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HINTS TO TRAVELLERS. 
Diseases and their Treatment. 
The Infectious Fevers. 
In discussing the following fevers, the term “ incubation period ” 
frequently occurs, and some explanation of this term is necessary. 
By incubation period is meant the time which elapses from the date of 
exposure to infection to the first symptoms of illness—not the appearance 
of the rash. The date of eruption of the rash is calculated from the first 
symptom of illness. 
Scarlet Fever, or Scarlatina. 
Incubation period, three to eight days. Rash appears second day. 
Rash. —Numerous minute red spots, evenly distributed all over the 
surface of the body, upon a general rose-red blush. The area immedi¬ 
ately surroundinglhe mouth is not affected. 
Symptoms. —Shivering fits, sickness, high temperature, sore throat, 
headache, pains in the back. The sickness is very characteristic in 
children. 
Treatment. —Isolation. Bed in an airy room. Light food. If the 
fever is high (104° E.), the body may be sponged with tepid water. If 
the throat is very inflamed, an antiseptic gargle should be used. As the 
course of infectious fevers cannot be cut short, the chief aim of treat¬ 
ment should be to avert complications and the return of distressing 
symptoms—over-treatment with drugs must be guarded against. 
After the rash has subsided, peeling of the skin takes place, beginning 
on the face as a very fine powdery deposit. The process then spreads 
to other parts of the body, the last places to peel being the palms of the 
hands, the soles of the feet, and between the fingers and toes. The 
peeling process takes from four to six weeks, and the patient is infectious 
during the whole of this period. 
To prevent the spread of infection from the peeling surface, the body 
should be rubbed over with boracic ointment, or carbolic or olive oil. 
Complications. —As scarlet fever may be followed by heart, kidney, or 
ear trouble, the patient should not be allowed to get up until at least a 
week after the acute symptoms have subsided. 
