TETANUS or LOCKJAW

Is a disease of the nervous system caused by a toxin secreted by Bacillus Tetani which live in earth and dust. It sometimes occurs without apparent cause,but usually the bacilli are introduced through a wound, often slight. They remain localized, but the poison they mfr. travels up the sheaths of the nerves, finally reaching the spinal cord. The symptoms usually come on while the wound is healing. The first symptom is stiffness of the muscles near the wound, followed by stiffness of the muscles of the face, back of the neck, and jaw, giving rise to difficulty in opening the mouth. This rapidly passes into lockjaw, in which it is impossible to take any food, and then the muscles of the throat and abdomen become paralyzed so the patient cannot swallow. The body is often bent backward, forward, or sideways. convulsive seizures, exited by the slightest cause, set in and there is great suffering. Death may take place from asphyxia due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles, or from general exhaustion. The sooner symptoms appear the greater the likelihood of the disease ending fatally. The prospect is bad unless they are delayed at least three weeks. The injection of the anti toxic serum has been found of great value in preventing an attack, in delaying the onset, and in lessening the severity, but the injection must be made soon after the wound is received and is effective when symptoms are developing . Horses are liable to contract tetanus, and the antitoxin for humans has been found beneficial in their case also.
source: New Master Encyclopedia