The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-01-31
SCARLET FEVER.
A Number of Cases in the Town of
Abbeyille.

A Number Of Cases in the Town OF
Abbeville.
\ For sometime there have been cases of scar
let fever in Abbeville, but not word had
} been heard of II, BY the Press and Banner, a.
least, until within a few days ago.
The worst case that has occurred Is that q
Master George Benet. aged five years. He
has been, and is now, very sick child, al
though a recent slight change for the better
has been noted.
Two or Mr.. McGowan's little children and
two of Mr.. Perrin's children now have the
that DR.. Neuffer's child. two OF MIR. Starke'.
children and one of Mr.. Jones F. Miller's
children had 1t. but OF these latter cases we
are not definitely nformed.
| While 1t Is not to be denied that there Is
more or less uneasiness about the spread o
the disease, yet there is no ground for panic
The only sensible way to do Is, TO recognize q
fact, and exercise every known precaution to
prevent the spread Of the disease. 1t is little
less than crime to deceive the people, and
! hide from the danger that confronts them
and consequently to bring about an Ignorant
and careless disregard OF the presence of one
most dangerous diseases that can afiilct peo-
| pie.
Scarlet fever is only communicated by con.
| tact or proximity, with those who have II, or
with persons exposed to it, and in sparsely
settled communities, like this, the disease is
usually confined to q few families. AS soon
as the disease appears ana Is recognized, as
4
disease. always prompt the utmost care in
preventing It's spread.
Scarlet fever has appeared at various times
| In the history OF the town. and, while we be
lieve IL carried each time victims 10 the grave.
yet the disease was always confined TO very
narrow limits, and TO few families.
| II Is not known how the disease obtained Il
foothold in Abbeviile just now. but we have
| heard two or three probable causes. One
| was, that somebody must have brought II
| from Atlanta or Orangeburg In which cities IL
er was, that 1t was one OF the penalties Incl
/ deut 10 living on a great trunk line, which
| turnis ished tramps an opportunity OF spread
| ing all sorts of mischief.
In consideration Of The existing peril the
board OF trustees of the village school was
called together last Monday, anu after consi-
dering the question in all It's bearings, IT was
| thought inadvlsable to close the school. Each
Individual will, therefore, act for himself.
From conscientious motives In doing 4ll they
could 10 prevent the spread OF the fever, the
parents in the afflicted households have with
drawn from the school even those Of their
children who have not been attacked by the
disease.
Other parents in few cases have kept their
children away from school for fear OF coming
| in contact with II.
But the school goes on as II there was neiLh-
er fear nor danger from any source.
That our people may know something OF
the disease which Is dreaded by every people
and in every land, we copy from Appleton's
Cyclodledia, the following:
Scarlet fever is distinguished from other
eruptive fevers By the fact OF the eruption be-
Ing an exam thema, an etflorescence, or rash,
these terms not being strictly applicable TO
vesicles and pustules. The disease sometimes
| commences with Il chill and In most cases
vomiting Is a primary symptom, especially In
children. The fever which at once occurs is
usually intense, the axillary temperature Of
ten rising TO lOo degrees, or even higher. The
pulse in general Is correspondingly frequent
The surface Of the body often gives TO the
fnuph 81 hn rn Inc The oh
In about "a hours after the cate Of the lnva-
sion, and with very few exceptions breaks
out first on The face and neck, being dihused
over the body in the coure OF "a hours. The
color OF the rash Is scarlet whence the name.
The rash In some cases Is equally diffused
over the whole skin, giving rise to an appear
cases 1t is limited TO patches varying in num-
Der and size, Will n Irregular or serrated mar
gins. The skin Is somewhat swollen, and The
rash occasions burning sensation, with, in
some cases, intense itching. Very generally
the eruption takes place In the throat, more
or less redneSs being apparent here, simu ltan-
eously with or tefore the appearance OF the
rash on the skin. Generally with the redness
there Is more or less swelling OF The tonsils
Some caes are characterized by severe In.
flammation of the throat, accompanied by
either an ash-colored product or an emulation
resembling that which takes place IN diptne-
ria and with this affection of the throat the
glands OF the neck become iniamed and
sometime Suppurate. The inflammation In
some rare cases extends from the throat into
the middle ear, giving rise to perforatlon OF
the iyinpan um, and resulting In more or less
i'm mpairnent OF the sense OF hearing. The Gu
taneous eruption continues from four 10 six
days. In some instances the cutacle OF the
of the hands Is separated intact, and may be
stripped Off like glove. 1n' favorable cases
the duration OF this disease may be reck oned
to be five or six days, when convaleScence Is
established. Frequently, however, this Stage
Is much protracted.
Aside from variations In respect of gravity
and danger incident to the throat affections,
scarlet fever differs greatly In the intensity OF
the fever and constitutional symptoms. The
disease In certain proportion OF cases is ex-
tremely mild, the patient not being confined
TO the bed. In other cases 1t is extremely Sc
we're. and 1t may prove fatal within a few
days or even hours.
An affection of the kidneys, namely, in
fam matitn OF the membrane lining the
uriulferous tubes Is occasionally concomi
tant, but oftener sequel OF scarlet fever.
| This local affection may interfere with the
excretory function Of the Kidneys SO as TO oc-
casion retention OF the urinary principles In
the blood, constituting the morbid condition
called uremia and this condition may prove
serious, giving rise to coma and convulslons.
Occurring as sequel of scarlet fever. this ar
lection OF the kidneys leads to general drop
sy. From the patient RECEIVERS, provided ia
| tai effects from uremia do not take place
Scarlet fever is highly contagious. The in
fectious material remains for u long time In
garments, &c.
| The time which elapses from the reception
| OF the In lection before manifestation Of the
disease, that Is, the period OF Incubation, is
short, sometimes not exceeding q hours, and
rarely exceeding week.
AS a rule the disease is experienced but
| once, but exceptions are not rare.
Children are much more susceptible to the
special cause than adults. After 40 years OF
age the susceptibility generally ceases. Chill
dren under two years rarely contract the dis.
ease.