Arizona weekly enterprise., 1882-06-17
SCARLET FEVER.
The Scourge of the Nursery and How E lo Treat Ef.

(From the New York Times.l
 Beside the character common to the group known as exanthemsta, scarlatina is almost always attended by sore throat. and the scarlet rash or eruption, whick gives the name to the disease, breaks out as early as the second day after the appearance of the fever, and ends on tho sixth or seventh day ill the separation of the cuticle. Nearly all medical writers 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 B immediately overborne by the violence of the disorder, and the patient exhibits great weakness and loi of vitality. The disease begins with chiiliness, 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 deliritlm. even coma. In the malignant, ,or thild form, the rash comes out late and par tially, being at times barely perceptible. At other times 1t may abruptly receda. l,a rta3 E., skin Is cold, with feeble pulse and ex- trt,me prostration, and death may occur frequently from blood poisoning gin few hours. In such cases the tongue is dry, brown, tremulous the throat Is livld, swollen, uicerated, 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 inhamma- tion or etfusion within the head, CT frum dlsorganiz ltson of the throat and slough ing of of adjacent parts. Teeming women are in imminent peril from the mildest phase of the fever. When 1t seems to be cured its consequences are hazardous. Children, to whom 1t is nlain- ly confined, of course, are subject after severe attack to permanent ll-heaith, and to some ot. the many forms of chronic scrofula, as shown by boiis, sores behind the ears, inflammation of the eyes, glandular swellings, and stru- nous ulcers. Scarlatina is often followed by 8 peculiar dropsy, affecting the sub cutaneous cellular tissues and larger ssrous cavities. It occurs, like all the exanthemata, as an epidemic-some times i'll very yirulent type. In the simple variety, remaining within doors, non-stimulatng diet and regulation of the bowels are generally found sufficient. In the second variety, leeches are often employed. especially where deErium supervenes. The t.o principal sources ot danger in the malignant variety are from the primary effect Of the contagious poison upon the body and from gangrc- nous alteration of the throat. The final result Is always uncertain. Whether it is contagious throughout its course, or 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-