POINTS ABOUT TETANUS IN TALC.

Chronicle (Levin), 1 June 1946, Page 5

POINTS ABOUT TETANUS IN TALC.

DUNEDIN, May 31. ' ' In tale any strav tetanus spores that may have gained entrance to the talcum may be kille'd by proper sferilisation bv 'dry heat at a tempevature , of '150 degrees centigrade for at least one liour," stated Dr. D'Ath, Professor of Pathology at Otago Universitv. "It is not wise for housewives to attempt tliis, liowever, as there is diflicultv in getting the temperature suf- J fieiently higli in the oven and there is j a danger of charring. There are proper facilities for adequately-controlled sterilisation at the Medical School, and tlie school will treat supplies for chemists, doetors and liursing homes if requested. "The finding of tetanus spores in ' talcum is probablv very unusual," said Dr. D'Ath. "but one must guard' against the unusual as well as the com-! inon. The danger of/ dusting talcum 1 which coutains tetanus spores, even as; face powder, is that it might infect ! abrasimis, cuts oi- open wounds. The biggesjt danger, of course, is when it is used to dry ofl' the umbilical cords in , new-boni infants. "There are all sorts of possibilities ! of the entrance of tetanus spores, oue : of the most likely being through the packing material, cartons or bags. " Iuquiries througli the city elicit the fact that an imniense quantity of talcum powder is used by men after shaving and women after a bath, and also l»v men baek from Pacilic service who have got accustomed to its use for d lying ofl'. There have been 110 local cases ! of tetanus therefrom, and, eonsidering the quantity used, the ineidence is in- ■ linitesinial. rrhe Distriet Health Officer stated ! that all liursing homes had been in- 1 sti'ucted to use sterilisation in aecord witli tlie instructions in the Health Department iHiblication.