THE DREADED TETANUS

Shannon News, 23 April 1926, Page 3

THE DREADED TETANUS

HIGH RATIO OF MORTALITY. WIDE RISK OF INFECTION. PRECAUTIONS AGAINST DISEASE. The dreaded disease of tetanus presents one of the most serious problems to medical men to-day. The number of cases reported in the Dominion for a year varies littje and is not alarmingly large, but a serious aspect is preseuted by the large proportion which prove fatal. This is not due to medical laxity or ignorance, but to the fact that the disease is usually far advanced before the symptoms assert themselves. Of the eight cases in the Auckland Province last year (says the “Herald”) five were fatal, while three deaths, two of which have been in the city, have already occurred since December last, out of five cases already reported, Tim seriousness of this state of affairs cannot be too fully appreciated in Auckland, where infection is more liable to result on account of the great amount of time spent out-of-doors. The bacillus tetani is found mostly in soil well-matured and cultivated, and the disease is apt to follow infected or septic wounds, particularly about the hands and feet. As long as oxygen is kept from the bacillus it is a strange fact that it will not germinate, so that it may lie dormant in the earth for an illimitable period. The seriousness of the after-effects is not at all compatible with the size or nature of the wound, and for this reason neglect is often the cause of infection. In a case at Chelsea recently, it was a full week before medi-. cal aid was summoned, but the time which had elapsed was too great and the patient subsequently died. The hope of recovery depends largly on the promptness and efficiency of the treatment, and especially the use of anti-toxin. This is the only known remedy at present, and it is a certain cure if administered propeifly. During the war all wounded soldiers immediately received the serum, and the incidence of tetanus among the troops was consequently reduced to a summum.

Some years ago the mortality rate in America was over 80 per cent., but by the use of anti-toxin the toll has been reduced to below 30 per cent. Surgeons, however, are agreed that tetanus is a rare complication in a wound pvomptly and properly treated. The Fourth of July harvest festivals each year took the heaviest toll of any cause, but with the use of serum deaths have been almost wiped out at this period.

in strong contrast to the presentday small prooprtion of deaths mortality years ago was much higher, although it has never reached a figure to be compared with that produced by epidemics which periodically sweep the country. In the days of the Maori wars tetanus was frequent, and the soil in the district around Onehunga, Where camps were situated, was particularly dangerous. Risk of infection in children is not to be ignored in view of the number who run about bare-footed. For this reason cuts should be carefully cleanedmnd tended, as no assurance that the tetanus bacillus does not exist in any locality can be given.