Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1857-02-21
Management of scarlet Fever.

An article in the N. Y. Evening Post
on Scarlet Fever, says the earliest symp-
toms of it are general uneasiness, depres-
sion Of spirits, fretfulness, pain or aching OF
back and limbs, chiils, thirst and loss OF
appetite. There is often pain or stiffness
of throat, with difficult swallowing, occas-
ional nausea and vomiting, skin hot, pulse
quick, and almost always pain in the lolns,
headache and drowsiness, or sleeplessness;
even delirium and commissions may occur
Soon the face is contested and perhaps
swollen, eyes red and sensitive to the
LIGHT. tonsils, fauces and the throat often
puffy and infamed; tongue coated white
or yelIowish, the tip and edges red with
prominent red points amid the coating
The fever seems to increase, the skin is
ford, bowels often irregular, and kindeys
commonly deranged
The disease seems to be widely prevail
ent this winter, and parents are often at
a loss what to do for it, in the absence Of
a physician. For its treatment, we quote
as follows:
Ifthe eruption is slow in its appear
ance, or is ready to recede, or is "struck
in" or is of a dark, purple or livid, spotted
appearance, with shiyering and cold ex-
tremites, the warm wet sheet, vapor
bath or warm bath, with bottle Of hot wa
ter to the feet, will afford the best pros
pect of relief. In such cases the domestic
practice Of giving warm herb drinks that
favor perespiration, may prove beneficial.
Before and during the appearance of the
eruption, every possible source OF irritation
to the internal organs should be religious
ly avoided.If the heat and feyerishness are
great and the bowels costive, occasional
injection Of warm or cool water may be
necessary; but the operation Of a dose Of
physic during the eruptive stage may
Irove fatal Emetics and purgatiyes are
freely used by some during the whole Pc
Rod of the disease, and each may be prop
err in some eases, at certain stages but a
single emetIc or smaller dose Of ipecac, or
other nauseating medicine, given to pro
mote perspiration and relative fever, has
known so to disturb and operate upon the
stomach and bowels in a few hours, as to
lead to fatal termination. Such things
may well be stigmatized, "the deadly viz
tues of the healing art" IF diarhna oc-
ours spontaneously, it will be less danger
Gus, and may be checked by injections Of
cool or cold water, congresses to the abdo-
men, or by some mild astringent.
When the throat is swollen and painful,
cold or warm applications '(as feels best)
may bescontinuously applied, if found to
ice in pieces, or in muslin bag for young
children, held in the mouth and swallow
ed as it dissols es, is q valuable means for
controlling the local inflammation. The
yapor of hot water is sometimes useful
where it can be safely applied. The infus-
ion or tea Of cayenne pepper, alone or
with other articles, has been extensively
applied internally and applied to the
throat, and is often variable, but it is not
applicable to all cases, and should be used
with caution.
In every case the proper management
will vary with the form, stage, degree of
severity and complications existing.
CAuTIoN.-During the convalescence
great care is necessary. Too hearty food,
ormuch too indulgence ofappetite, exposure
to cold and damp,are each fruitful sources
Of danger, and should be strictly guarded
against for several weeks.