How did the belief that stepping on a rusty nail causes tetanus “lock jaw” come to be?
Tetanus is a medical condition that is characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. The primary symptoms are caused by tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin produced by the Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani. Infection generally occurs through wound contamination, and often involves a cut or deep puncture wound. As the infection progresses, muscle spasms in the jaw develop hence the common name, “lockjaw”. This is followed by difficulty swallowing and general muscle stiffness and spasms in other parts of the body. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetanus Reproductive cells (spores) of Clostridium tetani are found in the soil and enter the body through a skin wound. Once the spores develop into mature bacteria, the bacteria produce tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin (a protein that poisons the body’s nervous system) that causes muscle spasms. In fact, tetanus gets its nickname — lockjaw — because the toxin often attacks the muscles that control the jaw. htt
The bacteria that cause tetanus are common and widespread, and it is the nature of the wound, rather than the presence or absence of rust or iron that is connected with tetanus. The bacterium that causes tetanus is Clostridia bacteria, in the family of C. tetani. It can be found in soil, dust, feces and on even on the surface of the skin. The bacteria only reproduces in the absence of oxygen, so any deep wound can become a breeding ground. Obviously, a rusty nail can cause a deep wound. So can many other objects from gardening tools, sewing needles, animal bites, splinters workshop tools, etc. Any object, whether it is rusty or not, that punctures or damages the skin, can lead to tetanus Also, injuries that create dead skin, like burns and frostbite, can also lead to a tetanus infection.
