
"The disease can be prevented by in
jecting tetanus anti-toXin-which coun
teracts the effect of the poison-into
the muscles. But it must be done at
the time of the injury, and of course,
must be done by a doctor. Any
'crushed-in' wounds. or injuries in
which the skin is broken, or punctured
or lacerated should be opened thor
cughly, surgically cleansed, and kept
open, in order that any tetanus germs
that have lodged in the wound, may be
exposed to the air, which will be fatal
to them. The tetanus anti-toxin
should be given without delay.
Ordinarily we are inclined to as
sociate lockjaw-tetanus-w gun
shot wounds, or wounds with injuries
from blank cartridges, toy pistols and
fireworks. And there is great dam
ger of contracting the diseases from
such injuries. But the disease may
develop from any injury in which the
skin is broken and dirt forced into the
flesh-such as frequently happens in
automobile accidents.
1.-THE size of the wound has nothing
to do with its possible serious con-
sequences. The injury may be mere
puncture by splinter, or nail, as in
the case of the Baltimore County man
whose death was recorded recently.
Three or four years ago, a child in
another part of the State, jabbed her
foot with pencil. By the time pre-
ventive treatment started, it was too
late in her case also. When an acct
dent of that sort occurs, the best thing
to do is to get the injured person to a
doctor as quickly as possible. The
State Department or Health supplies
the tetanus anti-toXin for preventive
treatments, free of charge, for per-
sons who live in the counties.
From 1926 to the end of 1885,
there were 287 cases of tetanus re-
ported to the Department-133 from
Baltimore City and 154 from the coun-
ties. Two-thirds of the cases-19O-
ended fatally, SO in Baltimore City
and 81 in the counties"