Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-06-12
FAYETTEWLLE. TENNESSEE.
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SCARLET FEVER.
Some Facts as to It's Origin.

\ u III INV Il Va iitAAAANh Aa4S
lVorldto interview DIR. Fordyce
Barker concerning the disease.
The following is the result:
at was first described by Sy-
dcnham in-ihe, seventeenth CEN
tury;p said Prot, Barker, ',as a
distinct disease"
"Are there great differences
in the severity OF such epidcm-
ies?R ssr
avery great differences, some
epidemics being mild and some
attended with severe and dam
gcrous cases. But there are al
ways mild casesd during the most
severe epidemics."
esNlfat are the causes Of scar-.
let fever?"
"-fhe specific cause is inec-
ton by specific poison which
communicated by direct contact
either with the exhalation from
the lungs of patients, with their
skin, or by means of clothing
or various substances with which
the patients have come in con-
fact. Scarlet fever is said to
have been communicated by
milk, or even by letter. Tay-
Tor, an eminent English writer,
reports he beginning of one ep-
idemic as being in the family of
a milkman who delivered milk
to twelve families. OF these
families six had scarlet fever as
a consequence. A certain indi-
vidual predis position must exist,
as it is frequently found that
one child i'll a family may take
the disease, while others of The
children who have frequently
been exposed in the same de-
gree do not get it."
care individuals who have
had the disease in a mild form
more liable to the second at
tack?"
81 shonld say not. On the
contrary, those who have Il con-
stitutlonal prediction to the
disease are more liable to a sec
ond attack. Ordinarily one at
tack secures immunity from
second, there are many lcxcep-
tons to this. 1t is very rare
that patients die from a second
attack. In fact not more than
three or four cases of this kind
have been reported in medical
literature"
GLOW long docs the poison
retain its activity in clothing,
furniture, rooms, etc"
"Tbis is very uncertain.
There is conclusive evidence
thatlthas beenreiained I'M cloth
ing sometimes for months. I"
''IIow soon IS the disease de-
veleped after infection?' j,
"Trousseau reports a case in
which the disease was 'nanifes-
ted in twenty-four hours after
exposure, and other cases are
reported; but usually the period
of development is from three 10
ten or twelve days after expos
ure. This is probably due to
the difference in the susccpti-
bility of the patients"
.'At what period of the dis
case, and how long, is it infec-
tious?"
cit is infectious throughout
iis whole course. It's believed
10 DC most intensely so during
the period Of disquamation, or
when The skin is peeling off, but
so long as there is evidence of
disturbance of the system from
the localization Of the poison in
any organ it is not safe TO as
sumo the disease is not commu-
nicablc."
"Whatis comparative suscep-
bility and danger from the dis
ease at different ages?"
"The most susceptible period
Of life is from l 10 10 years.
Mnelis6u. a very high author
ity, states from the statistics Of
nearly150;000 cases that about
- rerccCt. of deathsfrom scar
let fever are under 5 years, and
nearly 90 per cent. under 10
years.. co. per cent. under 10
years, and only Il per cent. o.
yer % years. Scarlet fever is
very rare in young infants.
Only eonc-ninetieih of all, the
deaths are under / year, and
one7fftcenth between | and ,
years.
HfIow can scarlet fever be
prevented and alleyiateds"
aTo prevent scarlet fever
complete isolation of The pa
TENTS is absolutely esseniial,7as
well as the prevention OF all con-
tact with those in attendance on
tho diseased persons. 1t is es-
sential also that The house should
be thoroughly ventilated, SO
that the poison Which may cs-
cape may be as diluted as pos
sibfe, All clothing should be
thoroughly disihaected, and. c
ven the soiled linen Of liie sick
s5houla not be mingled with that