The tetanus vaccine was developed in 1924 by P. Descombey. Without vaccine or modern treatments, one in four people died
from the disease. My mother and I suspect my great-great grandfather died from tetanus. He hit himself in the foot with an axe while working out in the fields. A month later he was dead.
Tetanus is caused by spores of the
bacteria C. tetani that live in
the soil, saliva, dust and manure. In inactive
spore form, C. tetani may remain infectious in soil for more than 40
years.
Tetanus infection begins when the
spores enter the body through an injury or wound. The spores release bacteria
that spread and make a poison called tetanospasmin. This poison blocks nerve
signals from the spinal cord to the muscles. This causes severe muscle spasms.
Tetanus symptoms often begin with
mild spasms in the jaw muscles (lockjaw). Other symptoms include spasm of the
vocal cords and/or spasms of the respiratory muscles causing interference with
breathing. Complications include fractures of the spine or long bones from
stiff muscles, elevated blood pressure, abnormal heartbeats, coma, generalized
infection, clotting in the blood vessels of the lung, and pneumonia. Lack of
oxygen caused by muscle spasms in the throat can lead to irreversible brain
damage.
The
time between infection and the first sign of symptoms is typically 7 to 21
days.
Here are treatments from the Ladies Indispensable Assistant (1850). Although some of
the herbs in the elixir and powder have antibacterial and antispasmodic
affects, I wonder how effective the treatments really were.
Locked-jaw
If
the wound be occasioned by running a nail or something of the kind into the
foot or hand, let the parts be well soaked in weak lye, and keep them bound up
until the sore is quite healed; or,
When
there is any appearance of the disease, let the patient take one table-spoonful
of elixir (see below) in a wine-glassful of hot water. If this does not allay
the symptoms, give the patient a thorough lobelia emetic. If the jaws become
locked before the emetic is given, let the patient take half a table-spoonful
of the tincture of lobelia seeds, and fill the spoon up with the elixir; and if
the jaws are closed tight, put the above on one side of the mouth, and let it
run down by the sides of the teeth and cheek; it will soon find way to the root
of the tongue, will relax the muscles, and the mouth will open without any
force; and in fifteen minutes repeat the does, giving, in half an hour
afterwards, one tea-spoonful of vegetable powders (see below) in a tea-cupful
of pennyroyal tea, this causes the patient to vomit, and to be relieved. If the
spasms should continue, let this treatment be repeated.
Elixir
This
elixir is made by adding one pound of best gum myrrh, and three ounces of
African cayenne, to one gallon of alcohol, or fourth of proof brandy. It may be
taken from a tea-spoonful to a table-spoonful at a time, in water sweetened
with molasses or sugar. It is efficacious in very many diseases used either
internally or externally; especially in cold, coughs, consumption, pains in the
bowels or stomach, rheumatism, inflammations, headache, toothache, cramp, cold
feet, &c.
Vegetable
Powder
Take
one pound of bayberry bark, eight ounces of ginger, three ounces of cayenne,
and four ounces of hemlock bark; mix and for a does, take one tea-spoonful.
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