288 ADVANCED PHYSIOLOGY 



is now used successfully in many cases. The best method of 

 combating this disease is by preventing it. If wounds are care- 

 fully cleaned so that no germs are left in them, the danger is 

 removed. A deep wound made by a dirty object should be 

 cleansed and disinfected with particular care. It is always a 

 risk not to put such a wound in the charge of a physician. 

 The deeper the wound and the more dirt which gets into it, 

 the greater the danger. 



It is becoming common procedure nowadays to inject 

 with tetanus antitoxin those who have received deep wounds 

 made by dirty objects, or indeed any wounds that have not 

 been treated from the start with some disinfecting agent. 

 This plan prevents the development of tetanus from such wounds 

 and is far more likely to be successful than to try to cure a case 

 after it has developed. Enormous quantities of this antitoxin 

 have been used for this purpose with the soldiers who have been 

 wounded in the recent European war. 



