CAUSING ACUTE INFECTIONS. 



71 



of lacerated wounds, especially gunshot wounds with 

 particles of wood, soil, or glass. A great many cases 

 in our country have been due to wounds caused by fire- 

 crackers and blank-cartridge pistols, and has led to a 

 crusade against their use on Independence Day. The 



Path of 

 infection 



Fig. 8. Tetanus bacilli. Spore-bearing rods from an agar 

 culture. Mounted preparations, stained with fuchsin. X 1000. 

 (Frankel-Pfeiffer.) 



period of incubation is from one to twenty days. The 

 muscular spasm generally begins in the muscles of the 

 face and jaw, making it difficult to chew. This is the 

 origin of the popular name, lockjaw. Gradually 

 other muscles become tight and stiff until finally all 

 the muscles of the trunk and extremities are affected. 

 The least irritation is sufficient to throw all the muscles 



