TETANUS 



459 



ulations, but its use seems to be growing constantly. There is 

 also an antitoxin for scarlet fever. It is prepared from the 

 horse's blood in a way similar to the preparation of diphtheria 

 antitoxin. It has been used with considerable success to pro- 

 duce an immediate immunity in case the child is in the initial 

 stages of scarlet fever. 



The method of transmission of scarlet fever is through droplet 

 infection similar to that of diphtheria. 



Tetanus (Lockjaw) 



Tetanus, a disease that develops from the germs entering a 

 deep injury or wound, is due to the action of the toxins of a par- 

 ticular microorganism. These toxins affect the brain and spinal 

 cord. No noticeable effect is produced in the wound through 

 which the germ enters. Fortunately, tetanus is rare in this coun- 

 try, but when it does occur the death rate is very high. The 

 extensive prevalence of tetanus among the soldiers wounded in the 

 late World War was ascribed to 

 the contamination of their wounds 

 with soil from a highly cultivated 

 territory which had been regularly 

 and frequently fertilized with 

 manure. This soil contained the 

 germs of the disease. 



Cause. This disease is caused 

 by the tetanus bacillus, a rod- 

 shaped microorganism which grows 



in long, slender threads. These Certain bacteria roU themselves up in- 



threads break up into shorter side a thickened wall to form a spore. In 



^ the photomicrograph of the tetanus organ- 



motile rods surrounded bv fla- isms the spore appears at one end of the 



' bacillus. 



gella. These bacilli eventually be- 

 come non-motile, lose their flagella, and each forms a spore at one 

 end. This gives to them their characteristic drumstick appear- 



