of this disorder; and she must be more than ordinarily
vigilant on this head, when the slightest disposition to such disorder
is manifested. Again; she must not forget that the symptoms so commonly
ascribed as characteristic of worms are much more frequently caused by
other diseases; that at no time, therefore, is she justified in giving
worm powders, or strong doses of medicine for such symptoms; for if
they do exist, their use is always attended with risk, and if they do
not, the debility which they occasion in the stomach and bowels may
itself become the source of their production.
Sect. V. SCARLET FEVER.
There are several varieties of this disease; it will be more
perspicuous, however, for our purpose to speak of it under the two
following forms:--
Mild scarlet fever;
Scarlet fever, with sore throat.
MILD SCARLET FEVER.--In this form of the disease there is only the rash
with fever.
SYMPTOMS.--The anticipating symptoms are those of fever: they precede
the eruption. The degree of fever, however, is variable; for the
symptoms are sometimes so moderate as scarcely to attract attention,
slight and irregular shivering, nausea, perhaps vomiting, thirst, and
heat of skin; whilst, at others, there is considerable constitutional
disturbance, indicated by pungent heat of skin, flushing of the face,
suffusion of the eyes, pain in the head, great anxiety and
restlessness, and occasionally slight delirium.
These symptoms are followed on the second day (in the majority of
instances) by the rash. This first appears in numerous specks or minute
patches of a vivid red colour on the face, neck, and chest. In about
four-and-twenty hours it becomes gradually diffused over the whole
trunk. On the following day (the third) it extends to the upper and
lower extremities, so that at this period the whole surface of the body
is of a bright red colour, hot and dry. The efflorescence, too, is not
always confined to the skin, but occasionally tinges the inside of the
lips, cheeks, palate, throat, nostrils, and even the internal surface
of the eyelids. Sometimes the efflorescence is continuous and
universal; but more generally on the trunk of the body there are
intervals of a natural hue between the patches, with papulous dots
scattered over them, the colour being most deep on the loins and
neighbouring parts, at the flexure of the joints, and upon those parts
of the body which are subjected to pressure. It is als
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