Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-11
cause and symptoms of Scarlet Fever.

-
dreaded diseases OF childhood. 1t is
remarkable for the wide diversity .
which it presents in differet cases, as
regards symptoms and fatality.
In mild form, it is comparatively
trivial affection, while in its severest
form. it appropriately termed mahg-
nant.
The immediate cause OF scarlet fever
is specific poison or germ, which IS
given of from a sufferer from the dis
ease, both in the breath and exhalation
from the skin. This germ retains its
vitality and capability OF producing the
malady, for IA long time, when confined,
as in clothing, etc; and 1t attaches It's
self to almost any article which comes
within the air OF the sick room. Hence,
the disease is very highly contagious-
fact which all should appreciate. For
persons who have had the disease, /
there is little danger TO themselve from |
exposure, but if they enter the room OF
cne i'll with it, they are quite sure to /
carry away with them the poisonous /
germs, and so become dangerous to
others, and especially 10 children.
While the disease is rarely suffered
orm more than once in n lifetime, some
have had it twice.
One instance will suffice to show the
ease with which scarlet fever Is trans
mitted:
A woman visited q patient i'll with
scarlet fever, but remained In the room
| only moment. On leaving it, she en-
tered her carriage and was driven
home, six miles distant. Notwithstand-
| ing the short exposure TO the sick room,
and the long time she was in the open
air after it, the poison attached itself
to her clothing, remained there, and
infected her children, who were taken
down with the disease some days later.
A house containing II scarlet foyer
patient should be considered as danger
Gus as one holding q smallpox patient;
and there is just as much need OF dlsln-
lection, and other precauhOn against
contagion, in one case as in the other.
The symptoms Of scarlet fever appear
in from two to five days after exposure.
Occasionally the attack commences with
chill, but that is exceptional. NOmit-
ing is very generally one Of the early
SYMPTOMS, especially in children;
bleeding at tho aGse - another quite
common SYMPTOM. There is also head
ache, loss Of appetite, weakness, rest
lessness and sore throat; commissions
sometimes occur in very young chill
dren. The throat trouble generally
appears early, and very often before
tho eruption is out. The throat, on eX-
animation, is seen TO be more or less
swollen, and intensely red in color, and
the tongue looks like ripe straw
berry.
Fever comes on about the same time
as the throat trouble, and it Increase
until the skin is very hot. Generally
, on the second day the eruption
, makes its appearance. In some in
stances. it first appears on the face and
neck; oitener, however, it appears first
; on the body ana limbs, which are kept
; warm by the clothing. The color OF
the eruption is likened 10 that Of {
boiled lobster. Accompanying it there
. is always more or less burning and itch
' ing.
During the stage OF eruption, thirst /:
, excessive, and the patient is constantly
calling for water The restlessnesS i
= marked. and il the attack is a sever,
!. one, the patient, especially If a child
Is more or less deliriOus, e. least a
I | night. ne throat lIOuDtS f5cHCIdLll
. grows worse for two or three days, am
i then the affected parts remain painful.
- sore and swollen for two or three day
! more.
= Generally, between the fifth and siXt
q days of the eruption, the fever begin
>. to abate, and ut the same time the ras
= fades with some rapidity; frequently
o by the end OF the eighth day, it has er
: tirely disappeared. When the feve
: has gone, the outer skin begins to pee
A. or scale off. Tho throat symptoms di.
appear with the fever. During thi'
the peeling off stage, the appetite r.
turns, sleep is quiet and refreshing, th
"a strength is renewed, and in from ten
n twelve Gays after the eruption begin
"a to fade, in uncomplicated cases, cow;
as lescence is generally complete.
90 As previously stated, scarlet fever
10 remarkable for the wide diversity whic
10 it presents in different cases. and i
of symptoms may present every variet,
~ from the mildest TO the most sever
l. ch.racter.-Dr. Frank, in YankC
p Blade.