Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 June 1903 — WARNING FOR THE FOURTH [ARTICLE]

WARNING FOR THE FOURTH

Dr. Hurty Tells How to Avoid Indepenbehce Day Lockjaw. The approach of Independence day has oansed Dr. Hurty of the state board of health to sound the nsnal warning for the oarefnl treatment of the children who are sore to fall viotims to firework on the glorions fourth. Dr. Hnrty points out that last year forty-two oat of the sixtvthree deaths from lockjaw were oansed by fonrth of July accidents. Most of the oases were caused by the improper treatment of the injuries A blank cartridge wound is really dangerous, Dr. Hurty says. If left to nature, lockjaw will result in almost every case. The lookjaw organism is not on the cartridge, but frequently is in the dirt on the child’s hand. The wad or piece of metal drives the dirt deep into the wound, where it remains. The microbes grow readily there, and lockjaw follows. Every fireoraoker or blank cartridge wound should accordingly be thoroughly cleansed, disinfeoted and antiseptioally dressed. This shonld not be neglected simply beoanse it harts the the patient.