Also, some might be interested in this detailed article on tetanus that
Will Taylor sent some years back. It's full of statistics and other
details that appeal to some types of minds.
(like mine!)Shannon
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1998 12:04:10 -0400
To: "homeopathy@lyghtforce.com"
From: will taylor
Worldwide, there are an estimated 300,000 - 500,000 cases of tetanus
per year. The tetanus bacillus survives best in soil rich with organic
matter in hot, damp climates, and is more prevalent in densely
populated regions. It is rare in polar regions and relatively uncommon
in the northern temperate zones.
There are less than 100 documented cases of tetanus in the U.S.
annually. The majority of U.S. cases are in persons over 50, and only
5% of U.S. cases are in persons under 20 years old (i.e., there are
less than 5 cases per year in children and adolescents in the U.S.).
The highest incidence in the U.S. is among the poor in the southern
states. Necrotic skin ulcers, burns, surgical wounds and IV drug use
may create anaerobic lesions that invite a disproportionate number of
tetanus cases; but it may also complicate simple lacerations and
puncture wounds, dental infection, otitis media, miscarriage and
abortion, and infection of the umbilical stump of newborns.
In the years just prior to widespread vaccination, there were approx.
500 tetanus cases in the U.S. per year. Some of the subsequent
decrease can be attributed to vaccination, and some to reduced exposure
and continued improvements in wound care. About 87% of U.S. children
have received a primary series of tetanus vaccination, and temporary
immunity is confered transplacentally to newborns from vaccine-immune
mothers. Adults often do not receive the CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease
Control) recommended tetanus booster vaccinations, and 1/3 to 2/3 of
adults 60 or older lack circulating tetanus antitoxin antibody.
The case-fatality rate of tetanus world-wide is 45%, and in the U.S. is
about 30% for persons over 50, and less than 5% in persons under 50.
When symptoms occur within 2-3 days of injury, the mortality rate nears
100%. In 20% of morbid cases, death is attributable to the the direct
effects of tetanus toxin, through cardiovascular and pulmonary events.
Pneumonia related to aspiration and atelectasis is a common late
complication, and is the major immediate cause of mortality following
tetanus. Most survivors recover completely within 4 weeks. Natural
infection typically does not confer immunity.
Conventional medical management of tetanus will reflect the severity of
the case, but involves both conservative/supportive measures that even
Hahnemann or Ernest Farrington would not frown at, including
intensive-care-unit nursing and observation, debridement & drainage of
the originating wound, IV fluid & electrolyte management, avoidance of
respiratory secretion aspiration, tracheostomy in more severe cases and
bedside preparation for this in milder cases. I think it's important
to realize that conventional medical care in most parts of the world
monopolizes access to this level of supportive care, with the allopathy
as a side-dish. In addition to these supportive measures, allopathic
pharmacologic management involves administration of human or equine
tetanus immune globulin, mild sedation and pharmacologic management of
muscle spasm. These measures do reduce the case-fatality ratio.
Those less-than-100 cases per year (happily) don't give many of us
experience with this illness. I've seen only one case, in a burn-unit
patient, way back in my residency days. Even back when there were 500
cases/year in the U.S., and in regions where this is a more prevalent
disease, it is unlikely that any individual will accumulate any real
experience in treating it.
Read the Materia Medica on Ledum and on Hypericum in J.T. Kent, M.L.
Tyler, and J.H. Clarke. I don't find in the literature a plethora of
cured tetanus cases, but there is mention of a few. An anamnesis of
the collective pathological symptoms of tetanus certainly does bring up
Ledum and Hypericum as front-runners in the treatment of individual
cases of this disease. I would be hesitant to tackle it without
recourse to the supportive measures of hospital managment.
Will Taylor, MD Homoeopathy Website at:
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