The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-02-18
SCARLET-FEVER.

but Inlnk OaVlQ Will make one LOT
himself
SCARLET-FEVER.
BY AN EMINENT PHYSICIAN.
Scarlet-fever is defined to be febrile
disease, the product of specific poison,
which is reproduced during the prog
ress of the affection. Like smallpox,
it spreads by infection and contagion.
The contagious principle is exceedingly
subtitle. It fills the atmosphere of the
rooms of the sick, and clings with des-
perate fenacity to clothing. A strip OF
flannel may remain contagious for up
ward of year; and a cloak put on
eighteen months after its exposure has
communicated the disease. This fact
shows the necessity of thorough ventii-
alton of the rooms of the sick, and the
complete disinfection of all articles OF
clothing used about them. It also
proves that those who visit the sick of
scarlet-fever are very liable to carry the
poison in their clothing, and dissemin-
ate it widely. 1t very often happens
that it is quite impossible to trace the
origin. of an outbreak of scarlet-fever
in family. 1t may occur first in the
infant who has never been out of doors.
In such cases, it is undoubtedly intro
duced by the clothing of some person
who has visited the room of one sick OF
this disease. Physicians undoubtedly
often transport the poison from family
to family and many are so impressed
with the danger that they always wash
their hands, and thoroughly change or
ventilate their clothing, before visiting
other patients.
The period of incubation of the pois-
l.
The first symptom is generally vomit-
ing; fever soon sets in; the throat is
slightly sore; there is headache, thirst,
restlessness, and slight delirium at
night. These symptoms continue about
forty-eight hours, when the rash makes
its appearance over the lower part OF
the neck and upper part of the chest.
This rash is of bright scarlet in healthy
persons, having a velvety appearance,
but not raised or rough. On the sec
ond day of the rash, it spreads over the
body, and the third over the limbs. AT
this period it begins to fade on the chest
and body, and about the third day from
its appearance on the hands and feet, it
disappears altogether. 1t returns, how :
ever, as light blush for several days,
with more or less fever. With the sub
sidence of the eruption, there appears
over the body a dandruff-like scurf,
which consists of the scarf-sixin or
scales. loosened and thrown off by the
fever IN the skin. This is called the des-
quamative stage, and is dangerous. from
the fact that the removal of this outer
coating renders the patient peculiarly IL
able to suppression of perspiration on
the slightest exposure to cold.
A careful observer can determine the
onset of scarlet-fever before the erup-
ton appears, by examining the tongue
and throat. These surfaces will be
found red, and that of the tongue will
have the appearance of a strawberry.
The disease may begin quite differently.
The affection of the throat may be the
principal symptom, with swelling, and
but a small amount of rash; or the pa
tient may be suddenly overwhelmed
with the poison, and die without an
eruption.
No specific remedy has yet been
found for scarlet-fever. Belladonna
has been extensively employed; but no
positive results have been obtained.
Judicious nursing is far more important
than medicines. The patient should be
placed in a room having a uniform tenn
perature, day and night, of about 6S
to 20 deg, well aired, without exposure
to draughts of air; in this room he
should remain until thoroughly well,
unless it be summer season. The cloth
ing should be light during the rash,
and increased after it, and not be chang
ed until convaleseence is thoroughly es-
tabished. Cold drinks should be given
very sparingly; but the body may be
sponged over frequently when the skin
is hot. 1t Is well to put light flannel
scarf around the neck, and to apply
camphorated oil daily freely around
and under the angle of the jaw. The
diet should consist of rice-water, or
similar simple liquid nourishment, IN
til the eruption subsidies, when it may
be solid, but mnst still be simple, as
rice, farina, etc.
If the early stages of the fever are
passed in safety, the danger will depend
upon the exposure of the new tender
surface to cold and the resulting dropsy.
1t is surprising how sensitive the de-
nuded body is to cold the change of
an article of clothing, the lowering of
the temperature of the room at night,
stepping into room having a lower
temperature, are but few of the many
ways of so chilling the skin as to sup
press perspiration and induce dropsY.
It is for this reason that the light cases
are more often followed by serious con-
sequence; less, care is taken of their
clothing and surroundings than of the
severely sick in the early stages.
There are two simple methods ofren-
dering patients less liable to dropsy af-
ter scarlet fever. The first is by rub
bling them over frequently with fatty
substances, as lard or oil, and thus form
ing coating which supplies in part the
loss of the scarf-skin. The second is
frequent warm baths during GONZALES
cence they are very grateful, and tend
to prevent internal COMPOSITIONS, while
they increase the action of the skin.
As in the bath, the old skin separates,
scariet-feyer, great care should be taken
to remove the refuse water beyond the
reach of exposure, or disinfect it
No case of scarlef-fever, however
simple, should be unattended by COM
petent physician.