Winchester journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1862-1863, 1863-01-30
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
ERYSIPELAS.

Several cases of this disease having &C.
Cured IN town within the last few weeks,
aud one or two Of them being of rather
malignant character. We take il that
few items in regard to the nature and
course Of the disease. will not be inappro-
pirate; aid the more especially as many
inquiries fred EMILY made can best te an
swered in thi Eay.
This is avefyspecular and irregular dis
ease, presenting so many varieties of char
acter and grcoes otsyiolence as almost to
defy description. 1t is usually spoken of
as disease Of the skin, and in all the
slighter cases this structure is the seat OF
the principal, action. and yet in the more
serious and dangerous cases what the skin |
suffers is OF the least consequence, the
force and violence of the disease falling
upon the deeper structures or soma6fn-
portant organ. Indeed, the scope y the
malady will be foand to extend from a
trivial skin affection, superficial and of
only few inches in extent to the most
serious INVASION OF the deeper structures
with great swelling, pain and fever, or the
implication Of vital organ, destroying
life in very few days. This last sort of
case most generally occurs in the course
of epidemics, or under very uufavorablc
external circumstances, but not inyaria-
bly,. 1t is OF sufficiently frequent occur.
renee to see person in usual health ex-
hibiting a small pimple on the side of the
nose, or on the tip OF one ear, and 10 learn
in short time that erysipelas had been
developed from so insignificant start.
and that our friend had either Succumbed
to its violence, or passed through it with
the greatest suffering aud danger. These
casts are, for the most part, as observed
in this part of the country, entirely spo-
radio and isolated, showing neither con-
tagious nor epidemic character. Still,
and here we come To speak To one OF the
most frequently and anxiously PROFOUND
CT questions, there can be no doubt that
the complaint does often exhibit both
characteristics in an unmiStakeable man
ner. In the history of the disease, We
meet with accounts of epideraics that
have prevailed at various times and in
different countries, and too accurately de-
scribed 10 be mistaken; aud there can be
no doubt but that the disease known as
"black tongue" and which prevailed so
extensively throughout many parts of our
own country a few years ago, was poem
/ liar form of erysipelas.
As to its contagiousness, there can be
very little doubt of its possessing that
quality too, under circuin stances To favor
it; yet, in our country experience, We
have never seen any thing proving il. In
crowded communities surrounded 10y uu-
favorable hysienic conditions, the evi
dence, ia the Affirmative of the question,
i, often too conclusive. A surgeon VINO
would attempt an operation in the wards
OF Il hospital where ery,ipeils had shown
Itself, would be regarded A. incompetent
to practice his profession The least
scratch or abrasion of the SKIN under such
+ circumstances, is almost sure to be follow
Ell by erysipelstous inflammation.
Infection is to be guarded against by
the most scrupulous reg rd to ventilation
and cleanliness, This matter can hardly
be oyerdoae. Let a pure, frequently re-
newed atmosphere have "A chance TO ncu-
tralize the carnations from the patients
lungs aud skin, and let the vitiated score-
tons from the diseased surfaces be sedu-
lousy removed TO safe distance, and If
buried under ground all the better. Let
them not soak into bedclothes. towels or
sponges and remain about the apartments.
Ire fewer porous and absorbing substan-
ces that are allowed about the Sick-room
: the better. While this precnution is best
/ calculated To shield from danger those
around him, ii is one OF t.e best means Of
giving the patient himself the very best
possible chance for his life. And to pre-
cent the disease, lice a. indicated above,
breathe pure atmosphere, drink pure
water. eat wholesome, well cooked diet,
and pass AS large "A portion ns Won reason
ably cal OF your time IN the open air
Keep yoar skin clean. lively and healthy,
aud your blood pure. and YOU will be very