The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-02-11
Scatlet Fever, Small Pox and Eruptlve
Diseases Generally. 81

|
res, in noticing the "pork treatment" or
rubbing with bacon, in case Of scarlet fever,
says that such fevers are supposed 10 be
caused by poisonous substance floating in
the air, which 10 first inhaled aud then con-
veyed, by nervous influence, 10 all the mu-
| cous membranes, but particularly TO the in
lerna surface Of the scarf skin. He says,
| that if The precise time was known, when
| the seed an,macule, or whatever If may be,
IS received into the system, il might perhaps
be destroyed before ii could do harm but
as this cannot be known, then the mex, best
thing is 10 hasten lis development on the
surface, where il will die speedily from con.
tact with the air. He thinks, therefore, that
The best treatment is that by water. Absii-
nence from food and bathing the skin with
,epid water, would be enough in ordinary
cases; while in severe ones, ice cloths 10 The
throat and wet sheets, he supposes would be
generally efficacious. He would give the
pa,ient as much cold water to drink as nature
demanded When even the medical pro-
fession, coniessedly, knows so little about
scarlet fever, it may not be without benefit
to give this theory az wide circulation as
possible. Ii may, at least, sci capable ply
ucians 10 thinking, and 20 lead, finally, to
better understanding OF the disease.
This theory reminds us OF tne which an
eminen, physician holds regarding small
pox, il mol, indeed, regarding eruplive levers
generally. Instead. however, of attribuling
smallpox 10 animalcule, he considers it
rather as of vegetable origin, inclining 10
think the disease produced BY sort OF fun
gus, growing under the scarf skin, and fiow-
ing in the pustule. Light, air, heat and
moisture, all Indispensable 10 vegetable
growth, are certainly necessary also to
smallpox. All are agreed, we believe, tha,
what PRODUCES The eruption, causes the fe.
yer, and not that the fever produces the erup-
ion. This is one point in favor of the lheo-
ry. Another is that the face, which is most
exposed to the light, is generally more se-
verely marked than other parts of the body.
Another is that the disease is propagaed OF
seed, for how else explain incubation =
Even vaccination favors the seed theory, the
only difference being that the fungus, in a
vaccination, does not ot'spread, but is confined,
SO 10 speak, TO the development of single
flower The theory, al first sight, seems
/ fanciful, and we are far from endorsing il
nor, indeed, has its author, 10 our knowl.
edge ever publicly laugh. or maintained it
More facts, in his opinion probably, are re.
| ouired 10 demonstrate il. Nevertheless, il
may be substantially true and should i, turn
out so, ii will revolutonize, 10 grea, de-
gree, the treatment Of eruptive fevers. One
iacl which, so far forth, suslans the theory,
| is that keeping the patient constantly smear
| ed with oil, as is often done in Southern
| Europe, is incontes,ibly Beneficial. The oil
excludes the air, without which vegetable
life cannot live, and consequently the fungus
dies Doubtless, If battling with bacon is
efficient in scarlet fever, as many parents
lately have assured US, il operates in the
same way.
| The writer in our contemporary, and the
physician we have referred TO, agree in many
points, as 10 The causes of eruptive fevers.-
Both regard the fever as the result of poi
sonous growth, affecting the mucuous MEM
brane, especially the internal surface OF the
scarf skin. One attributes lis origin 10 seed
animalculH, bone the other considers il 10
be vegetable, or fungus growth. The one,
by the plentiful application of water, seeks
10 bring il out on the skin, when, as he says,
il dies. But il, as the other thinks, the dis.
ease is of vegetable origin, then is not IFS
appearance on the skin, especially in small.
pox caused by lis Towering! OF course,
which ever notion (if eilher) be correct, the
disease ceases, soon after, in consequence
of this appearance on the surface. But II
ceases, in such case, only because 1t has ex-
aausted i,self--it has vege,ated, bloomed d
and bore its scotland therefore il dies and
if the patient RECEIVERS, ii is because Nature
has been too strong for the disorder, and mol
because the disorder has been cut shorl.-
Now, il it could once be proved that erup-
tive fevers, small pox especially, were of ve.
geable origin, the better plan might be, by
the exclusion of light, or heat, or air, 10
s,arve out the disease al once. OF course,
we give no opinion, ourselves, on these lheo-
ries We only notice them. as part Of the
events OF the day, and in the.hope that they
may lead TO better knowledge OF eruprive
fsvets Even 10 disprove them would be TO
gain that much negative knowledge. That
the theories appear, a, first sight, fanias'ical,
is but little against them; for The circulation
of The blood, three centuries ago, seemed
quite as absurd 10 the medical profession.
"Ptove all things" is the right m motio.-Phila.
Ledger.
Occupation of Members Of the Legisia'
. | ture.
The occupation or professions of The mem