The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-07-28

HYGIEEIC TREATMENT or sCGR.
LET FEVER. d.

rible scourge Of childhood, Ia prevalent
In many localities, 1t may be Of some
service to reproduce from the Herald
cf Heath for August, the following on
the subject OF HygIenic treatment foo
the disease:
In our last number we gave the elab.
crate paper OF DR.. Budd on the Pre-.
venlion of5carlet Fever. We now add
q letter from Dr.. Charles T. Thompson,
called out by DR.. Budd's article, which
reduces the means oi prevention to
more simple matter, and also gives an
easy method OF treatment, thoroughly
HyRlenlc, which has been found 10 be
remarkably successful, not only BY
Dr: Thompson. but by large number
OF HyRlenic physicians OF extensive
practice In this country.
"A few weeks ago DR.. Budd publIshs
ed IN able paper on Scarlet Fever, and
as he and l obtain similar results,
though by different means, 1 am deslr-
ous Of submitting few observation on
the subject.
Instead Of waiting I'LL the third or
fourth day TO Rnoint the patents BODY
Win oil, and 10 repeat this twice daily,
In order 10 retain IN stu the Infectious
eGcFeta from the skin, and after a
longer or shorter interval washing this
on In warm bath, my practice Is 40
'on the very first access of the fever,
put my patient into a warm bath
and repeat this as often as the strength
OF the patient will allow, or the severI-
~ OF the attack may require. The first
enect OF this treatment ~ TO produce a
sooihing and refreshing feeling In the
patient, to be followed soon by such an
eruption on the surface, oi so vivid
coior. and IN such amount, aB would
aHonibh those who have never witness.
ed 1t. Thus, one Of the greatest dam
gers OF !nls ieartnl disease, the suppress.
sion OF the eruption, is escaped. Il
Alter the first or second bath, the
appetite usually returns. so by getting
down light and nutritious food the
means are Afforded OF supporting the
strength OF the patient during one OF
the most trying periods OF the disease,
By this treatment the excreta from the
skin are removed ~ rapidly az thew
are deposited, doing away immedIRtely
with the source OF infection, leaving no
room for the dissemination or The dis
ease. The desquamatIon OF the cutlcle
lS greatly promoted, It being removed
In small particles, and never In large
pieces. ...sf ,.-
The drying OF the body after the
bath Is effected by soft linen cloths,
sufficiently large 10 snvelop the whole
person, and with as little friction as
possible; in fact, the surface is what
may be called 'dabbed' dry, as the ex-
element from friction OF the skin often
produces great mischief. Il
The irritation Of internal organs Is
also at once relieved by this continued
determination to, the surface. And aH
the condition of the latter becomes
more healthy the nasal, renal, and al
vine secretions, with those OF the throat
lin my opinion the most dangerous Of
all-are speedily deprived of their nox.
lous properties, and quickly recover
healthy character, thus again removing
additional source OF Infection.
The fever rapidly subsidies, and con-
vAlescence usually proceeds more or
less quickly, according TO the mildness
or severity OF the attack. r--....,
Another advantage OF this treatment
y, that very serious case is soon re.
duced 10 mild one, and The patient
RECEIVERS In less thah half the usual
time. girf
"'This practice I have pursued for
more Than fifteen years, during which
period have attended many cases OIL
scarlet fever but have never lost
single, patient from this disease, nor
can call to MUD ut this moment any.
ope case Id which the infection has
been carried from the patient 10 any
other Individual. . have had six or
seven cases In a family at one and the
same time, the Injection clearly tracea-
BILE TO Gchools, etc.; yet have never
known the disease spreAdto any others
In the same household. I have also
attended cases where isolation was i'm.
possible, or. would not be attended to,
the patients having free Communication
with othermemberS of the family, but,
where the treatment above recommend
ed has been scrupulously carried ont,
no second case has arisen. tEE
The consequence OF all this. Is, that
when the patients health Is sufficiently
re.esla blished, permission has been
given 10 Join the rest OF the family; and
l. am satisfied that the patient might
also be speedily restored TO society with
perfect safety. In no instance have l
known any harm TO arise from this
permission. Daring the eonvRlescence
Of the patient, the bath, OF course, may
be used daily, or every other day, ac-
cording 10 the feelings or Wish or the
patient; but. Its temperature should be
gradually reduced, so as toinvigorate
and not exhapst, and also to enable the
surface successfully 10 resist tho alter:
nations OF heat and cold to which the pa.
tient may be exposed In moving about
from place TO place!.' 1''''4 17.''''
The terrible sequela Of this formld.
able disease are, also, by the treatment
above recommendedI> seldom II ever
met with. No, nurse or Washerwoman
has, to my Knowledge, suffered froln
the performance or her Avocations.' y
:, We would also add, In this oonnec-
tion, thereport OF four cases treated by
Mr.. g. L. Sickles, OF Newark, NJ ~.
Mr.. slcklea was mot willing 10 submit
his children 10 the ordinary drug treat.
ment, and 80, with the aid OF Mrs.
Sickles, treated them himself. In Civ.
Ing bis report, he says:
my boy, a fraii little Fellow OF eight
years, ,was taken down very7suddenly.
Pulse sharp, rapid, wiry; breathing,
llabored and short; and f0Ver violent.
put him into q wet sheet envelope for
an hour. On taking out, bathed him
In tepld water I'LL fever abated, Heyas
up and AROUND that day. but had some
fever at'ntKht, und in the morning the
Trash, came out with other decided
symptoms OF fscarlet fever. noWaput
him Into tub filled slx inches deep
With, warm water and poured cool
water. upon, him Tor three miputesV
then rubbed on briskly I'll lTeaction OF
H. Tkta ~ AS4H II NNV