Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-03-15
cAusE AND SYMPTOMS OF
SCARLET FEVER.

WHICH 10 kltou Ou iVuh ouAS'N'
from the disease, both in the breath
and in the exhalations from the
skin. This germ retains Its vi
tally and capabllity of producing
the malady, for long time, when
confined, as in clothing, etc. 4; and
it attaches itself to almost any
article which comes within the All
of the sick room. Hence, the dis
ease is very highly cOntaglous-a
fact which all should appreciate
For persons who have had the
disease, there is little danger tc
themselves from exposure, but II
they enter the room of one i'll with
it, they are quite sure to carry
away with them the poisonous
germs, and so become dangerous
to others, and especially 50 to
children.
While the disease is rarely sui
fered from mole than once 10 a
lifetime, some have had it twice.
One instance will suffice to show
the ease with which scarlet fever IL
transmitted
A woman visited a patient Ill
with scarlet fever, but renamed IN
the room only a moment. On
leaving it, she entered her carriage
and was driven home, six miles
distant. Notwithstanding her
short exposure in the sick room
and the long time she was in the
open air after It, the poison at
tached itself to her clothing, re-
malued there, and infected heI
children, who we're taken down
with the disease some days later
A house containing scarlet
fever patient should be considered
as dangerous as one holding a
smallpox patient and there is just
as much need of thorough dis
infection, and other precautions
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. Vomiting
IS very generally one OF the early
symptoms, especially IN children
bleeding at the nose is another
quite common symptom. There
is also head ache, loss of appetite,
eakness, Testlessness and sore
throat ; commissions sometimes oc.
cur iu very young children. The
throat trouble generally appears
early, and very often before the
eruption is out. The throat, on
examination, is seen to be more OF
less swollen, and intensely red in
color, and the tongue looks like a
ripe strawberry.
Fever comes on about the same
time as the throat trouble, and II
increases until the skin is very hot
Generally on the second day the
eruption makes its appearance. In
some instances, it first appears on
the face and neck; oftener, how
ever, it appears first on the body
and limbs, which are kept warm
by the clothing. The color of the
eruption is likened to that OF a
boiled lobster. Accompanying 1t
there is always more or less burn
ing and itching.
Daring the stage of eruption,
thirst is excessive, and the patient
is constantly calling for water
The restlessness is marked, and if
the attack is a severe one, the
patient, especially if a child, Is
more or less delirious, at least at
night. The throat trouble gener-
ally grows worse for two or three
days, and then affected parts re-
main painfully sore and swollen
two or three days more.
Generally, between the fifth and
sixth day of the eruption, the fever
begins to sbate, and at the same
time the rash fades with some
rapldity frequently by the end of
the eighth day, 1t has entirely dis.
appeared. When the fever has
gone, tue outer skin begins to peel
or scale Of. The throat symptoms
disappear with the fever. During
this, the peeling of stage, the sp-
petite returns, sleep is quiet and
refreshing, the strength is renewed,
and in from ten to twelve days
after the eruption begins to fade,
in uncompllcated cases, conya-
lescence Is generally complete.
AS previously stated, scarlet
fever is remarkable for the wide
diversity which it presents IN diff
ferent cases, and its symptoms may
present every variety, from the
mildest to the most severe charac.
ter.
IN some cases, the throat afiec-
ton ia absent, or very irifllng in
others, the :onsils are very much
swollen, and swallowing is so OBJ
structed and difficult, liquids taken
into the mouth are returned through
the nose. The Inflammation may
involve the nasal passages, and ex-
tend up the eustachian tube to the
middle ear, which not iOirequently
results in perfOratiOn OF the drum