The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-12-23


Charles L. Thompson reports in the Lancet
his manner of treatment in scarlet fever as
follows The patient is immersed in a
warm bath in the early stage of the disease,
and this is repeated frequently, or as often
as the strength of the patient will allow
The first effect is to produce a soothing and
refreshing feeling in the patient, to be fol>
lowed soon by such an eruption on the
surface, of SO vivid color, and in such
amount as would astonlsh those who have
never witnessed it. Thus one of the great
est dangers of this fearful diseaseAthe sup
preston of the eruption-is escaped. The
appetite generally returns after the first or
second bath, and the strength of the patient
is kept up by nutritious food. The bath
prevents the dissemination of the disease,
by removing the excreta fIom the skin as
soon as it is depositef This treatment pro-
notes cuticular desquamation. The body
should be gently dried by soft linen clothes
after the bath. By this procedure the
various secretions were derived of their
noxious properties, and the irritation of
internal organs is quickly relieved, thus
djssipating infection, Another benefit is
that very serious case is soon reduced to
a mild one, and the patient RECEIVERS in less
than half the usual time. Since Dr. ThomI
son has pursued this practice-during the
last fifteen years-he has never lost pa
tient from scarlet feave-.
From Bell on Baths.
In no class of diseases is the curative
agency of warm bathing moreevident than in
those affecting the skin. Some of the most
obstinate eruptions have yielded to this
remedy, or to bathing in tepid water. In,
deed it, in conjunction with a milk regimen
is often all powerful for these diseases,
after the whole list Of alternatives and de-
puratlves had been gone through in vain.
Where there is much heat and irritation by
itching, the temperature of the bath should
not at first exceed CO.. Alter time it may
be raised to go.
Currie details the history of two cases OF
scarlatins occurring in his own family, in
which he employed cold affusion with entire
success. The patients were, respectively,
three and FIVE years old. The heat rose in
the eldest, not many hours after the first
chill and sickness of stomach, to 1882
"As soon as the sensation of heat was
steady in my oldest boy, stripped him
naked, and poured four gallons of water
over him, of the temperate of $40. The
usual good effects Immediately appeared,
but at the end OF two hours he was as hot
as ever--the remedy was again applied and
repeated as the return OF heat indicated
BY the time the eldest was ready for bis
third affusion the youngest was ready fol-
his first The heat rose in the eldest to
1902, in the youngest to 1852, and the
pulse in each was upward of 1852. In
thirty-two hours the first had the affusior
fourteen times; eight times cold, twice
cool, and four times tepid. Twelve affu
sions sufficed in the case of the youngest,
of which seven were cold. The fever was
in both completely subdued. On the morn
ing of the third day they we're both evi
IDENTIFY safe; and On the morning of thu
fourth, though the pulse was still little
more frequent than natural, they we're boil
convalescent. In this state they inclined t.
sleep aud rest. The scarf skin peeled of
them both, and each had slight degree O
swelling in the hands, but none or the othe
secondary symptoms.