HOSPITAL'S FIGHT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5206, 21 November 1927, Page 3

HOSPITAL'S FIGHT.

TO SAVE BOV’S LIFE. A VICTIM OF TETANUS. To rescue Sydney Fletcher, 12 years of age, of Auburn, from the death grip of tetanus, the Rpyal Alexander Hospital for Children, at Sydney, spent £75 on anti-toxin. In a life and dqath struggle extending over three weeks the hospital won. Early last month young Fletcher grazed the skin on his knee in a fall. From this simple injury, tetanus, more commonly known as lockjaw, set in with extraordinary rapidity. Very often symptoms take five and six weeks to assert themselves, but in this case at the end of a week -tetanus was fully established. When the boy was brought to the hospital on October 14 his whole body was rigid and arched like a bow. The case was a desperate one, but tne hospital authorities set to work gallantly to release the lad from his fearful plight, and save him, if possible, from death. Six injections of anti-toxin were made iptp thq spinal column, 19 into the muscles, and 10 into the veins. Under the influence of this unprecedented quantity of anti-toxin the tetanus germ gradually released its deathly grip. Last week the boy was sitting up in his cot, bright and cheerful. Now that, ha is free to think about the future again, Jie talks of becoming a Jockey. The hospital staff are proud of the results of their efforts, and there is no regret at the expense involved. Practically the whole of the cost of the ordinaly treatment as well as that of the anti-toxin has been born by the institution. The case is a remarkable example of the expense to which publit hospitals will go in giving treatment to save life.