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Scarlet Fever

The preliminary treatment for this disease is very similar to that for measles. Give the patient a gentle cathartic, and keep very warm in bed until the eruption appears. (See No. 5749.) The aftertreatment consists of administering a gargle quinine, 1 ounce syrup of ginger, and ounce every 15 minutes, when the patient is awake. cinnamon water. Take 1 tea-spoonful every Make a gargle of 2 table-spoonfuls each hour, in the absence of the fever. brewer's yeast and strained honey, mixed 5758. Treatment of Small-Pox. with 1 pint strong sage tea, and alternate it Advice should always be obtained as soon as with the potassa gargle. (See No. 5064.) the earliest symptoms appear; often the Keep the skin of the patient moist by wash- only symptom understood by the parents or ing all over, at least 3 times a day, with a so- friends is the eruption. In the absence of lution of saleratus and water as hot as it can advice, the simpler cases of small-pox, unbe borne; after each washing grease the pa- attended by much eruption, scarcely require tient all over thoroughly , with a piece of fat any further treatment than confinement of bacon. Great care must be taken to prevent the patient to bed, adminstering at the the patient from catching cold in every stage commencement a dose of aperient medicine, of the disease, and the same cautions about such as effervescing magnesia (see No. 4805, , &c., given under fc.,) or castor oil, &c., and, until the erupthe head of measles, must also be observed tion appears, of a few doses of mindererūs in the treatment of scarlet fever. The patient spirit (sce No. 5143), to promote perspiration. must not be exposed to any great or sudden In the more severe cases there are individual changes of temperature, even 3 weeks after symptoms of an unfavorable nature not unmight be the con- likely to be developed, and these must be met by appropriate treatment. The imperfect sequence.

5751. Preliminary Treatment of filling of the pustules is generally accom- Scarlatina and Measles. The preliminary panied by a low form of fever, requiring the and Measles.

The preliminary panied by a low form of fever, requiring the treatment is simple: from grain calomel, use of stimulants, wine or brandy; these for children, to 5 grains for adults, should be must, of course, be administered with great placed on the tongue and swallowed. About caution. In all stages, if the patient present an hour after, the first dose of the ammonia a sunken look, and the pulse be feeble, the (see next receipt ) is to be given, and repeated necessity for stimulants is indicated. Py every 3 or 4 hours, as long as the disorder giving them with caution is meant that only takes a favorable course.

If the disorder in- just suficient to keep up the vital powers creases in violence, the medicine must be should be given. given every 2 hours, or every hour, or sometimes even more frequently, till the graver Pox. The following has been found very 5759. To Prevent Fitting in Smallsymptoms are subdued. This medicine has effectual: The application consists of a solubeen found to possess similar powers over tion of india-rubber in chloroform, which is diphtheria. painted with a camel-hair pencil over the sur- 5752. Treatment of Scarlatina and face of the skin, where exposed, when the Measles. Dr. Witt states that sesquicarbon- eruption has become fully developed. When ate of ammonia is an antidote to scarlatina the chloroform has evaporated, which it very and measles. The dose in these complaints readily does, there is left a thin elastic film varies from 3 to 10 grains, according to the of india-rubber over the face. This the paage of the patient , given at longer or shorter tient feels to be rather comfortable, as it reintervals, according to the mildness or sever- moves itching and all irritation; and, what ity of the attack. The suitable dose dissolved is more important, pitting, once so common, in as small a quantity of cold water as will is thoroughly prevented by the application. admit of its being swallowed with as many In making the solution, the india-rubber grains of loaf sugar, merely to make it palata-must be cut into small pieces, and chloroform added till it is dissolved. Gutta-percha has 5764. Remedy for Shortness of been tried, but has not answered, on account Breath. Take spirits of ether, 1 ounce, and of its non-elasticity. Should any of the solu- camphor, 12 grains. Make a solution, of tion, from some cause, be torn off, apply the which take a tea-spoonful during the paroxsolution as before. ysm. This is usually found to afford inwhere the patient, from a quick and very laborious breathing, is obliged to be in an erect posture. 5760. Dr. George's Treatment to stantaneous relief in difficult breathing, de- Prevent Pitting in Small-Pox. Dr. pending on internal disease and other causes, George recommends the following treatment:

Firstly, from the commencement of the disease cover the whole body, face and all, with calamine, shaken through a common pepperbox, taking care that the powder does not remain in masses. The inflammation on each pustule is by these applications much brimstone and powder of aniseed, and 2 ounlessened, a point of great consequence Sec- ces sugar-candy powdered. Make all into ondly, sprinkle about 1 ounce powdered camphor every 2 or 3 nights between the under sheet and blanket, the whole length of the body, putting more about the shoulders and neck. The relief obtained by this, few would