Tetanus
Tetanus is a serious illness caused by Clostridium bacteria. The bacteria live in soil, saliva, dust, and manure. The bacteria can enter the body through a deep cut, like those you might get from stepping on a nail, or through a burn.
The infection causes painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body. It can lead to "locking" of the jaw. This makes it impossible to open your mouth or swallow. Tetanus is a medical emergency. You need to get treatment in a hospital.
A vaccine can prevent tetanus. It is given as a part of routine childhood vaccination. Adults should get a tetanus shot, or booster, every 10 years. If you get a bad cut or burn, see your doctor - you may need a booster. Immediate and proper wound care can prevent tetanus infection.
WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.
Felter's Materia Medica on Tetanus
CONIUM
The full grown fruit, gathered green, of Conium maculatum, Linné (Nat. Ord. Umbelliferae). Europe and Asia; naturalized in the United... / ...rders that is sometimes relieved by conium, but not all cases respond to it. It has been advised in tetanus, but is insufficient except in doses which would be equally as dangerous as the disorder its... / ...be applied and be given to relieve pain even when a cure is not possible. It relieves the pain of swollen mammae during the menstrual periods a1
The full grown fruit, gathered green, of Conium maculatum, Linné (Nat. Ord. Umbelliferae). Europe and Asia; naturalized in the United... / ...rders that is sometimes relieved by conium, but not all cases respond to it. It has been advised in tetanus, but is insufficient except in doses which would be equally as dangerous as the disorder its... / ...be applied and be given to relieve pain even when a cure is not possible. It relieves the pain of swollen mammae during the menstrual periods a1
PASSIFLORAPABE10
The root and stem-base of Passiflora incarnata, Linné (Nat. Ord. Passifloraceae). Southern United States. Dose, 5 to 120 grains. Common Names:... / ...tability which precedes and often provokes the convulsive explosions. It has been greatly lauded in tetanus, but little reliance should be placed upon so feeble an agent in so grave a condition. Whoop...1
The root and stem-base of Passiflora incarnata, Linné (Nat. Ord. Passifloraceae). Southern United States. Dose, 5 to 120 grains. Common Names:... / ...tability which precedes and often provokes the convulsive explosions. It has been greatly lauded in tetanus, but little reliance should be placed upon so feeble an agent in so grave a condition. Whoop...1
PHYSOSTIGMAPHYSO4
The dried, ripe seed of Physostigma venenosum, Balfour (Nat. Ord. Leguminosae). A climbing perennial, native of Calabar, in the Gulf of Guinea, on... / ... chorea, epilepsy, trismus neonatorum, and puerperal convulsions and reflex paralysis. In traumatic tetanus it has failed more often than it has benefited, but charity is held out in the view that pro... / ...For all of1
The dried, ripe seed of Physostigma venenosum, Balfour (Nat. Ord. Leguminosae). A climbing perennial, native of Calabar, in the Gulf of Guinea, on... / ... chorea, epilepsy, trismus neonatorum, and puerperal convulsions and reflex paralysis. In traumatic tetanus it has failed more often than it has benefited, but charity is held out in the view that pro... / ...For all of1
USTILAGO
A parasitic fungus, Ustilago segetum Bull (Ustilago Maydis), developed on the fruit of Zea Mays, Linné, or Indian Corn (Nat. Ord.... / ...ossesses power, acting as a spinal excitant and producing convulsions and destroying life either by tetanus or exhaustion. It dilates the pupils. Upon animals it acts as an abortifacient and produces ... / ...and flabby enlarged uterus, and full toneless perineal and vaginal tissues. It is little used, but undoubtedly could be restudied with advantage.1
A parasitic fungus, Ustilago segetum Bull (Ustilago Maydis), developed on the fruit of Zea Mays, Linné, or Indian Corn (Nat. Ord.... / ...ossesses power, acting as a spinal excitant and producing convulsions and destroying life either by tetanus or exhaustion. It dilates the pupils. Upon animals it acts as an abortifacient and produces ... / ...and flabby enlarged uterus, and full toneless perineal and vaginal tissues. It is little used, but undoubtedly could be restudied with advantage.1
WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.
