, 1881-11-12

Although our own city is free from the
spidemi- which is aging over . great
psrtioa Of the country, there is yet Pos-
sbility that il may visit rs, and therefore
for the good Of al the SrArEsNiS pub
kehes a account Of its origin and symp-
toms taken from the work on q Diseases
of the Skin" by the world-renowned
Eras,aas Wilson, F. r. s. From read
ing the accounts Of the diagnosis and the
symptoms Is described to Us BY the doc
tor., We think there il little doubt but
that the disease is knownS
T Varicella fever occus chiefly in those
Who have been inoculated or vaccinsted,
or have previously suffered from variola-
1t Is occasionally. though rarely, observed
during the prevalence II epidemic variolA
Diagnosis -VAricella difien from small
pox in several essential particulars, name
iy, in the lesser degree of severity Of
constitutional symptoms; IN the short
ness, Of Course, of the eruption in the
absence Of secondary fsver in the ap-
poarsncs of the eruption at its height; in
the minor degree OF Inflammation sur
su.ndsng the Pa.talss: in the thiansss of
the scahs; and in its freedom from per
manent Impressions and cicstrices-
At the earliest moment Of eruption It
is impossible to establish distinction,
since both Affections are developed in the
form Of red spots with central stigmata-
Causes -Vsricella originates in the
rar,olous o.ntagion, and frequently pre-
cedrs or follows an epidemic Of smallpox.
This observation would lead to the infer
ence that, ut the commencement, the
yasiolous coniagion had no. yet gathered
sufficient power to excite true smallpox
in any but the most susceptible, and that
at the conclusion Of the epidemic, the con-
taeion had lost the sirength necessary to
awaken any but modified affection The
Inference, in truth, is correct, for when
in q state of dilntion the ysrivlus con-
tagion is capable Of producing only vari-
celia in persons Of ordinary susceptibility
la those who possess the susceptibility OF
infection in high degres true variola
NAV be excited and for the same reason
the cnntagion of vaiieella is apt TO CON-
municafe variola 10 individuals 50 cob
stitutsd. Another condition conducive
to the Development Of vsricella is deficient
susceptibility In some instances $, tins
deficiency is tks result Of constitutional
idiosyncrasy In others, aud they are
the most usual, it is the consequence of
a modification Of the system, produced by
by incubation, or by pre-
vious attack Of yari"la.
Varieella is infectious and contagious,
and transmissable by inoculation- Its
eontagisn may excite either varieella or
true small po1. The result Of incubation
is similar. In Ole instance varicella may
be developed in another. true vaiiola.
The variola communicated by varicells Is
for the most part mild, but the severity OF
the affection would appear to depend
upon the constitution of the individual,
rather than upon the nature Of the con
taeion. Varicella may occur r'Peatediy
in the same person, and it possesses less
power against the c"ntagi'n
Of small pox than vaccination.
Prnynosis- Narieella Is GENERALLY
mild disease, and one Of favorable ter
mina.ion. Sometimes, however, it is
sues fatally, and during certain varl"lous
ep,demics is remarkable for the severity
Of it's coneomiiant symptoms, or for
fatal tendency. The nmbiiicated pustu-
lar yaricella is the most SERIOUS of It's
varieties.