Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-03-21
WB1rrEN ron The VERMONT PH1NI1.
scarIatina.--scnrIet. er--.C1nLer.
rnsh,

sCarIatina---scarI er.-.CanLer.
rash.
The above are so many names used to des-
ignate one of the most dangerous diseases
with which humanity is afflicted, and l can
not better introduce what I have to say con-
cerning it, than by quoting the following
words from an able and exhaustive essay,
written by the late DIR. Caspar Morris of Phil
adephia:
$50 fatal have been the results in individ-
ual cases, so widespread the devastation caus-
ed by the epidemic prevalence of this disease,
(Scarlatina) so interesting the period of life
at which it commonly occurs, just rs parental
hopes are budding with promise, and the ten
drills of affection entwiniug themselves the
most closely around the heart, that the very
name is a signal of distress, and its introduce
ton into the family circle is looked upon rs
the angel of death with irreprievable warrant
to destroy. The parent sits down in the even
ing the happy centre of IA group of smiling
objects Of affection, his heart swelling with
delightful anticipation as his eye glances
around the circle and ere the next return of
the same weekly period, half of them slum-
Der in the embrace of death. The mothers
nightly visit is paid to the couch of the only
idol upon which her hopes are concentrated,
hlll W NlllNu lLt hilCIllltt VI hlAlOuh lbNt -
hourly offered, and leaves it sleeping tran
quilly no shadow giving sign of the coming
sorrow; the morning finds it stricken down
by disease, and the evening an nanimate
corpse, given over to the power of corrup-
ton Nor is it by the rapidity of its course
alone, that scarlet fever is invested with its
character of dread. Treacherous beyond all
other diseases, cases apparently the least vio-
lent, scarcely deserving the name of disease
in the earlier stages not unfrequently develop
LESSONS Of the most formidable kind in their
progress, and result in fatal termination :;
while in others. train of painful and dis
gusting scquelu gradually exhaust the strength
byl ong-contiuued suffering, and often entail
consequences which remain for years, or even
during life"
The earliest record we have of the existence
Of scarlet fever on this continent, reaches
back TO the year l734-5 Mt which time it was
prevalent in America and Europe simultane-
ously. In the latter year, 1875, it was esti-
mated that one thousand persons fell victims
to it in Massachusetts, alone. In 1854, it
again appeared and spread through most of
New England, aud large portion of the
Middle States. Since then this disease has
prevailed more or less frequently aud with
varying degrees of intensity and fatality, in
most parts of the country, especially in cities
and villages. Usually it prevails as an cpl
drmic, exvrting its influence over a large cN-
tent Of country not infrcquently it appears
i'll AN endemic form, combining its ravages to
Il single neighborhood; and sometimes it is
sporadic, or widely scattered in its yisitations.
Sex rNerts no influence over this disease, males
nj f.,,u1.u I,,;,,,, al; "a.
tacks; but the relations which age bears to it
arc very important, it being in an especial
degree disease of infancy and childhood :;
nevertheless all ages are to n certain extent
liable to it. By the report of the Registar-
General of Great Britain. it appears that dur
ing the months of January and February
lS40, there were 345 deaths from scarlet fe.
yer i'll London. OF this number 32G were un-
der thirteen years of age, and 10 only were
adults and Of 1924 deaths in the whole king
dom, 2i29 were children, 1872 adults. and l3
aged persons. During the second quarter of
the year 1851, there were in Philadelphia 53
deaths from scarlet fever, of which one only
was an adult between 30 and 30 years old one
between II and 20, thirty-six between , and
10, sxty-six between and . thirty-one be
tween and 2, and eleven under year. As
rule this disease is experienced but once,
yet the rule has many exceptions.
Scarlet fever, when it occurs sporadically.
or even endemically, is not always especially
contagious. nor infectious. Int in it, anide,n-
ic form few diseases are more so. If may be
communicated from one person to another
by contact by the breath. by the emission of
miasm or poison from the skin. and from
the bodily excretons: it may be spread by
means of clothing. beds. TOYS books letters
cats, dogs and other pet animals. bv visit
ing the sick and by attendance ON the funer.
al of friend Recent Investigations by
means of the microscope have made it proLa.
BILE that the specific cause of this, as of other
infectious diseases, consists of numberless
living organic germs, which find their way
into the general circulation through the lungs,
the skin or the stomach. The period of in-
cubation, or the time between the exposure
and the first appearance of disease, varies in
different cases. Professor Austin Flint. of
New York, puts it from the third to the sixth
day. The attack may commence with II chill,
but sometimes this is wanting. Vomiting is
generally an early symptom, especially in
children and in some cases, diarrhea. The
fever, as rule, is much greater than in meas
les and other eruptve fevers Bleeding at
the nose is not uncommon Redness of the
throat, with or without soreness and pain in
the act of swallowing are, also, early symp-
toms. The average duration of the form.-
tive stage of the disease is about twenty-four
hours, the eruption usually appearing on the
second day. In exceptional cases, however,
it appears a few hours after the attack, and it
may be delayed one, two three or more, days
after the time when it usually appears.
The eruption commonly appears on the
body and limbs before making its appearance
on the face and neck, vet in some cases this
is reversed 1t is rapidly diffused, extending
more or less over the whole cutaneous surface