168 BACTERIOLOGY FOR NURSES 



When any doubt exists concerning the rabid condi- 

 tion of the animal, it is never killed, but kept for 

 observation, as a diagnosis after death is often 

 impossible. 



In the statistics of the Pasteur Institute of Paris 

 it is shown that in 1886 there were 2671 persons 

 treated, with 25 deaths; and in 1898 there were 

 1465 persons treated, with 3 deaths. 



SCARLET FEVER 



Scarlet fever is an acute fever, accompanied by a 

 diffused, vivid scarlet rash from which it derives 

 its name, and by throat complications, varying from 

 a simple sore throat to a serious diphtheritic infection. 

 The organism which causes scarlet fever is still un- 

 known, although many years of research have been 

 devoted to the subject by bacteriologists in all parts 

 of the world. Secondary infections of streptococci 

 are very common in scarlet fever. 



The sources of infection in scarlet fever are still 

 disputed points, while there is probably no doubt that 

 infectious particles are projected from the mouth and 

 nose by the acts of sneezing and coughing, the former 

 theory that the peeling epidermis was the chief source 

 of danger is no longer held by the best authorities. 



Rigid quarantine, with scrupulous disinfection of 



