130 BACTERIOLOGY FOR NURSES 



Tetanus in Animals. — The majority of the lower 

 animals are susceptible to infection by the tetanus 

 bacillus, the horse being particularly susceptible 

 Cases are recorded of epidemics of tetanus in cer- 

 tain stables, although there was no evidence to 

 prove that the disease was contracted in any way 

 than by the inoculation of wounds. 



One pecuUarity of tetanus infection in animals is 

 the fact that the convulsive seizures begin near the 

 site of infection and gradually become general, while 

 in man the muscles of the jaw and neck are always 

 affected first. 



Prophylaxis. — All punctured or lacerated woimds 

 of the feet or in any part of the body which are made 

 by gunshots, nails, sphnters, or other objects which 

 have been contaminated by the soil should have 

 immediate surgical care of the most careful kind; 

 all discharges and dressings from the wounds of pa- 

 tients suffering with tetanus should be burned at 

 once, and aU utensils and instruments used for such 

 dressings should be kept apart from other surgical 

 suppUes and should be sterihzed by steam under 

 pressure (autoclave) after each dressing. 



The Toxin of Tetanus. — As in diphtheria, the 

 tetanus bacilli are fomid only at the point of in- 

 fection, and the profound general disturbances are 



