Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-02-17
Scarlet.Feyer.
BY AN EMINENT PHYSICIAN.

IL
Scarlet-fever is defined to be febrile
disease, the product Of : specific poison,
which is reproduced during the pro-
gress of the affection. Like smallpox,
It spreads by infection and contagion.
The contagious principle 10 exceedingly
subtle. It fills the atmosphere Of the
rooms Of the sick, and clings with desper-
rate tenacity to clothing. A strip Of fam
mel may remain contagious for upwards
of Q year; and . cloak put on eighteen
months after its exposure has communi-
Gated the disease This fact shows the ne
cessity of thorough ventilation OF the
rooms of The sick, and of 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 theirclothing,
and disseminate 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 n J.
the infant who has never been out OF
doors. In such cases, it is undoubtedly In
troduced 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 venti-
late their clothing, before visiting other
patients.
The period of incubation of the poison
varies from q few hours to one week.
The first symptom is generally vomiting !;
fever soon sets in the throat is slightly
sore; there is headache, thirst, restless
ness, and slight delirium at night. These
symptoms continue about forty eight
hours, when the rash makes its appear
ance over the lower part of the neck and
upper part of the chest. This rash is OF q
bright scarlet in healthy persons, having
a velvety appearance, but not raised or
rough. On the second day Of the rash,
it spreads over the body, and on 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.
It returns, however, as light blush for
several days, with more or less fever.
With the subsistence of the eruption,
! there appears over the body dandruft-
like scurf, which consists of the scarf
skin or scales, loosened and thrown off by
the fever in the skin. This is called the
desquamative stage, and is dangerous,
from the fact that the removal of this
outer coating renders the patient peculiar
ly liable to suppression Of perspiration
on the slightest exposure Of cold.
A careful observer can determine the
onset of scarlet.fev before the eruption
appears, by examining the tongue and
throat These surfaces will be found red
and that of the tongue will have the ap-
pearance of strawberry. The disease
may begin quite differently. The affection
of the throat may be the principal symp.
tom, with swelling, and but small
amount of rash; or the patient 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 ex-
tensively employed; but no positive
results have been obtained. Judlcious
nursing is far more important than medi-
cines. The patient should be placed in a
room having uniform temperature, day
and night, of about 8Se to roe, well aired,
without exposure to draughts..of air; in this
room he should remain until thoroughly
well, unless it be summer season. The
clothing should be light during the rash,
and increased after it, and not be changed
until convalescence is thoroughly estab-
lished. 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, until the eruption subsidies,
when it may be solid, but must still be
simple, as rice, farina, etc.
Ii the early stages of the fever are
passed in safety, the danger will depend
upon the exposure Of the new tender sur
face to cold, and the resulting dropsy 1t
is surprising how sensitive the denuded
body is to cold the change of an article
of clothing, the lowering Of the tempera-
ture Of the room at night, stepping into
a room having a lower temperature, are
but few of the many ways Of 80 chilling
the skin as to suppress perspiration and
induce dropsy. 1t is for this reason that
the light cases are more often followed by
serious consequence; less care is taken of
their clothing and surroundings than of
the severely sick in the early stages.
There are two simple methods of rem
dering patients less liable to dropsy after
scarlet-fever. The first is by rubbing
them over frequently with fatty sub
stances, as lard or oil. and thus forming a
coating which supplies in part the loss Of
the scarf skin. The second is, frequent
warm baths during convalescence they
are very grateful, and tend to prevent in
ternal congestions, while they increase
the action Of the skin, AS in the bath,
the old skin separates, and rs this is
charged with the poison of scarlet-fever,
great care should be taken to remove the
refuse water beyond the reach Of ex-
posture, or disinfect 1t. ;.
No case of scarlet fever, however sim
pie, should be unattended by competent
physiciSn.-Hs0rM and Home.
Western Patents.