Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-03-19
SCARLET FEVER.
low This Dreadful Disease Originates
and How 1t Should be Treated.

How This Dreadful Disease Originates
and How 1t Should be Treated.
Scarlet fever and diphtheria are al
ways lurking about at this season in
more or less virulent form. To moth
ers and those in charge of families OF
young children few hints may be
timely. Scarlet fever is communicated
by the minute particles of skin which
fake off during the convalescing pro-
cess, and there is always danger I'M
til every particle of this cuticle
has been shed. Whenever scarlet fever
is suspected, isolate the patient and
attendant. and let there be no contact
with other members of the family until
the physician has pronounced the case
fully cured. Do not let even a cat or
log or bird be in the room. If it be
possible let the attendant perform all
The work of the sick room. Have q
plentiful supply of strong solution of
carbolic acid, one part pure carbolic
acid and three parts water. Keep an
atomizer constantly filled with it. If a
carpet be on the floor of the sick room
let it be sprinkled frequently with the
carbolic acid, also the bed coverings,
the dress of the attendant, the walls
and every article of furniture. Let no
dishes or trays leave the room until
they have been brought under the car
bolic spray. All articles to be washed
should be laid in water to which the
carbolic solution has been added before
they are given to the laundreSs, and
they should be washed alone. After
attending to the patient the hands
should be washed in carbolic water
and the clothing of the physician should
be sprinkled before he leaves the
room, the spray from the atomizer be-
ing so fine it will not injure any fabric
nor cause any Inconvenience. When
the patient leaves the room, have every
thing that can be washed thoroughly
cleaned with the carbolic solution; then
fumigate closets and wardrobes and
the rooms or room with roll birthstone.
Every window must be made air tight,
and keyholes stopped with cotton.
Two pounds of sulphur (rolD will be
sufficient for large room, and small
quantity for closet or wardrobe. All
jewelry and metal ornaments should
be removed before the fumigation is
begun, rs the fumes of sulphur oxidize
metals. Place the sulphur in flower
pot saucer, which may be set upon
brick to prevent any danger from fire.
Open all bureau drawers, all books and
boxes, and take the mattresses from
the bedstead, so the sulphur fumes may
permeate everything in the room.
Leave the room unopened for three or
four days and then air thoroughly.
Too great care can not be exercised in
the fumigation. The germs of scarlet
fever are carried in books, toys, gar
ments and by animals. In short, ev-
erything upon which 1t of scarfskin
can rest is vehicle for the transmits
sion of the disease. know of case
in which scarlet fever was COMMUNE
Gated by book which had been in an
infected room and had not been fumi-
gated. The child who brought the
book home was attacked by the fever
in severe form. He underwent
an isolation of six weeks, during which
time the only communication that the
who was his nurse, had with
the rest of the family was through a
window, the person who came to con-
verse or receive orders being first well
sprinkled with carbOlic acid as well as
the mother. None of the other MEM
beers of the family contracted the dis
ease. Years ago, before carbOlic acid
was discovered, and before so great
precautions were taken, celebrated
physician had his two children i'll with
scarlet fever The TOYS with which
they played were put away unfumigat-
ed. Eve years later these toys were
taken from the closet in which they
had remained and were given to two
children who came to visit the house.
These children were attacked by scar
let fever, although there were no cases
in the physicians practice nor in that
of his colleagues. The cause of infec-
ton was suspected and the toys
promptly burned. This illustrates the
length of time the germs remain viru-
lent. In diphtheria the same general
rules are to be observed. 1t is a safe
guard TO place carbolic acid in vessels
about the halls through which the at
tendant has to pass, thereby greatly
lessening the chances of cOntagion.
Above all things attend carefully to the
directions of the physician. Write
Town all that he orders. so there can
De no mistake. In severe eases where |
here is no trained nurse, keep a record
If the changes so that the doctor may
know what has taken place during his |
Physician. in Boston
Budget.