Tetanus

An acute infectious disease that is caused by the toxin of the tetanus bacillus growing anaerobically at the site of the injury. The disease is characterized by stiffness and then rigid fixation of the jaws, alteration of the voice, contraction of the facial muscles which produces a wildly excited expression, and painful tonic contraction of the muscles of the back, extremities and penis. The disease is usually, but not always, fatal.