A CURIOUS CASE.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 973, 24 May 1872, Page 4

A CURIOUS CASE.

The Auckland •*. Evening Star' rotates the following:— A citizen of Auckland was laid upon a bed of sickness, btruck down by tho terrible malady of lock-jaw. In this case the tetanic action had a somewhat abnormal development, for instead of the jaw being locked it was rather unlocked to a huge extent, fur the mouth was w r ide open, the lower jaw pointing downward and with a peculiar " twisht" in it, so that it pointed to the one side in a manner horrible to behold. Nevertheless the diagnosis was unquestionable, for a chemist in considerable practice hod pronounced it to be distinctly tetanus, and had prescribed according to the most modern and established principles of tho pharmacopoeia in the treatment of tetanus, namely a potion so as to attack the disease from the centre of vitality, the stomach, and a liniment to be rubbed well on the outside of the extended jaw. Unhappily the disease was of that violent character that defied remedial treatment, and the patient gathering his feet up into the bed, and preparing for the closing scene, ho bade an affecting farewell to his family. Two ministers of religion assiduously waited on him, and having, in the midst of weeping friends, made him all right for the long journey, ho lay in mortal agony, a great plaster of corrosive stuff gnawing at the extended jaw, and tho potion burning his vitals within, while his friends and neighbours stood around watching the flickering flame of life sputtering in the socket, and the writhings of nature struggling with tho disease, and the potion and liuiment combined. On the suggestion of some one a message was despatched for a medical man, that he might at least give a certifica e testifying that the man had died decently and in order. On the arrival of the doctor he removed the plaster to have a look at the man, when inserting his , fingers into, the open mouth, by a simple and dexterous jerk he brought the jaw into its place aguu, that organ having been merely discolated. When the man, already regarded as being in articulo mortis, finding his jaws in their proper le'ations, irreverently remarked, " By , I believe I am all right again," and to the disappointment and disgust of his neighbors he sat up, and throwing the clothes aside, after stretching himself and feeling the jaw to see if it was all right, he called for his boots, remarking " I think I'll go out and take a walk." We shall not attempt to describe the scene in that house, or the eyes of half horror, half admiration, with which the people looked on the wonder-working doctor.