490 RESULTS OF WOUNDS. 



that of anthrax, having one enlarged spore-bearing end. 

 Nocard has demonstrated that dried blood and pus scraped 

 from instruments employed in castrating horses, all of which 

 had died from tetanus, caused the disease when inoculated into 

 rabbits. The Bacillus ietani is also found in garden mould, and 

 it is possible to explain the non-existence or rarity of the disease 

 in some districts, and its prevalence in others, upon the assump- 

 tion that the organism common to the soil gains entrance to the 

 animal economy. 



Bearing these conclusions in mind, the practitioner will not 

 fail to see the probable and beneficial effects of germicide treat- 

 ment, both locally and generally. Weak sublimate dressings to 

 the wound in traumatic treatment, carbolates, salicylates, and 

 biborates internally. 



In jjost-mortem examinations of traumatic tetanus I have in- 

 variably found the nerves leading from the injured parts to 

 present some signs of inflammation; the neurilemma more 

 vascular than natural, the vessels of the spinal cord engorged, 

 and the sub-arachnoid space to contain some effusion. 



Treatment of Tetanus. — Suppose the disease to be caused by 

 docking or neurotomy, the first question to be considered is 

 whether a portion of the stump of the tail or the end of the 

 nerve should -be removed or not. Some are of opinion that the 

 nervous irritation is due to the nervous fibrillte of the part being 

 pressed upon by the contraction and cicatrisation of the reparative 

 material of the wound, and that this explains the curious fact that 

 tetanus generally occurs when a wound is nearly or completely 

 healed. If this view be correct, then further amputation of the 

 tail or excision of the nerve would afford some relief. Experience, 

 however, does not warrant me in recommending this to be done. 

 The wounds, or the seats of them, if healed, are in all cases to 

 be fomented, and if practicable poulticed, the fomentations or 

 poultices to be medicated with a solution of belladonna. Should 

 tetanus occur soon after an injury is inflicted, the wound should 

 be examined, and any lacerated or partially divided nerve, foreign 

 body, or dead tissue removed. 



There are some cases of tetanus so acute from their com- 

 mencement that it is quite hopeless to expect any but a fatal 

 termination ; and in every case where all the symptoms are 

 firmly established before the fourth day of attack, death may 

 be expected. But in cases where the symptoms are slowly 



