Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1870-12-08
SCARLET FEVER.

During last y inter this fearful diseas.
was aiarningly prevalent in many of oul
large cities and towns, and also i'm sucl
country places as were in frequens com
munication with the city. Without poipe
into the theory Of ceniagicn, the writer o
tins article can state. Of his own kuowl.
edge, that the disease was distributed
through village iu the vicinity OF Phil.
adelphia, and that the first case whicl, oe.
Cured was in family whose members
visited family in Philadelphia. afflicted
with the disease. DIR. U. III. Bell, Pro-
fessor ss Anatosay and Aiea;eir,e, In a esl.
legc connected with the University of st.
Andrews, Scotland communicates 10 the
London Lancet series Of most remarka-
bic facts. All possible precautions were
taken, the patients were isolated, but still
new cases appeared The disease broke
out also in families in the town, between
which there was no visiting or communi-
cation. For while the doctors were at
fault. But inquiry developed the follow
ing circumstances, which, TO say the least
presented a curious and noteworthy series
OF circumstances The college was sup
Piled with milk from a small farm Be-
fore any eases of scarlet fever had occur
red.in the college, the farmers wife ami
child returned home from "A visit TO dis
tant place, where they had been expo.ed
TO scarlet fever. The woman had the dis
ease 80 lightly that she continued to milk
the cows. n second child took the fever
The boy who served the customers with
milk next took it, but 50 slightly tha, he
continued his round. In order fully TO
Investigate the circumstances, the fasmcr
was requested to furnish list Of the fam
ilies to which he s"nt milk. In every f,ra-
lily except one where the farmer had sent
milk the scarlet fever had appeared and
twcn'y-six eases Of fever and two deaths
were thus apparently due to this one CEN
ter Of contagion.
With respect 10 the source Of this con.
tagion some c,ninent physicians maintain
that scarlet fever roison is contained in
everything proceeding frou the body of Il
patient afflicted nth tfh disease. and that
1t is contained in special energy in the
skin. which peels off at tho close of the
attack and is scattered in tiny scales or
even as absolute powder. Such portion
of dried skin may settle down in unmo-
Tested corners. or may be cntangled in
clothing or bedding. in either case pre-
serving their yirulcncc for an unknown
period Of time, anl always Liable to be dis
'urbed from their resting places and sent
forth Ia reproduce the fever" Ia correct
this the use of oil has been suGgcstcd.-
ih" effect "foil upon the skin beside the
benefit which the patient may receive, is
I" imprI>oa the cxhatationS from the body,
and the prclins skin itself, until they can
be removed by Il warm bath. Physiciai.s
can direct how often this bath NAV be- Civ
cn, and in what mode. Another and OBJ
vi"us prrrauti"n Is to dis;ufcct clo;hin.
and bedding, and By chemical agents to
'ii>intcct everything which is carried from
the sick room. This latter prccaution
might be universally applied, and at no
great trouble or Inconvenience. in every
case of illness. All these precautions can
be- taken iu families whose income admits
the expense Of isolation and skillful at,cn-
dance
In hospitals and other public insti,u-
TONS, whether free to the poor, or open to
the money OF those who can pay, there
ought To be no difficulty in observing the
simple rules above recommended. The
experiment is certainly worth 4 trial.
The years 1868 and 1864 were notable
for extraordinary mortality from scarlet
fever, in England and Wales. the number
of deaths being go, 600 in the two wears.
In 1869, the number Of deaths in London
from the disease were l.U16. The num-
Der of deaths from scarlet fever. register
ell in London recently. averaged two hun
'lred n week. The Times assumes the
Of deaths to be- one in twelve
cases. thus Keeping up frigh,ful number
OF ccntcrs of contagion. The practical
deduction from these facts is that the pre-
cautions recommended, especially the dis
Infection of discharges, should be insisted
on wherever practicable In public in
stitutions they certainly can be and gen
erally are else to send n patient to hos
pital would be to sentence him to death.
Cleanliness and ventilation are necessary.
both m health aud disease but i, is un-
fortunately the cn~e that IN houses where
appsrcGt cleanliness Is insisted on with
cxactneSs. the true principles If
hygenc are lamen.ably unknown. One
comfortable residence. by neglect Of
precautlon, may generate disease rs sure
" as hot-hou>e promotes vegetation.