Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-04-17
From the Monongahela Republican.
Treatment of Scarlet Fever.

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Treatment of Scarlet Fever.
As everything relating to the treatment of the
scarlet fever-a disease which has bafled the skill
of every department of the Medical profession and
which is as destructive and as much to be dreaded
as the cholera-s of great interest to the profes-
sion and the public we give place to the following
article of DR.. Harvey Lindsly, of Washington CT
ty, to the editor of the Boston Medical and Sur
gical Journal" The plan proposed, has not re-
ceved the attention, we believe of the medical pro-
fesson in this country, that its importance demands
if attended with the satisfactory results represent
ed by the writer. 1t is certainly philosophical and
rational in theory, and simple and efficient in prac-
tice.
We believe it is universally admitted that the
chief burden of this disease falls upon the skin and
and hence, whatever tends to restore the deranged
functions of the surface, will contribute most ma
terially to alleviate and arrest the symptoms DIR.
edy, to prevent the use of such other means as ex-
perence any sanction, as laxatves, internal and
external applications to the throat, &c.
Treatment Of Scarlet Feuer by LnunctiOn.-
From the first day of the illness, and as soon as we
are aware of its nature the patient must be rubbed
morning and evening over the whole body with a
piece of bacon, in such manner that, with the ex-
ception of the head, covering offat is everywhere
applied In order to this rubbing somewhat cas-
er, it is best to take piece of bacon the size of
the hand, choosing parts till armed with the rind,
that we may have firm grasp On the soft side
of this piece, Sits are to be made in order to allow
the oozng out of the fat. The rubbing must be
thoroughly performed, and not too quickly in Or
der that the skin may be regularly saturated with
the fat The beneficial results of this application
are soon obvious with rapidity bordering on mag
ic, all, even the most painful systoms Of the dis
ease are alayed; quiet, sleep, good humor, return
of appetite, and there remains only the impatence
to quit the sick room.
The advantages of the treatment indicated may
be summed up as follows:
l. The improbability, we might almost say the
impossibility of the patient getting cold while the
skin is thus covered with fat-a point in no disease
more important than here.
2 The dry brittiness of the skin and the tor
menting itching are by it, not only materially al
leviated, but generally entirely removed. Every
practitioner knows how often the itching and bnrn-
ing of the skin in scarlet fever are uncomfortable to
children, keeping them constantly in distressing
movements, and robbng them of sleep. Hence
children are generally well satisfied with this pro-
cess and often ask for its repetition long before the
time is come.
3 The influence on physical functions of the
skin is still more important. During the coming
on Of the scarlet fever, the skin becomes diseased
in consequence of which it loses it vital power
During this illness, and until the covering is again
prepared for the surface, the functions of the skin
very imperfectly performed, or during the des-
quamation, probably not at ALL We may cite the
fact that death is always the result where more
than one-half of the skin has been DESTROYED by
fire or boiling liquid. This destruction of the skin,
which in scarlet fever, takes place gradual
ly, and thereby the organism is better enabled, by
employing all the activity of the body, to find aid
against the mischief which must result from the
cessation of the functions of the skin