The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-04-04
SCARLET FEVER

-ontaDIe 10 your 1edoefS.
:" lie 18th century scarlet fever
.wn, and even as late as the be-
-'"e Of the seventeenth century, it was
y ~ ny regarded as but another form Of
~" .sles.
Sydenbam in 1861 proved the specific
character of the contagion. From Europe
scarlet fever has traversed all parts of the
world, and through the media of our in
creased commerce our continent became a
prey to its devastating influences. 1t ap-
peared for the first time upon our conti-
nent in the year 1875 bul owing to the spar
cely inhabited settlements its progress was
marked BY very slow spread.
AS TO the csusesIwhich lead the out break
of an epidemic either benign or malignant,
there will be found specific poison which
is transferable from the diseased to the
healthy subject; no better proof Of the trans
ferability Of the infection is needed than
the fact, prior to the opening of Qua ports
TO the commerce of the world scarlet fever
was unknown.
AT time early in the history of this
malady inoculation was practiced, las in our
day as a protection against small Pox,
with a view to limeting the violence Of the
disease, but il was discontinued in conse-
quence of its giving rise to the same vio-
lent symptoms attendant upon a spoptane-
Gus origin.
The particular seat of the poison in the
| body is differently regarded. By some it
is supposed to be located in the skin, and
| hence, they argue the disease is most con-
tageous at the period ofdesquenation, of that
when the skin begins to exfoliate. This is
theory as we shall see, is no longer tenable.
Others regard the blood as the receptacle of
the poisonous principle. Riess has proven
that the serum of q scarlatina patient, the
watterY part of the blood-under magni-
flying power of five hundred diameters con-
tains miriods cf small rapidly oscillating
bodies. He injected few drops of scarla-
tina blood into the back of a rabbit, caus-
ing its death in twenty -four hours and the
development of the same bodies found in
the blood of the patient of whom the pois-
ON had been taken. These little worlds of
bodies in the blood are ever regarded as
standing in some peculiar manner in close
relation to the infection, and we can thus
understand why the poison is found in all
the exhalations from the body. The pois-
on of scarlet fever is very tenacious. 1t
clings to articles of apparel, furniture and
the atmosphere-of the sick room with the
greatest avidity. Palente tells US of a
mother visiting sick friend and was in
, the room but moment, Immediately re-
turning home distance of six miles, con-
veyed the infection to her children, who
gave evidence of the disease in few days
Richardson tells Us of q case, where let
ter could have been the only means by
whiohsthe poison was carried. If the sick
, room is we'll supplied with free air and the
| infected atmosphere thoroughly diluted
E much of this danger is oyercame and the
tenacity lessened.
When is the disease capable of commu.
nicating itself? We answer from its very
beginning. It is bad advice to say it car
not impart the poison when in the bloom
= of the fever and that it is catching only
r when the scales begin to peal Off Trous
e seau narrates the following case: an En-
r, glishman started toward London with hi
daughter from Pan, where scarlet fevel
was not prevalent, arrived in Paris at tht
same time with another daughter who, OIL
q hor T hoI oI
disease. The daughters occupied the sam
l. room and in twenty -four hours the on
from Pan was attacked with the disease
Again it Is liable to infect even after ever
- trace of the malady is obliterated. We ca
y not say positively when it is not infections
ot though as convalescence approaches the !
lie ability to contracting the disease is yer
,e materially lessensd. Neither sex nor M
tionality furnish protection from the di
ease. Seasons have but little controlin
{, influence over epidemics, certain per Ger
II tage of cases occurring during all the SCI
ly sons of the year. Scarlatina is said b
he good authority to frequently follow in Il
n. wake of severe epidemies of measles.
of this fact be we'll established, much goc
may be done by way of preventative mea
y ures and SANITARY observance. Age is OF
III of the greatest predisposing influences
P this af1liction. While infants are SON
on little exempt, from the first year up to Il
Ia fourth the danger is quite marked, an
"a from that to the tenth. From the tent
year upward the predisposition is somwb
lessened by degrees up to adult age. tt
90 aged possess but slight susceptibility to Il
'e' disease. In view of the feeble predispos
nd tion of the adult life to the poison it
IT right and proper to avoid contact in ear
nd life with the disease hoping 10 out live Il
ar period when apt to contract it, and in d
ing 80 save your children from the ev
sequelae which almost inevitably attae
themseles to those recovering from il; sue
as; deafness, loss or impairment of rissioe
TT scrofulous affections and enfeebled min
ur Therefore pay no heed to the advice
lis those who think it wrong 10 protect chi
,nt dren from mild epidemic. The milde
Nv attack of scarlet fever often leaves the gr
ere vest consequences following it, from whic
The perfect health is never regained.
m. J. H. WILLARD.
erS The Wastes of Society.
he
OF The following is an extract from the lie
n i 4