TETANUS. 
4 -S 3 
its cause has not been definitely understood. For years past 
our educated and experienced men, to whom I am not a circum¬ 
stance, have studied, microscopically, the minute details, ex¬ 
tracting the cause, as you have laid before you, due to the direct 
influence of a micro-organism, localizing and inhabiting solely 
that position of the nervous centers, namely the spinal cord. 
This fact has only been recently established, and until then 
it was a mere supposition and a misnoma, without the least 
shadow of foundation. However, if this be the case, is it at all 
1 easonable that if this germ thrives as taught us, exclusively 
upon the albumen found in the cord where there is none—in 
comparison to that found in the blood. 
Taking this for granted, is it not a broad assertion, as well 
as frivolous, in which one so deliberately attempts to picture in 
type, that these germs are invariably present in the spinal mar¬ 
row, and cannot, under any circumstances whatever, be found 
elsewhere ? Then you will observe this subject which I have 
chosen is indeed complicated, and after due consideration I can¬ 
not conscientiously believe and endorse the theory that tetanus 
is due to the direct influence of this spiral club-shaped germ, but 
on the contrary, possibly to their toxic ptomaines. However, this 
has not been corroberated. Nevertheless different views and 
ideas have been daily advanced, sufficient to thoroughly con¬ 
vince me that it is absolutely impossible withal to entertain the 
idea that tetanus is contagious and infectious, and can be trans¬ 
mitted by innoculation. 
Adhering to the belief confirmed by our ablest authorities, 
that prior to death, under no circumstances whatever, can this 
disease be conveyed in any manner. This view should be con¬ 
sidered discriminatively, for if it were due to a germ found 
around old hair factories, in the dust and debris of the dead, 
then it is remarkably true that in this particular tetanus would 
be more prevalent, and in some sections an epizootic. Then by 
observations these facts are brought to bear, that the virus of 
tetanus is neither in a fixed or volatile form. Circumstantially 
this is true, whereas you cannot ignore a positive fact, but con- 
