The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1879-02-13
Asefal aud Curious.


The Limitation Of contagion arises from the
fact that the distance to which the poison may
he carried by the air does not exceed few feet.
Prompt isolation even in single chamber will
prevent the communication to the household,
unless the inducing cause is epidemic influ-
ence. The bedding aud clothing however are
likely to be infected, and to communicate it
even after incredible lapse Of time. The heat of
boiling rater mhoily destroys The rirxs. The best
modern opinion sees in scarlet fever but
TWO DISTINCTIONS IN FORM,
simple and grdre If the malignant cases do not
become "anginose" (throat complications) it is
because the child dies before there is time IT.
in grave cases, the child survives the nervous
disorders with which the poison first makes it.
self felt, then the angino;s 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
fever, the science of therapeutics is at a loss
for anything approaching an antidote. The on
ly treatment Is no treatment; it is "expectant
treatment, coupled with such measures as shall
ailay irritation, sustain vitality, and tend to
reduce temperature of the body. To this must,
of course, be added more specific treatment for
the anginose complications, and for the long list
of terrible seqaeie. With the simple cases
SCARCELY ANY DRUGS
are used-in the majority none ut all. Great
care and ordinary hygenc treatment sufHce.
The throat will need the assistance of gargles
II the child is old enough to take them, or, if
not, the occasional 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 creased profasely like pig
for Q race, but the ointment should be delicate
Is applied with the hand, and rubbed in all
nva fta mar "a a bQinp faEau tn avOid a
posure to cold. This should be repeated as
often rs the skin becomes dry. Up TO q late
date the ointment in highest repute was equal
quantities Of giycerine and "cOld cream, " rubbed
together like mayonnaise dressing. OF late
some resultants of coal oil have been used. The
prognosis of these simple cases, where extreme
cerebral symptoms do not appear, aud where
the throat trouble is not of complicated ma
ture, is always favorable. The chief danger to
be apprehended is the sequele.
IN THE GRAVE CASES,
accompanied with extreme bodily temperature
and great nervous disorder, the prognOsis is
sadly unfayorably. Medical scieace often
stands poweriess before the array of symptoms.
Where relief is reached il is almost always with
water, and the Thermometer must be the guide.
If the bodily temperature ranges between 1862
and 1l2o, it must be speedily reduced, or death
10 inevitable. To this end cold water baths,
applications, or douohes and even applications
OF ice, prove efficient. Milk punches, with
brandy as a base, used internally, while
warm baths are resorted to when the nervous
symptoms are accompanied with sluggish circu-
lation and signs of collapse. In the
ANGINOIS AFFECTION
which supervenes in case the patient is carried
safely through the first shock of the poison, the
skill of the physician is most called into play.
Here, constant watchfulness, swift and uner-
ring Judgment, and q broad experience are im-
perative, and have before them, ordinarily,
fair promise of successful issue.-CiRcinnai
1Tmes