Tetanus (Stiffness or spasm of the neck) (II)

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

stiffness or spasm of the neck; a disease common to mankind and animals. It is characterized by the contraction of a greater or less number of muscles by paroxysmal spasms, which aggravate the contractions and by troubles more or less accentuated in the calorification of the circulation and respiration. It is most commonly located in the jaw and begins with painful stiffness at the maxillary muscles and the muscles at the nape of the neck or by difficulty in swallowing. The progress of tetanus is either acute or chronic. The acute form develops in from one to four days; the chronic form may last a fortnight. In acute tetanus the average number of deaths ranges from 65 to 80 per cent. The disease is caused by a bacillus which secretes a very active poison, and that earth from the street or garden and especially from stables or manured land is swarming with these bacilli. It is the U contact of the earth with any kind of wound, especially wounds in the hands or feet, which is the most important factor in the development of tetanus. No certain remedy for tetanus has as yet been discovered though antitetanic serum has been successfully used as a preventive. A. very simple preventive of lockjaw is here given. As soon as possible after the wound is received hold the part affected for 20 minutes in the smoke of woolen or flannel. This is easily procured by placing butts or pieces of woolen or flannel cloth on a shovelful of hot coals.