Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-03-11
WHAT TYPHUS FEVER Is.
Its Origin, symptoms, Treatment,
and Ratio Of Fainlitr.

Typhus fever is called by various
names. Spotted fever and Jail, ship,
hospital, putrid, or pestilential fever are
all the same. 1t has been dreaded for
hundreds of years as an epidemic pesti-
lence, and is especia dangerous TO
persons advanced in years The NOR
tality in children under fifteen years old
sick with typhus is per cent; in per-
sons over fifty years old, the mortality
is set at As per cent, The average NOR
tality is 10 per cent 1t has appeared in
all parts of the world, but is more to be
dreaded in temperate OF cold climates
The main predisposing cause Of typhus
is a low health rate Where population
is dense and sanitary conditions are bad
the danger is greatest and these condi-
tions obtain not only in crowded cities,
but in armies afield, in prisons, and
wherever human beings are packed
too closely. The belief used to be cur
rent that such conditions only were neces-
sary to create the disease, but it is now
thought that a specific germ must enter
the human system before the disease can
develop. No typhus germ has ever been
actually discovered, although several dis
tinguished physicians have believed for
tie time that the discovery had been
made, but the presumption is much
against typhus appearing from the be-
ginning without the entrance of q living
organism
The course of typhus covers period
of about fourteen days from inception to
crisis, of which the longest stage is that
Of incubation, from the inception Of tho
poison into the system to the first mani
testation Of special evidence of the dis
ease. No special symptoms mark this
Ftugc, except general lassitude. The
Invasion ri the fever is the second
stage, and the symptoms are Of rlgoranc
of prolonged chills combined with dis
tressing headache and inability TO sleep.
High fever soon develops, and the pulse,
at first full but afterward feeble, is
rapid, the beats ranging from 100 to l2O
Or more. The height of the fever is
usually reached about the seventh day,
when in favorable cases drop Of de-
gree from the maximum los to 100 de-
grees) is often noted Ii this subsistence
does not come the case is usually severe.
The tongue is brown and dry, the teeth
are coatel, and the patient has no appe-
tite, but an intense thirst The bowels
ere usually constipated
The third or stage of eruption is
marked by the appearance of dark rcd
blotches upon the abdomen, sides, limbs,
and back, and sometimes on the face
This is usually accompanied by faint
nothing Of the whole surface. Tho pa
TENTS headache and general discomfort
lessen with the appearance OF the erup-
ton. but this is parity chargeable to the
typhus stupor which comes at this point,
in which the patient either lies gu his
back, with n dusky coantenanee, or is
delirious both night and day. The de-
lirium is generally shown by low mutter-
ings, but sometimes by maniacal wild
ness.
The crisis, or favorable change, comes
about the fourteenth day, aud is marked
by an abrupt fall of temperature, the re-
turn of moisture TO the tongue, and by
returning intelligence. The patient is
left very weak, bat recovery is rapid.
The treatment Of tvphus starts with
complete isolation and continual watch
ing. The main item is good nursing,
but the best possible ventilation and
cleansing of the sick chamber are i'm
mediately secondary. Food should b(
given with abs llute regularity, and the
patient should not be suffered to fall in
10 too deep a stupor. Individual cases
develop special treatment. Cold GPPli-
cations and tepid baths are favored by
some authorities Alcoholic stimulants
are rarely necessary except to prevent
COLLAPSE New York Times.