CHAPTER XIX 

 TETANUS 



A FORM of wound infection of special interest, be- 



cause of the very serious results which usually 



follow such infection, is that by the bacillus of tetanus, 



which gives rise to the disease commonly known as 



lockjaw. 



The bacillus of tetanus was discovered in 1884, by 

 a student (Nicholaer) in the laboratory of Professor 

 Fliigge of Gottingen. Having introduced small quan- 

 tities of garden earth under the skin of mice and of 

 guinea-pigs, some of these animals died with all the 

 characteristic symptoms of tetanus. Subsequent re- 

 searches have established the fact that in temperate 

 and tropical regions the bacillus of tetanus is widely 

 distributed and is commonly present in rich soil which 

 has been manured. It is also present in the dust of 

 city streets, and there is good reason to believe that 

 its being found there is due to the fact that it is 



present in the intestinal contents of horses. 



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