LOCK JAW.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2323, 27 August 1880, Page 3

LOCK JAW.

Ur Coffin in his “Guide to Health introduces an exceedingly simple and efficacious remedy for lock jaw by relating the following anecdote :—“ A Mrs Vinton, while cutting a frozen cabbage, let the knife slip and severed the tendons of two lingers on the left hand. The hand and arm soon swelled and became rigid. A doctor was calico and attended her four days, when lock

jaw set in. The doctor then declared he could do no more for her. Her husband thou asked him if he would consult with us, which lie, being a libera'-minded man, consented to do. A messenger was at once sent for us. Having learned the particulars or the case from him we told him to hurry home and put two or three bricks in the fire and have them hot by the time of our arrival. On reaching the house we found the poor woman very much convulsed on the left side, and her jaws firmly closed. Dr S. said she would die. “ Not this time, doctor,” was our reply, for we will undertake her cure, and if you choose to stay you will see it speedily accomplished. lie left, and we commenced operations by taking a tea-spoonful of cayenne pepper and pouring a wine-glassful of hot water upon it. We then sweetened it and gave it to her husband, telling him to pour it gently into her month. She managed to suck it in two or three spoonfuls, while wo prepared a vapor bath thus : we took a hot brick from the lire and half immersed it in half a bucket of boiling water, then raising the patient out of her bed, covering her over with a .blanket, wo placed her over the steam, and .she less than five minutes the spasm relaxed and she spoke. Her husband and friends were overjoyed. Dr S. accompanied us next morning, and found the good woman preparing breakfast for her family ; the doctor expressed his suprise, and declared he would use the same means in future.