CAUSING ACUTE INFECTIONS. 
75 
of lacerated wounds, especially gunshot wounds with Path of 
particles of wood, soil, or glass. A great many cases infection 
in our country have been due to wounds caused by fire¬ 
crackers and blank-cartridge pistols, and has led to a 
crusade against their use on Independence Day. The 
Fig. 10.—Tetanus bacilli. Spore-bearing rods from an agar 
culture. Mounted preparations, stained with fuchsin. X 1000. 
( Frdnkel-Pfeiffer .) 
period of incubation is from one to twenty days. The 
muscular spasm generally begins in the muscles of the 
face and jaw, making it difficult to chew. This is the 
origin of the popular name, lockjaw. Gradually 
other muscles become tight and stiff until finally all 
the muscles of the trunk and extremities are affected. 
The least irritation is sufficient to throw all the muscles 
