The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-02-13
DIPHTMERTA AN d sCAmLET FE.
g ftfa 10 sci VRR.
The Nncessity of Pure Air In
Houses.
philadelphia Press,

breath Of fresh air is permitted to en-
ter during the cold season; windows
are padded and hermetically sealed
up; beds are made up as soon as va
Gated. Day by day the atmosphere be-
comes more impure, and it IS not too
much to say that they who live in this
way daily drink poison from vitiated
air. 1t is notorious fact that persons
predisposed to consumption have been
cured by repairing to climates where
they could pass half the twenty-four
hours in the open air. OF all the
modes Of heating dwellings, that by
i CELLAR FURNACES
is the most pernicious. The air be-
comes dry and irritating to the lungs
producing in those subject to bronchi-
al complaints chronic, hacking cough.
The natural moisture Of the atmos-
phere is. eliminated and the foul air
and dust Of the cellar is forced into
the apartment. People who shut
themselves up, never opening the win
dows, burning gas half the night and
inhaling the pestiferous breath of the
furnace, have no more right to COM
plain ofmalignant fevers and bronch-
ial diseases, than they who voluntarily
sleep on the Pontine marshes. Our
dwellings would be infinitely moro
healthy if, for . short time each day,
wind could sweep through tho entries
and chambers. and drive out the pol
luted atmosphere.
TYPES AND CURES OF THESE TWIN
| . sCOURGEs.
| 5..,rs ICincinnati Times.]
Tho limitation of contagion arises
from tho fact that the distance to
which the pioson may be carried by
the air does not exceed few feet.
Prompt isolation even in a single
chamber will prevent the communica-
ton to the household; unless the in
ducing cause is an epidemic. The bed
ding aud clothing however are likely
to be infected and to communicate it
even after incredible laps of time. The
heat Of boiling soate, s0holly destroys
the virus. The best modern opinion
sees in scarlet fever but
TWO DIsTINCrIoNs IN FORM
simple and Craze. If the malignant
cases do not become 'anginoss' (throat
complications.) it is because the child
dies before there is time.s
If, in grave cases, the child survives
the nervous disorders with which the
poison first makes itself felt, then the
anginose phase is inevitable. Now,
as to one and all of these types, we
have to say
IN RESPECT TO TREATMENT,
that which will doubtless meet with
scoffing from individual physicians,
but which has the Endorsement of the
greatest physicians of the world; and
that is, that in scarlet, as in yellow fe-
yer, the science of therapeutics is at a
loss for anything approaching ali anti
dote. The only treatment IS no treat
ment; !; it is the 'expectant treatment,
coupled with such measures as shall
allay irritation, sustain vitality, and
tend to reduce the temperature of the
body, To this, we must, of course, be
added more sdecific treatment for the
anginose complications, and for the
long list of terrible seQuelg, With the
simple cases t
SCARCELY ANY DRUGS
are used-in the majority none at all.
Great care and ordinary hygenic treat
ment suffice. The throat will need the
assistance of gargles, if the child is old
enough to take them, or, if not, the oc-
casional placing on the tongue of small
quantities of powdered alum and sugar
or powdered chlorate of potash and
sugar.
INJUNCTION
is invariably used in these, as in all
cases. The child should not be greas-
ed prefusely like a pig for race, but
the ointment should be delicately ap-
piled with the hand, and rubbed all
over the person, care being taken to
should be repeated as often as the skin
becomes dry. Up to a late date the
ointment in highest repute was equal
quantities of glycerine and cold
cream rubbed together like q mayon-
naise dressing. Of late some rusult-
ants of coal oil have been used. The
prognosis of these simple cases, where
extreme cerebral symptoms, do not
appear, and where the throat trouble
is not of a complicated nature, is al
ways favorable. The chief danger to
be apprehended is the sequel8.
IN THE GRAVE CASES,
with extreme bodily |
temperature and great nervous disor-
der, the prognosis is sadly unfavora-
BILE. Medical science often stands pow
erless before the array OF symptoms.
Where relief is reached it is almost
always with water, and the thermom-
eter must be the guide. If the bodily
ranges between los deg.
and liz deg, it must be speedily re-
duced, or death is inevitable. To this
end cold water baths, applications, or
and even applications of ice,
provcs efficient. Milk punches, with
brandy as base, are used internally,
while warm baths are resorted to
when the nervous symptoms are &C
with sluggish circulation
aud signs of collapse. In the
ANGINOsE AFFECTION
which superyenes in case the patient
is carried safely through the first shock
of the poison, the skill of the physi-
clan is most called into play. Here,
watchfulness, swift and un-
erring judgment, and broad expert
ence are imperative, and have before