Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-07-13
SCARLET FEVER.
Its Danger and Prevention.
Facts of the Epidemic at winthrop

Its Danger and Prevention.
Facts of the Epidemic at winthrop.
Written for the Bulletin.
There are few subjects so vitality con
corning the public upon which there ex-
it's greater need of well-defned views,
than that Of the disease usually called
scarlet fever. The authorities of some
of the States, through their health
boards, have issued circulars which in a
measure serve to supply this need, but
Iowa, while freely appropriating money
to protect swine and cattle from disease
and death, has done nothing to guard its
citizens from similar dangers. If scar
let fever resembled most other diseases
in presenting uniform character there
would be less necessity for popular in
struction concerning it, but as it is the
variable and different types presented
by this affection, that give rise to vari-
GUS views regarding it's nature and treat
ment. 1t is often seen in so mild
form as to require little care, and peo-
pie so viewing it can with difficulty UNI
derstand that at another time the most
untiring efforts are unavailing to save
the victim OF its attack. In other cpl
denies the disease in nearly every case
expends its force upon some special
part OF the system-as the throat
thereby requiring a line of treatment
entirely cOntra-indicated at another
time or place. Thus it is often charged
that. physicians differ greatly in their
opinions and treatment of this affection,
an impression having its origin in this
fact, that the varying types of this ter
rlble disease present peculiarities so
much IN contrast as to almost induce
the belief that they are distinct disor-
ders. Another cause OF difference in
treatment, opinion and fatality is the
important fact that in many cases the
disease partakes of mixed character,
or is complicated with other affections,
prominent among these being erysipelas
These facts render it evident that no
man of any intelligence can adhere to
one plan of care and treatment, but
must be governed by the special char
acteristics of each case and epidemic.
While these differences and shades Of
the disease undoubtedly render difficult
a desirable understanding on the part of
the general public of it's character and
behavior, it is, at the same time, true
that there are general and undisputed
facts concerning its preventability and
danger, which admit of unlimited appli-
cation. We are fortunate in this CON
nection in possessing the benefit of long
continued observation, as all are aware
that scarlet fever has been known ever
since medicine has had history. OBJ
servers as keen and thorough as any liv
ing at the present time have left on rec
ord their experience and observations
as to the habits and nature OF the dis
ease. Scarlet fever has always been
considered contagious disease, but
those who have most thoroughly stud
led it qualify the term to an important
degree A disease strictly contagious
will, upon exposure to 1t, as rule, be
taken-those who escape being the ex
ception,-but in scarlet fever, as is well
known, the reverse is true. Again, uni
formity of character is essential, accord
ing to our understanding of Il contag
ious disease, while, as before stated, in
scarlet fever the greatest diversity ex-
lists. We are forced to conclude that
there are conditions necessary to the
development of this disease paramount
in Importance to that of exposure If
this be correct it will be readily seen
how important is a knowledge OF. pre-
ventihle measures 1t we comprehend
the true nature Of these conditions nee
essary to its development, it may be in
in our power to avoid or prevent the
disease. We do not deny the necessity
of avoiding exposure, but hold that
when ordinary exposure is unavoidable
or accidental, we may by a knowledge of
these conditions be able to defy the dis
ease. 1t has been observed that those
taking the disease from ordinary expos
ure have been, in nearly every instance,
in disturbed state of health previous
to the exposure. Any condition where
by there is lowering OF vitality favors
the development of the disease. A
slight cold, an attack or state Of indiges-
ton, disordered condition of the bow
els, however trivial, are favoring condi
tions to the contraction Of the fever.
This being true, it is readily seen how
unwise is the practice of what is called
dieting or combining children, in the
hope of staying the disease or prevent
ing exposure The best preventive for
scarlet fever is a vigorous, healthy con
dition Of the system Other contagious
diseases, as small pox or measles, make
no such discrimination. Physicians are
frequently asked to prescribe some hop
ed for prophylactic. The terribly fatal
character of some cpidemics renders this
a question of vast Importance. Unfor-
tunately, we have no antidote for the
poison in this disease as for that in
small pox. But one agent, belladona,
has ever acquired any reputation as a
preventive, and this has not stood the
test, although repeatedly tried under
the most favorable circumstances for
obtaining reliable results. In an cpl
demic near Berlin in 1873, thirty cases
out of forty attacked proved IA
tai, all but two Of whom had been IN
der specific influence of helladona. 1t
(the belladona) is sometimes prescribed
by men who have little or no faith in
its preventive virtues in order to give
confidence to those employed in nursing
the sick, and comfort to anxious par
ents. But in proportion to the conf
dence thus produced will be the risk of
the neglect of other and better safe
guards. Thus used it also becomes a
sham, pernicious as SUCH and what is
worse, dangerous one, the drug being
a powerful poison, and its long contin-
ued use, even in small doses, attended
with much risk OF late, IA number of
agents laying claim to this desirable
property, have been presented, but re-
quire more extended and systematic
trial to prove their value t IS more
than probable that no specific of this
kind will ever be discovered, as the an
alogy betwixt such an agent and that of
vaccination for small pox is not based |
upon sound scientific principles, Were
it true that scarlet fever depended sole
ly upon exposure and were not so great
w denendent unon other conditions |