Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1864-1865, 1865-03-23
foi thc Journal.
SPOTTED rEIER.

foI thc Journal.
SPOTTED FEyER.
The writer takes this method o.
drawing ont the profession upon the
topic-spotte9 fever
lnasmuch "a the community il con
Siderahlv alarmed from this danger.
ous malady, he regards it duty in
cnnhent upon the profession, 10
thoroughly hook themselves up--to
search diligently for the hidden
mysteries connected with this terri
HE disease. i'm order that il they
should pcrchance he called upon to
treat n case. they can do so not only
scientifically, but show that they are
practical men, endowed with good
common.Sense. 1t is also The duty
of the profession to endeavor TO set
the community right upon this, IA
we'll as any epidemic which may pre-
vail. and not cry ont upon every oc
casion Of sickness. spotted fever,
thus causing unnecessary alarm.
This is peculiar epidemic. malig-
nant disease. Inflammation of the
coverings Of the hraln anil spinal
cord, are It's characteristics; it usual
" assumes n con9cstIve or typhous
form.
Yong persons are perhaps most
subject To this disease 1t has pre-
vailed extensively in Europe, within
the last twenty five or thirty wears.
The first account Of it in the United
States, was in the year 1S4S, since
viii h time il has prevailed extern
sively in different parts of this com
try In the year 1857. it appeared
in its most malignant form in Central
aad Western New York.
According To the published reports
VI this disease. wherever it has pre-
vailed as al epidemic, the mortality
has been very great, frequently rs
high as from seventy To eighty per
cent; in some Instances even more
than that.
From the general character Of this
liscl Sc. We arc !onnd to class il
amoag the malignant fevers. But in
order 10 z clear understanding OF it.
the relations OF the tibrous. vascular.
and Serious membranes of the brain
and spinal cord, to each other, and
to the cerehro spinal substance.
should hc remembered; and also that
the membranes of the cord are con
,inuuos with those OF the brain. and
the same in structure, except That the
inner membrane of the cord is mol so
vascular and more ihrous than that
OF the brain; these all ~ SHINING an
innammalOry condition
SY;iPToMs In y great many cases
OF this disease. there is from the
first, considerable disturbance Of the
stomach and bowels. frequently nau.
sea, vomiting. and diarrhea. and soon
chiils, and more or less pain in the
head and along the spine. AS the
cerebro- spinal pain increases, there
Is in q short time rcst,essncss, and
an anxious expression of the coun-
tenahcc, deliriam, the skin cold and
clanmy, the pulse irregular and in
lermittent, the muscles become spas
modic;.lly contracted rs the disease
progresses. the head is drawn back.
or TO one side. and in great many
cases the whole body becomes rigid,
or distorted in some way or other,
and IN this condition it sometimes
remains for hours and even days,
and finally coma and analysis super.
vene, and the patient Ci,s unless n
favorable change takes place, which
is very rare. a very prominent
symptom, ofthis disease, is .le spots.
which make their appearance on the
second day, sometimes later; these
are seen hrst upon the face, neck,
and breast, then extending over the
whole surface OF the body and ex-
trenitics. These spots vary in size
from the smallest speck, to half an
inch In diameter; their color will he
from a right red To a dark brown.
This eruption is rohally not IN in
variable symptom OF this disease.
CAUSE There is no doubt tut
that this disease has its origin in
some malarious AGENT of nm uncom-
mon degree OF concentration. either
animal or vegetable, perhaps both.
This view seems 10 accord with the
opinions of ohserN ers, both in this
country AMI in E irope. II makes
its appearance most frequently in
low, moist localities, and during
warm weather in the months Of Feb
ruary. March and April, and fire.
quentl, in the warm wet weather.
which is liable 10 occur in the months
Of November and December.
The rapidly fatal tendency Of tins
disease. the seasons of the year, the
localities. and the damp, warm weatl
er in which it makes its appearance.
all seem 10 indicate concentrated
combination ofboth animal and veg
etable miasmatn. rs its causes. 1t
fs harp1v 1nes;hf. sbof ,-aro.al, Ia 49,,