Treatment.—­The wound or swelling should be cauterized and a solution of carbolic acid or bichloride of mercury injected around it and applied to its surface.  Stimulants and feeding are important.

Lockjaw. (Tetanus).—­Tetanus or lockjaw, as it is commonly called, is an infectious disease and is characterized by painful and violent contractions of the voluntary muscles; it may be of the jaw alone or of a considerable part of the body.

Causes.—­The intelligence and mental faculties are not impaired.  In most cases it follows a wound or injury, although in others there seems to be no exciting causes.  Fourth of July celebrations furnish a great many of our lockjaw cases.  Ten to fifteen days usually elapse after the wound before lockjaw really sets in.

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Symptoms.—­It comes on occasionally with a chill or chilly feelings; usually by rigidity (stiffness) of the neck, jaw and face.  On arising in the morning there is sometimes a stiffness of the muscles at the back of the head.  It is not unusual on taking a slight cold to have a stiff neck and often the patient’s attention is not attracted by this symptom.  Sometimes this stiffness begins or soon extends to the muscles of the lower jaw; the throat becomes dry and is painful and gradually the stiffness increases to a continuous contraction, spasm, and extends to the muscles of the trunk and extremities.  The body becomes rigid in a straight line or bent backward, forward or sidewise.  This spasm occurs after any slight irritation and is extremely painful.  Temperature is usually low.  During the first spasms the patient may attempt to open his mouth as he may naturally be suspicious of the trouble that is coming; he succeeds with difficulty and even finds it hard to swallow; soon the jaws may be firmly closed, and it is from this feature of the disease that it gained the name of lockjaw.  The contractions in some cases do not extend beyond the neck and face muscles.  During the contractions the face may be drawn into frightful contortions.  Food can be given only through such spaces as may exist between the teeth, as often the patient cannot open his mouth himself, nor can it be pried open by any force that would be allowable.  When the muscles of the trunk are affected the abdomen may be drawn inward, become very hard and stiff, chest movements are affected, making it difficult to breathe, sometimes almost to suffocation.  Sometimes the body becomes bent like a bow, as in some cases of spinal meningitis, so that only the head and heels support the weight of the body.  The body may become so rigid that it can be lifted by a single limb as you would a statue.  It is fortunate that there are few cases, comparatively, of lockjaw as the distorted face and general contractions of the body are painful to witness.