A death by tetanus

We take some things for granted now - like vaccines, medical help and advice and treatment.
But it was not unusual for past newspapers to report deaths from things now that are readily treatable.
Twenty year old George Seymour had been herding stock at Mangawai using a whip in October 1872. He flicked the whip out and managed to catch himself just over his left eye.
A hardy chap, he did not think much about it.
But more than 10 days later, not only had it not healed, but he was now unwell. Feeling increasingly sick, he finally sought medical help days after the little incident.
But by the time he saw the doctor, it was too late, his jaw had set firm and he was confirmed to have tetanus. He died a day or so later.
A death by tetanus was a horrible way to die, with often the associated muscle spasms wracking the body, sometimes with enough strength to break bones, troubling swallowing, fever, headaches and breathing issues.
Often called lockjaw, it’s a bacterial infection usually from infection through an open wound.
At one point the treatment recommended before the vaccine was to apply chloroform.
The first passive vaccine was not introduced until 1890 and it wasn’t until 1938 that an effective vaccine was available - tested widely during World War Two.
These days the treatment for tetanus comes from the vaccine we all know but also from medication to control the muscle spasms.
The last death from tetanus in New Zealand was recorded n 2007.
George had been the son of well known sea captain Robert Seymour - who along with his wife Mary and family came to New Zealand in 1860 on the Phoenix.
Captain Seymour entered the coastal shipping trade and was often mentioned in newspapers.
He travelled between Mangawai and Auckland owning the cutters Three Brothers and Alarm which he also sailed in regattas.
He died on February 12,1893 aged 78 and his wife Mary Ann died aged 92 in 1908.
They are buried - along with George in the Symonds St Cemetery.
Picture of a painting by Sir Charles Bell of a tetanus sufferer.​