Physician's Materia Medica on Tetanus
AMYL NITRITE
Antispasmodic, reducing arterial tension and so causing momen tary acceleration of the heart beat. Used chiefly by inhalation to relax spasm, notably in asthma, in whooping cough. in spasmodic croup, in epileptic seizures, in tetanus and strychnine poisoning and in spasmodic dysmenorrhea. It is a valuable agent also in angina pec toris and in sudden heart failure, but must be used always intelli gently and with due caution remembering that it is a depressant, not a stimulant. Dose. usually 0.13 2
Antispasmodic, reducing arterial tension and so causing momen tary acceleration of the heart beat. Used chiefly by inhalation to relax spasm, notably in asthma, in whooping cough. in spasmodic croup, in epileptic seizures, in tetanus and strychnine poisoning and in spasmodic dysmenorrhea. It is a valuable agent also in angina pec toris and in sudden heart failure, but must be used always intelli gently and with due caution remembering that it is a depressant, not a stimulant. Dose. usually 0.13 2
BROMIDES
Since the medicinal action of the several alkaline bromides is es sentially the same, and they are frequently prescribed in combina tion, they are grouped here under a single head. They are sedative to the cerebro-spinal centers and hence employed in epilepsy, in in fantile convulsions, in tetanus, in strychnine poisoning, in whooping cough and generally for quieting nervous excitement and in particu lar sexual erethism. In epilepsy a combination of two or more brom ides often gives better resul2
Since the medicinal action of the several alkaline bromides is es sentially the same, and they are frequently prescribed in combina tion, they are grouped here under a single head. They are sedative to the cerebro-spinal centers and hence employed in epilepsy, in in fantile convulsions, in tetanus, in strychnine poisoning, in whooping cough and generally for quieting nervous excitement and in particu lar sexual erethism. In epilepsy a combination of two or more brom ides often gives better resul2
CALABAR BEAN (Physostigma).PHVE11
The seeds of PHYSOSTIGMA VENENOSUM, Bali. Deprossant of motor tract of spinal cord; used in tetanus and in strychnine poison ing to control spasms, in constipation, and to counteract the effect of atropine on the eye.2
The seeds of PHYSOSTIGMA VENENOSUM, Bali. Deprossant of motor tract of spinal cord; used in tetanus and in strychnine poison ing to control spasms, in constipation, and to counteract the effect of atropine on the eye.2
CHLORAL (Chloral Hydrate)
A powerful hypnotic, less eflicient as an anodyne than opium; antispasmodic. Especially valuable in spasms of strychnine poison ing, tetanus, hysteria and chorea. Dose, 0.6 to 2.0 Grm. (10 to 30 grs.).2
A powerful hypnotic, less eflicient as an anodyne than opium; antispasmodic. Especially valuable in spasms of strychnine poison ing, tetanus, hysteria and chorea. Dose, 0.6 to 2.0 Grm. (10 to 30 grs.).2
CONIUM (Poison Hemlock)
The immature fruit, also the leaves (unoflicial), oi CONIUM MACULATUM, Lin. Sedative, discutient, antispasmodic, anaphro disiac. Prescribed in cutaneous diseases, cancer and scrofulous indurations for its resolvent action, and in tetanus, chorea and acute mania as an antispasmodic and sedative.2
The immature fruit, also the leaves (unoflicial), oi CONIUM MACULATUM, Lin. Sedative, discutient, antispasmodic, anaphro disiac. Prescribed in cutaneous diseases, cancer and scrofulous indurations for its resolvent action, and in tetanus, chorea and acute mania as an antispasmodic and sedative.2
WARNING: All medicines, drugs, plants, chemicals or medicial precedures below are for historical reference only. Many of these treatments are now known to be harmful and possibly fatal. Do not consume any plant, chemical, drug or otherwise without first consulting a licensed physician that practices medine in the appropriate field.
Physician's Therapeutics Memoranda on Tetanus
TETANUS
Tetanus antitoxin should be administered at once, and convul sions combated by inhalations of chloroform or by chloral combined with potassium bromide (see Bromanodyne, Part I). Other remedies are cocaine or a combination of this with morphine and atropine, hypodermatically; Fowler’s solution; calabar bean; pilocarpine (the last to eliminate the toxin).2
Tetanus antitoxin should be administered at once, and convul sions combated by inhalations of chloroform or by chloral combined with potassium bromide (see Bromanodyne, Part I). Other remedies are cocaine or a combination of this with morphine and atropine, hypodermatically; Fowler’s solution; calabar bean; pilocarpine (the last to eliminate the toxin).2
References
1) Felter, Harvey Wickes, 1922, The Eclectic Materia Medica, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Cincinnati, Ohio.
2) Nelson, Baker & Co., 1904, Physician's Handy Book of Materia Medica and Therapeustics, Detroit, Michigan.
2) Nelson, Baker & Co., 1904, Physician's Handy Book of Materia Medica and Therapeustics, Detroit, Michigan.