Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-05-05
Raysges Ofthe ssspotted Fever . IN, Penn
aylvHnia--.lts Symptoms and Proper
TrRarmRut.


Raysses Ofthe "spotted Fever . IN Penn.
Treatment.
From the Philadelphia Press.l
For many weeks an alarm, in many
cases quite unnecessary, has existed in
different parts Of the city and suburbs re-
speeding a disease, since named the " spot
ted fever The approach of disease in
any shape sufficiently hideous, even though
the medical books and the physicians
knowledge place it definitely among that
class the treatment for which has the sane
ton Of ages. It is consoling even to the
sick man, to know that his complaint is
understood, and that there can be no mis-
take in its character or confusion in the
remedies TO be applied. Katsria ms3ied in
( our day and generation has so far ad-
vanced to perfection that the dying patient
cannot leave our world with a reprOach Of
science on his lips. Occasionally, how
ever, the theories of the men of science are
bafled and bewildered by new develop
ments of those ills that the human flesh is
heir to. One ouch has just presented itself,
but, happily for those who yet expect to
see many more years of terrestrial JOY,
this new disease has been confronted by
the medical men, and successfully treated.
An eminent physician of this city informs
US that the disease, which at first broke
out as an epidemic, is now on the wane,
and the cases of death are now so few as
to cause no greater anxiety than the usual
ailments known to every household.
The first case of the disease was discov-
cred about the middle Of February. He
was suddenly taken i'll, and died in four
days. Immediately after an older sister,
about nineteen or twenty years of age,
was attacked by it, and died in twenty-six
hours. Shortly after, a number of cases
Of the same character were discovered at
the Falls of Schuylkill, where it assumed
an epidemic form. In one house there
were four well-marked cases, and quite a
number scattering in the locality. The di-
sease prevailed for about two or three
weeks; but since that period it has be-
come exceedingly rare, having, nj might
say, almost entirely disappeared. About
the same time it broke out in Manayunk.
There were but few cases, however, until
about the middle of April, since which
time a number of patients have been at
tackled and much alarm has ensued, chiefly
in consequence of the fact that three or
four Of the sufferers thus attacked had
been working in the same room, at a WOOL
en- mill. A number Of cases also occurred
at frankfort, and a few at Norristown
Besides these, a limited epidemic of it ap-
peared in Center county, between Belle
fonte and the Pennsylvania railroad. It
appears from our exchanges that the di-
sease has broken out also in York city.
It is said that there have been deaths from
the sam cause in Washington and Anap-
oils, with a few insulated cases in the
army.
The disease was entirely unknown in
this part of the country. It is said to be
similar to the spotted fever which prevailed
in New England between the years 1903
and 1918. The name "spotted fever" at
taehes to it for the present in consequence
of the similarity. 1t attacks persons Of
all ages of life, but is chiefly prevalent
among the young, from Y to 25 years Of
age.-The patients are taken down with a
chill, which is generally preceded by uu-
comfortable feelings for a few hours. The
chill is followed by an intense headache,
pain in the back Of the neck, passing down
the spine, and fever. In about twenty-fOur
hours an eruption, in reddish spots, ap-
pears beneath the skin, causing, however,
no elevation. It consists of little points of
blood, varying in size from a pins head to
a quarter Of an inch, and sometimes larger.
The eruption was found to be precisely
similar to spots found in the interior Of a
body examined at Manayunk some ten
days ago.
If the patient is suffering from a severe
attack he generally becomes deliriOus, and
often becomes insensible. When death
takes place, it occurs n from twelve hours
to four days. If the disease lasts for a few
days the patient RECEIVERS. The treatment
which has thus far been successful is this:
Avoid blood letting; put the patient OF
stimulants, such as brandy, wine, or whis-
ky; also give q%uinine freely, and apply to
the back Of the neck and down the limbs
mustard poultices. Keep up external
warmth, promote perspiratiOn, and make
cooling applications to the head.
Upon examination after death, it is quite
evident from the presence Of the spots in
the interior Of the body being similar to
those on the exterior, as well as on account
of the dissolving condition of the blood,
that it is strictly 8 blood disease, and
ought to be treated accordingly. There is
no reason whatever to suppose that it
springs from infected rage, as has been
charged, and the best evidence of this is its
simultaneous appearance in various parts
of the country.