104 MODERN BIOLOGIC THERAPEUSIS 



cannot be given in the spinal canal, it is far bet- 

 ter to inject it at the earliest possible moment 

 intravenously than to lose time in seeking skilled 

 advice in order to give it intraspinally which 

 however, should be done as soon as possible. 

 That Tetanus Antitoxin properly used may 

 save the life of a patient in whom tetanus has 

 already developed should be more generally 

 recognized, and the antitoxic treatment should 

 be employed in every case at the earliest possi- 

 ble moment. Every hour lost before giving the 

 antitoxin decreases the chance of saving life. 

 By no means every case will recover, but cer- 

 tainly more can be saved than have been in the 

 past; and there is every reason to anticipate 

 that with the proper use of antitoxin a mortal- 

 ity considerably lower than the present will be 

 obtained. 



Supplementary Treatment This use of anti- 

 toxin in no way replaces other necessary and 

 recognized non-specific methods of treatment in 

 tetanus. Surgical treatment of the site of in- 

 fection should be instituted at once. Ashhurst 

 and John recommend that the wound be irri- 

 gated with hot peroxide of hydrogen, swabbed 

 out with 3 per cent solution of iodine and 



