Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-12-12
SCARLET FEVER.
Symptoms OF the Disease and Few State
ments Relative to Its Treatment

In view Of the fact that there are q
number of cases of scarlet fever reported
in some parts of the county, we publish
below a few facts as to tho symptoms
and treatment of the disease:
Symptoms-Som between the
second and tenth day after exposure it
begins with languOr, pains in the head /,
back and limbs, with drowsincss, nausea
and chills; and these are followed by
heat, thirst, etc. When the rcdncss an
pears the pulse is quick and the patient
is anxious, restless, and sometimes dclir-
ious. The eyes arc red, tho face swollen,
tho tongue covered in tho middle with
white mucus, and is studded with Gle.
waited points of extreme rodncss. The
tonSils arc swollen and the throat red.
The greatest degree of rcdncss is reached
on tho evening Of the third or fourth day
from it's beginning, when gentle mois.
turc appears, the disease begins to dc.
cline, with itching, and tho scarf-skin
falls off in branny scales. AS the dis
case advances tho tongue often becomes
suddenly clean, and presents glossy,
fcry-rcd surface, which is sometimes,
with tho whole lining of the mouth, raw
and tender. On pressing down the
tongue, tho throat is swollen and of a
deep, 1orid rcd; and on the tonsils may
bc seen white or gray ulcers. This
i"hco s"aiio"lhE very uiiHcuIt, ana aB-
grayatcs tho suilCringS of the patient.
The great amount of mucus i'm these
parts causes also continual rafting in
the throat. Tho glands under the car
and jaw inilamc and occasionally break.
A pecuiarity of the disease is that the
inflammation of the throat almost ALWAYS
runs into liberation, and assesses some
times form in the ear and cause deafness
that may be difficult or impossible to
cure. DrDDSS in some form, Npry fro
quently follows.
Trcatmcnt--ln ordinary cases tho
treatment should be very simple. The
apartment should be kept cool and the
bed covering light The whole body
should be spongcd with cool water ms
be permitted to take cooling drinks
Besides this, in many eases, very little
is needed except to give Il few drops of
the tincturc Of bclladonna night and
morning. When there is high fever give
tincturc of vcratrum in two To five drou
doses often enough to keep down the
pulse, and in addition to this the feet
three times daily in hot water, with a
little ground mustard or Cayenne pepper
stirred in. If the bowels are costivc.
they should be kept open 10y gentle laxa-
tivcS-rhubarb and magncSia or Rochelle
salts, or by injections. The diet should,
as rule, Oc llquld, but need not ncccS-
sarily he low. Milk, milk porridgc.
chicken or mutton broth or beef tea will
be suitable, and in many cases tonics, as
Guinine in fourth to one half grain
doses, the mineral acids in two to five
drops in swcctcncd water, or ten to iif-
teen drops OF the tincturc Of iron every
three or four hours, may be required.
For the throat trouble Il common and
very useful application externally is fat
salt bacon, and internally nothing is bot
tor than equal parts Of muriatic acid
and honey, applied with small brush or
swab, or diluted with water and used as
garglc. Sulphitc Of zinc (iftccu to
twenty grains to the ounce Of watcr) is Il
good application, as also creosotc or
carbolic acid in glyccrinc twenty to
thirty grains to the ouncc) or weak So
lutionS Of pcrmanganatc Of potash dive
to fifteen grains to he ounce of watcr).
During convalcscencc great care must be
used to prevent catching cold; warm
clothing should he worn. Quninc in
two to thrccgrain doses three times daily
may be used as Il tonic, and lemonade or
cream of tartar water drank freely to
excite the free action of the kidncys -
Chambers Dictionary of Universal
knowledge.