The tongue depressor test, a self-test for tetanus, has no evidence-based medical proof that it is effective for early diagnosis of tetanus. The tongue-pressing test method is to press the tongue of a patient suspected of having tetanus with a tongue depressor, and if the patient immediately shows teeth clenching and bites down on the tongue depressor, it is positive, and it is judged to be an early manifestation of tetanus. This is an inaccurate method of judgment. Clinical judgment of whether a patient has tetanus generally depends on the history of injury, clinical manifestations and laboratory tests to make a diagnosis. Routinely, if the patient has a history of recent trauma, and the wound is deep and contaminated without any cleaning and disinfecting treatment; coupled with the clinical manifestations such as his teeth are closed tightly, he is prone to spasms in the presence of light and sound, and his whole body is stiff; and the diagnosis can be confirmed only when the laboratory examination reveals tetanus bacillus.