Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article920667

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1 correction by cmdevine - Show corrections

Tetanus.  

We are indebted to Mr. Henry Leake for the following valuable contribution to the discussion on treatment of tetanus now going on. It is   taken from a tract by A. Meffitt, L.R.C.P.   London, M.R.C.S., "Papers on Blood Poisoning,             &c." Another correspondent to whom also we   desire to express our acknowledgement, "G.R.,"     has been at the trouble of copying out the same   case, and sends it to us, saying:-"By way of       preface I would just state that Dr. Moffitt is a physician of the highest standing, and enjoys a   most distinguished reputation for the successful treatment of typhoid and other dreaded zymotic

diseases."  

"From memory, I recall a case which occurred,   when the city of Montevideo was garrisoned by       British soldiers and blue jackets, in 1848. A   seaman belonging to one of the men-of-war got     his right hand entangled in some of the ma- chinery, and the little finger was torn off from   the carpus, leaving a very jagged wound. Having a hospital on shire, he was removed there for treatment. A few days after the accident tetanus   set in its worst form-the wound was foul and    

sloughy. The surgeon in charge was my col-   league, and being a man of great intelligence,   saw that the case was utterly desperate; under           these circumstances, being aware of the effects of brandy in paralysing muscular action in sailors,   the thought occurred to him that the best thing he could do was to make the man 'dead drunk,'        

and keep him so until the spasm should cease   and the wound take on a healthy action. He   began by giving 4oz. of brandy, and kept up the   effect by giving 2 oz whenever returning con- sciousness showed that it was necessary. This     treatment was steadily pursued, night and day, for four days, the patient being most carefully watched by the surgeon himself, who had his bed removed into the ward with him, when he had the satisfaction to see that he began to im- prove, the wound becoming clean and healthy, and the spasms ceased. If I remember right, the wound was frequently bathed with turpen- tine, which, no doubt, greatly assisted the other treatment. Proper nourishment was adminis-   tered, and the bowels were also carefully attended to. ln about three weeks this patient was re-   turned to his ship perfectly cured.  

"This is the only case I saw recover out of a   great many that were under the care of other medical men, who treated the disease with   powerful narcotics. I have never witnessed any real good from narcotics in this disease. I con-   sider the effects of chloroform too evanescent to   be of any permanent use. I think, therefore, in this simple mode of treating this formidable   disease, we have a power which is worthy of a trial in this more favourable climate. No doubt a host of objections would be raised by those who are touched with 'alcoholiphobia,' but such con- siderations would not, I think, influence any   medical man who saw his way clear to save life   by this mode of treatment.

" It is remarkable that the person whose case is given above was utterly unconscious of what he had taken, and when he recovered he asked the surgeon who attended him what medicine he had taken. When he was told 'brandy' he was         greatly surprised.

"It just occurs to me that some might say you supersede the 'tetanus' by establishing     delirium tremens. Be it so, if we have no other   way of explaining the matter, as we then have a disease amenable to treatment, and from which few die. In conclusion, I consider that quinine in cinchonising doses would materially assist the brandy."  

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