The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-05-07

Ahoarse voice yelled, You, Susan Jana
Come in and go to bedi"
And that was all-lt was enough
Tho young man wildly lied.
-Haypes's Basnr.
SCARLET FEVER.
Some Facts rs to Its Origin.
The prevalence of scarlet fever in
New York induced the World to inter
view DR.. Fordyce Barker concerning
the disease. The following is the re-
suit:
It was first described by Sydenham
in the seventeenth century," said Prof.
Barker, as distinct disease"
3Are there. great differences in the
severity OF such, epidemics?"
very great differences, some cpl
denies being mild and some attended
with severe and dangerous cases. But
there are always mild cases during the
most severe epidemics."
"What are the causes OF scarlet
fever?"
"The specific cause is infection by q
specific poison which is communicated
by direct contact either with the ex-
halation from the lungs of patients,
with their skin, or by means of clothing
or various substances with which the
patients have come IN contact. Scarlet
fever is said to have been communicate
ed by milk, or even by letter. Taylor,
an eminent English writer, reports the
beginning of one epidemic as being in
the family of milkman who delivered
milk to twelve families. OF these fami-
lies six had scarlet fever as conse-
quence. A certain individual predispo-
sition must exist, as it is frequently
found that one child in a family may
take the disease, while others of the
children who have frequently been ex-
posed in the same degree do not get
it."
"Are individuals who have had the
disease in mild form more liable to the
second attack"
Il should say not. On the contrary,
those who have constitutional predi-
lection to the disease are more liable to
second attack. Ordinarily one attack
secures immunity from second, but
there are many exceptions to this. It
is very rare that patients die from Sec
ond attack. In fact not more than three
or four cases of this kind have been re-
ported in medical literature"
@How long does the poison retain it's
activity in clothing, furniture, rooms,
etc."
"This is very uncertain. There is
conclusive evidence that it has been re-
tanned in clothing sometimes for
months"
"How soon is the disease developed
after infection?"
"Trousseau reports casein which the
disease was manifested in twenty four
hours after exposure, and other cases
are reported; but usually the period OF
development is from three to ten OF
twelve days after exposure. This is
probably due to the difference in the
susceptibility of the patients"
AT what period of the disease, and
how long, is it infectious?"
1T is infectious throughout it's whole
course. It is believed to be most in
tensely so during the period of dis.
quamation, or when the skin is peelina
off; but so long as there is evidence Of
disturbance of the system from the To-
calization of the poison in any organ il
is not safe to assume that the disease is
not communicable"
"What is the comparative suscepti.
biGty and danger from the disease al
different ages?"
"The most susceptible period of life
is from l to Is years. Murchison, q
very high authority, states from the
statistics of nearly 10000 cases that
about "a per cent. of deaths from scar
let fever are under years, and nearly
80 per cent. under 10 years, 95f pei
cent under Is years, and only Il pei
cent. over Is years. Scarlet fever is
very rare in young infants. Only one.
ninetieth of all the deaths are under /
year, and one-ifteenth between and
years.
How can scarlet fever be prevented
and alleviated?"
TO prevent scarlet fever complete
isolation of the patients is absolutely
essential, as we'll as the prevention oil
all contact with those in attendance on
the diseased persons. It is essential
also that the house should be thorough
~ ventilated, so that the poison which
may escape may be as diluted as posi-
bic. All clothing should be thoroughly
disinfected, and even the soiled linen OF
the sick should not be mingled with
that of the other members of the house.
hold. The relief of the patients per.
tains to the medical treatment. After
the disease is recovered from the sick.
room should be thoroughly disinfected
as well as the bedding, the furniture
the carpets, and even the walls. It is
found that dry heat to the point of 212
degrees, kept up for some hours, effect
ually destroys the poison; and this
perhaps, is as good method as any o.
disinfecting the bedding of those whe
cannot afford to have it destroyed"
Does the term scarlatina mean s
mild form of scarlet fever?"
No; the two terms are precisely
identical"
Wanted White Spirit.
An Indian carried the dead BODY O
bis sister to the top of a hill at Rose
bud, Neb., and stationed himself by j
with rifle in his hands, intending t,
kill tho first white man who came with
in range, SO that a white spirit Nigh