46 DISEASES OF CHILDREN. 



thing, both animal and vegetable, inclusive of the germs of disease). After a lapse of 

 twenty-four hours, it will be possible to enter the room, when the windows may be 

 opened. The room should then be thoroughly scrubbed, including the articles of 

 furniture remaining in it. The woodwork should be re-painted, the ceiling white- 

 washed, and the walls either papered or coloured. The bedding should be sent to an 

 tipholsterer's to be thoroughly disinfected and re-made. 



If the precautions we have enumerated were attended to more scrupulously and 

 carefully than usually is the case, we believe that we should hear less frequently of 

 houses being infected with scarlet fever for years at a time, and remaining often 

 tenantless because of the general belief that "it is impossible to get the scarlet fever 

 out of it." If the attack of scarlet fever be mild, the friends are apt to forget how 

 terrible the disease may be, and are unwilling to submit to the irksomeness of 

 separation for a time from their friends and children. 



We may mention here, that if a scarlet-fever patient be moved while the infection 

 still be on him, and if others, not having been forewarned, suffer harm in consequence, 

 a civil action for damages may be brought against those who have been instrumental 

 in importing this disease into a house. Such actions have been brought, and damages 

 have been recovered. 



As regards the administration of medicines in scarlet fever, we may say at once 

 that in favourable cases no drugs are necessary, and a child will pass successfully 

 through a mild attack of the disease without taking a single dose of medicine. 

 The patient must be kept quiet and cool. The diet must be exceedingly simple, 

 and the bowels must be carefully regulated. If the throat is badly ulcerated, the 

 ulcers may be touched, once and for all, with a stick of lunar caustic or a little 

 strong muriatic acid. These are measures which, however, if resorted to, must be 

 performed by the medical man. The mouth, as before mentioned, must be kept clean, 

 and a strong solution of chlorate of potash may be used as a wash. 



If the rheumatic pains in the joints supervene, there is nothing more efficacious 

 than quinine, which may be given in tolerably strong doses (three or four grains) 

 every three or four hours. 



We have heard much of late years of the efficacy of belladonna in this disease, 

 both for the cure, or as a prophylactic or preventive against contagion. The 

 evidence in its favour, however, is not reliable, and although it has been very largely 

 given at fever hospitals and elsewhere, the results have not been such as to 

 warrant us in concluding that it has any specific action. Dr. Balfour, of the Royal 

 Military Asylum, Chelsea, tried, during an epidemic of scarlatina, the preventive 

 powers of belladonna. He selected 151 children, who had never had scarlet fever, and 

 gave belladonna to every alternate one. The result was that two in each section 

 were attacked with the fever. The number attacked was singularly small, and he 

 very justly remarks, " Had I given the remedy to all the boys, I should probably 

 have attributed to it the cessation of the epidemic." 



Scrofula. This is a constitutional condition which is often confounded with, but 

 should be kept distinct from, tuberculosis. The children who manifest a tendency 

 towards scrofula are sometimes called " strumous," and the old name of the " king's 



