Lowewood Museum
Cheshunt Cottage Hosptial

Death From Tetanus at Waltham Cross

Created 21 June, 2008

Today one expects to receive an anti-tetanus injection after any minor accident, and the general practitioner offers courses of inoculation for those whose work entails risk of cuts or skin abrasions. In the early 1960s the writer's doctor considered that every car driver should have such protection.
It is sad to read of the case, just eighty years ago, of a strong healthy workman who died in early middle age of tetanus after a minor injury at his work. Herbert French worked at a smithy in Park Lane, Waltham Cross, and the local paper of May 30th 1902 reported the inquest thus: At 11.30 on Thursday morning the Coroner (T. J. Sworder Esq.) held an Inquest at the Four Swans on the body of Herbert Walter French, aged 37, of 20 Eleanor Road, Waltham Cross, who died in Cheshunt Cottage Hospital.

Workmen at Bright's Smithy, about 1900. French, the shoeing smith, with Surridge (L) and Juniper (R).Mrs. French, the widow, deposed that he husband was a shoeing smith. On May 2nd he came home with a smashed finger. The wound did not appear to be serious, but deceased went to see Dr. Halstead on the day when he received the injury. Deceased seemed to go on alright for a day or two, but afterwards got worse, and had to take to his bed. He died on Sunday, May 25th at 7 a.m. Deceased had previously enjoyed very good health.
Mr. Bright, farrier, deposed that deceased was working for him on May 2nd. Deceased brought a tyre from the furnace, put it on a wheel, then cooled it and turned it over. In the turning it slipped, and "caught his finger between the wheel and the platform". The finger was much bruised and in fact burst open, but the injury was not regarded as a serious one.
Witness saw deceased next day, but deceased said nothing to witness about the injury.
Deceased was a steady, careful workman, and the accident was not due to any carelessness.
Witness saw deceased about half an hour before death.
Dr. W. W. Halstead, of Waltham Cross, deposed that he was called to deceased on May 2nd, and found him suffering from a lacerated wound on the finger. Witness dressed the wound, but did not apprehend any serious results. After that deceased visited witness' surgery every other day. The wound healed, but tetanus, or lockjaw, set in, and deceased had to take to his bed on May 14th. Witness believed that "the bacillus of tetanus was on the cart wheel, and got into the wound at the time of the accident". But for the wound tetanus would not have set in. Witness added that he saw deceased on the night of May 24th. Death occurred on the morning of May 25th.
By Mr. Rutherford: the patient was taken to Cheshunt Cottage Hospital on May 17th and was attended by the hospital staff. Witness was fighting against the bacillus before the case went to hospital.
The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony - death from lockjaw occasioned by an injury. Sympathy with the widow was expressed by the coroner and jury.

Last updated: 19 July, 2008