The weekly sun. (New York [N.Y.]) 1851-1869, 1862-05-24
The rca,ment Of scarlet Fever.


sc.RLEr FEVER is u disease Of childhood, all
! though adults are sometimes attacked by it. II
is believed that, like measles, it incubatcs or
\ matches in the system from eight to twelve day
! ooiore making its appearance; the length Of
| time being proportionate to the age Of the per-
son affected by il. It. symptoms are fever, rest
lessne-s, anxiety depression OF spirits, palencss
chiness of the surface and pain In the head, fol-
! lowed by heat, thirst AMI general sickness, with
nausea and vomiting. The peculiar scarlet flush
or rash appears usually about the second day Of
the fever, on the face and neck and the throat,
spreading progressively over the surface, reach
ing its hei ,ht about the fourth day and terminal
ing about the seventh day from the beginning Of
the attack. This is the general course Of tho fc-
ger, although in SOME cares the eruption does
NOT nj axe its appearance for four or five days
after It's g, 'mmenccment. After the eruption dis
appears. the ,'q,ice pccls of by degrees. Per-
sons but slightly acquainted with the disease are
ant to contound it, in its earlier earlier stages,
with the measles from which, however, it il
easily distinguished by Tho scarlet appear
anie Of the eruption, md by the smoothnesf
OF the surface, the whole skin being raised in
patches in the measles, the absence - catarrhal
symptoms common in measles, and also by tho
earlier appearance, by usually about two days,
OF the eruption.
Scarlet fever is admitted to he contagious. aud
experience has proven the fallacy Vi the belaf
that no one can DO attacked by the malady
second time. II is Of two varieties ScUidiHd
,impier. or very mild form, terminating with
the eruption. and but slightly contagious and
Scure1iad a.Higaa, in which the fever is severe,
the throat liberated, the rash later in its appear
ance and less extensive, and the disease highly
contagious. In tho latter form complications
may occur which are thus enumerated in the
"llydropathic Family Physician -
l. Deafness, deir!um, stuIrr, inflammation -
the BRAIN. 2 Inflammation OF one or more OF the
parts composing, the throat 3. Construct on Of tie
paws. 1. Difficulty of degluttion; >, Rafting, la
borious hrcstAing, inflammation of tho chest d.
tua6iug. hawking, troublesome cough I. Enlarge
ment and sot,.nng or liberation of tho various
glands Of the bSly such ~ the larut.i, suhnaNil-
Larry nid mcrcurrt,, the Kidneys, etc; :. Dhtrhpa
inflammation and v.ul,ut PANS ia the stomach aud
bowels y, Small blisrrs in the hands aud io't ;
10 P.trchal, or small spots On the chin, resembling
frs-hites, and which appear as u dangerous rymp-
tom in tie course of severe .vers; II. Vibiscus or
| large purple spots like the marks u whip which
appear under tn, skin ia certain malignant tevers,
| and which also indicate great danger; IL. Hemor.
| rlnses fiom the internal surfaces, 49, Sudden and
! unex pected dissolution. Besides these aud other
complications that may occur ia connection with
scarlet fever, there In apt To follow the disease al
| sfrctlun ~ the Joints resembling rheumatism and
. general drupsy 81 infsmmatOry character. There
N good reason " believe however, that these sh'i
| other ulssqueut affections are the results ho' on
the disease itself but u the medical praeNce OF We
| day.
On this subject, the above authority adds: -
| Of thu treatment of this disease, il has been well
remarked by All suthor vf celebrity, that every OK
tr.ino Of medical treatment has had ia advocate IN
scarlatins aud that the eXpers,se of the profes
sion has not sustained the expectations formed OF
the effects OF the remedies recommended, Tonlc'
and stmulants were urged by Dr. Fothergli co
piou- blood letting by Dr. Southwark smith ana
others, and einstics by DIR. Cross. And yet after
centuries of experience and observation, IN TINS, ~
in other disessesths medical faculty have no.
fixed upon any plan Of tr.stmrns as being the Nu.
one II Is nov agreed, on all hands that common
cases Of scarlet fever will do well without an!
other treatment than that which Is included In N,
term good nursing. DIR. Ell.otson observes, ~
we take care to do the patient no harm lie will y
e general do very well" DR.. Elliotson says III
diseas. has been cut short by taking the patient on
ofbed aud pouring cold water upon NM any I ne'
IL ~ be unprecedented from the cold anusion II
: true ,haIe cases where the patient ~ more c
ess chilly; hut ifn this affection the general rule
l. ! laid down in the case Of common fever be 10
=. lowed, thersis danger whatever, but the grea
n est advantage, in taking the patient out OF b.
IF thowevor ho, he may t-l aud pouring cold watt
n ulon him. These rules are. tina, the temperntu
~ is steadily above 9s deg. Fair. that there are
" prufise general swssts that there Is no chlines
y and no Inflammation OF the chest or abdomen
sr spongng the hands, arms, face and trunk w,
cold water Is grateful TO the patient, and is an o.
cellcnt practice In the disease" Dr. Burns 'ays
T. the sision, 1t Ia Of consequence 10 use yearly
or II Is to he done NJ all and whenever thu skin Zee
steadily hot, the shivering having gore On, and q
H. skin feels very warm TO the hand snotAsr perso
III ovcr him large ever full Of cold vtsr, ~ this
ro have known tine l.seaso arrested Az or' 1--WE =, .
te . Inll ,--I, M alL- NO p. ~ w =