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Actions	Tetanus following a gunshot wound Remove from selection Add to selection Object numberGC.13842 TitleTetanus following a gunshot wound CreatorCharles Bell (originator)‎ DescriptionTetanus following a gunshot wound. Sketch in oil, unglazed, in wooden frame. The painting shows opisthotonus,where the body arches due to muscles spasms in reaction to tetanus infection. One of Charles Bell's paintings of a casualty from the Battle of Corunna and the retreat between 24 December 1808-11 January 1809. Bell treated some of the force that landed back in Britain at Portsmouth. There are fifteen images in all. Bell's notes: "Sketch in oil of opisthotonus taken from three soldiers, who were wounded at Corunna, and brought to Portsmouth. They died successively from gunshot fractures of the skull." The painting is an amalgam of three people Bell had seen with the same type of wound and infection. The wound is not visible, and the sodier is placed on an expensive mattress. The head injury was likely not life-threatening, but only minimal inoculation with the bacterium Clostridium tetani was needed for the wounds to develop into full-blown opisthotonic tetanus, which was frequently lethal. These bacteria were commonly found in manure and fertilised soil, and so were easily transferred into wounds at battlesites on farmland. 5-15 days after infection with the bacteria there would be stiffness or mild spasm of the jaw muscles, called trismus (or lock-jaw). The neck stiffened, and swallowing was difficult making it hard for the patient to eat. Sometimes the patient would become terrified at the sight of water, as with rabies. Production date c.post 1810-01-01 Object nameOpisthotonus Object categoryAnatomical, artwork MaterialCanvas Dimensions Height: 90 cm Width: 120 cm

Object numberGC.13842

TitleTetanus following a gunshot wound

CreatorCharles Bell (originator)‎

DescriptionTetanus following a gunshot wound. Sketch in oil, unglazed, in wooden frame. The painting shows opisthotonus,where the body arches due to muscles spasms in reaction to tetanus infection. One of Charles Bell's paintings of a casualty from the Battle of Corunna and the retreat between 24 December 1808-11 January 1809. Bell treated some of the force that landed back in Britain at Portsmouth. There are fifteen images in all. Bell's notes: "Sketch in oil of opisthotonus taken from three soldiers, who were wounded at Corunna, and brought to Portsmouth. They died successively from gunshot fractures of the skull." The painting is an amalgam of three people Bell had seen with the same type of wound and infection. The wound is not visible, and the sodier is placed on an expensive mattress. The head injury was likely not life-threatening, but only minimal inoculation with the bacterium Clostridium tetani was needed for the wounds to develop into full-blown opisthotonic tetanus, which was frequently lethal. These bacteria were commonly found in manure and fertilised soil, and so were easily transferred into wounds at battlesites on farmland. 5-15 days after infection with the bacteria there would be stiffness or mild spasm of the jaw muscles, called trismus (or lock-jaw). The neck stiffened, and swallowing was difficult making it hard for the patient to eat. Sometimes the patient would become terrified at the sight of water, as with rabies.

Production date c.post 1810-01-01

Object nameOpisthotonus

Object categoryAnatomical, artwork

MaterialCanvas

Dimensions

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