The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1875-03-25
alsefnl aud Curious.
KPIDRMrCs AMONG CHILDREN.

The other day we listened to a very interesting
lecture on this subject, given by member Of the
medical profession, and took notes OF PORTIONS OF
it for the benefit of our readers.
The three epidemics spoken of were measles,
scarlet lever, aud small pox. In repeating what
the physician stated We shall say nothing about
the treatment of these diseases, leaving that 10
be determined by each reader for himself, aud
only mention points iteresting alike to ALL
child affected with measles appears to have
severe cold In the head; its eyes are red, ana
very sensitive to the light; its face swollen, and
on the third day the eruption appears on the face
IN blotches of a crescent or horseshoe shape, which
spread and cover the surface of the body. When
the finger is pressed firmly OH these red blotcbes
the redness does not go away.
Scarlet fever generally begins with nausea,
followed by pain in the limbs and sore throat;
the face is not very sensitive to the light. On
the secOEd day the rash appears, first on the lace
IN small points of vivid red, which become diff
fused and spread over the entire body. The
tongue becomes very white, with blood red spots
appearing above the furred surface. II a pencil
or The finger is pressed firmly on the skin the
rcdness will give place for a time, leaving tie
skin white where the pressure was eNertet ami
then the scarlet tint returns. On the nth day
the rash turns brown and the skin Is very dry.
This is the dangerous time, since the skin being
unable to perform its function, the kidneys and
lungs have double work to do. At this stage of
the illness the foundation is laid for Brigbts dis
ease of the kidneys, and everything depends on
keeping the skin suft and moist. This can be
done by oiling il freely with salad oil, with pure
lard, with unSalted butter, what is most agree
able of all, with glycerine and rose water, two
parts of the former to one part OF the latter. In
England the favorite treatment is to immerse the
patient in warm bath, which is repeated fire.
Qurntly.
The symptoms of small pox are, first, a chill
then violent nausea, pain in the head, and ach-
ing in the bones On the third day the eruption
appears the face in scattered pimplrs that feel
when the finger Is passed over them as though
bead or the head of pin were imbeded in the
skin.
Measles require treatment so simple that any
intelligent mother should be able to take her
child through them. The symptoms of scarlet
fever and of smallpox are pronounced that
they not likely to he mistaken. The first
thing to he done is to quarantine the patient,
as To prevent the infection from spreading This
can be successfully done by placing him in the
top room of the house, from which carpets, up
hnlstered furniture, and wOolens of every des-
crptinn should be removed The furniture left
should be of the simplest description, u single
thrce-quarter bed for the patient, lounge for
the nurse to recline upon, wooden or Tagged
chairs, and table. There should be-a crate in
the room and fire kindlrd in it. This will not
only keep the room ventilated, but destroy the
germs of the disease as they pass over the flame
in their way out of the room. Since mnch in
these diseases depends on the care taken of the
patient, there should be two Dnrsrs in order that
one may be Oh the watch while the other is rest
ing.
There is no danger of contagiOn until the ernp-
ton comes to the surface, that in case of scar
let fever the mother has two days to take pre-
cautions against the spread of the infection, and
in smallpox three days. When the disease is
passed the bed clothes should be disinfected by
thorough boiling and all not treated in this way
should be burned.