Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-05-08
SCARLET FEVER.
The Scourge Of the Nursery and How
to Treat 1t.

80
to Treat 1t.
from the New York Times]
Beside the character common to the
group known as exanthemata, scarlatina
is almost always attended by sore throat,
and the scarlet rash Or eruption, which
gives the name to the disease, breaks
out as early as the second day after the
appearance of the fever, and ends on the
sixth or seventh day in the separation of
the cuticle. Nearly all medical writer's
mention three varieties of the disease
scarlatina simplex, in which scarcely any
throat trouble attends the fever and the
rash scarletina anginosa, in which
throat trouble is more prominent than in
either Of the other affections, and scar.
latina maligna, in which the system is
Immediately OVERCOME by the violence
of the disorder, and the patient exhibits
great weakness and LOIS Of vitality.
The disease begins with chilliness, lassi-
tude, headache, rapid pulse, dry, hot
skin, flushed face. loss Of appetite and
furred tongue. Presently the throat
feels irritated, grows red, and is often
swollen. The small points Of the rash
so increase that the skin soon seems al
most uniformly red, extending from the
face, neck and breast to the trunk and
extremities. The separation of the
cuticle in the scales usually
ends in a fortnight or more
from the declaration of the distemper.
The fever continues with the rash !; is
sometimes accompanied with delirium,
even coma. In the malignant, or third
form, the rash comes out late and par
TALLY, being at times barely perceptible.
At other times it may abruptly recede,
or be mingled with ivid spots. The
skin is cold, with feeble pulse and ex-
treme prostration, and death may occur
frequently from ood-poisoning- lin q
few hours. In such cases the tongue is
dry, brown, tremulous; the throat is
ivid, swollen, liberated, gangrenous ;
breathing is impeded by viscid mucus
that collects about the fauces, and medi-
cine avails little. Even in scarlatina
anginosa there is considerable danger.
It may prove fatal from the infamma-
ton or efusion within the head, or from
disorganization of the throat and slough
ing off Of adjacent parts. Teeming
women are in imminent peril from the
mildest phase of the fever. When it
seems to be cured its consequences are
hazardous. Children, to whom it is main
~ confined, of course, are subject after
severe attack to permanent il-health,
and to some Of the many forms
of chronic scrofula, as shown by boils,
sores behind the ears, Inflammation of
the eyes, glandular swellings, and stru-
nous ulcers. Scarlatina is often followed
by peculiar dropsy, affecting the sub
cutaneous cellular tissues and larger
Serious cavities. It occurs, like all the
exanthemata, as an epidemic-some-
times in very virulent type. In the
simple variety, remaining within doors,
non-stimulating diet and regulation Of
the bowels are generally found sufficient.
In the second variety, leeches are often
employed. especially where delirium
supervenes. The two principal sources
OF danger In the malignant variety are
from the primary effect of the contagious
poison upon the body and from gangre-
nous liberation Of the throat The final
result is always uncertain. Whether it
is contagious throughout its course, OF
at one period alone, has never, been as
certained; but that the power Of con-
tagion remains in clothing, furniture,
etc., is unquestioned and unquestion-