Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-03-09
scarlet Fever.

That ecourge OF the nursery, scarlet fe-
yer, is said to be increasing inNew York,
and 90 many districts are suffering from
it that number of parents have sent their
|childEen out of town for fear of the conta-
pion. Besides the character common to
the Rroup known as exanrhemata, scarlaii.
ma Il dmost always attended by a sore
throat and the scarlet rash or eruption,
which give name TO the disease, breaks out
a. eas33 - the second day after the appear
ance q fever, and ends on the SIKH or
seveneA day in separating of the cuticle.
sNeax5sall mSLical writers mention three
fvsfieffsf n iyg53-aisoaae--scarlat = : simpiex.
In wn,.n .s-cely any throat trouble attends
the fever and The rash, scarlaiina angin)sa,
in which throat trouble is more promineI I
than in either of the other affections, and
scarlatina maligna, in which the system is
Immediately overborne by the violence of
the disorder, and the patient exhibits great
weakness and loss of vitality. The disease
begins with chilliness, lassitude, head
ache, 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 almost uniformly red, extending
from the face, neck and breast to the trunk
and extremities. The separation of the Gu
ticle in the scales usually ends in fort
night or more from the declaration of the
distemper. The fever continues with the
r sh: is sometimes accompanied with de-
lirium, even coma liz the malignant or
Ii.
TALLY, being at times barely perceptible.
At olhsr times it may abruptly recede. or
be mineled with livii spots. The skin is
cold, with feeble pulse and extreme pros
traiion. and death may occur-frequeully
from blood poisoning-iH few hours. In
S Ich cases the tongue is dry, brown, trem-
ulous; the throat is lIvid, swollen, ulcera-
ted, gangrenous; brea hing is impeded by
viscid mucous that collects about the fau
ces, and medicine svalls little. Even in
scarlatina anginosa there is considerable
danger. 1t may prove fatal from the in-
fiammation, or effu ion within the head, or
from dlsorganlzation OF the throat, and
sloughing off of adjacent parts Teeming
women are In imminent peril from the
mlldest phase of the fever. When it seems
to be cured Its consequences are hazardous.
Children, to whom it Is mainly confined,
of course, are subject after severe attack
to permanent ill-health. and to some of the
many forms of chronic scrofuls, as shown
by bois, sores behind the ear, lnhamma-
tion of the eyes, glandular swellings and
strumous ulcers. Scarlatina is often fol-
lowed by II peculiar dropsy, affecting the
subcutaneous cellular tissues and large Sc
rous cavities. 1t occurs like all the exam
themata, as an epldemic-sometimes in
very mild, sometimes in very virulent
types. In the simple variety, remaining
within doors, non-stimulating diet and reg
ulation of the bowels are generally found
sufficient. In the second variety, leeches
are often employed, especially where de-
lirium supervenes. The two principal
souroes of danger in the malignant variety
are from the primary effect of the conta-
gious poison upon The body and from gan
grenOus liberation of the throat. The final
result is always uncertain. Whether it is
contagious throughout its course or at one
period alone, has never been ascertaIned,
but that the power of contagion remains in
clothing, furniture, etc, is unquestioned
and unquestionable.