DISEASES OF CHILDREN. 293 
minutes. In all probability this will cause vomiting, which is 
desired. Ifit does not, give some of the emetic powder, or 
put the fluid extract on the nipple. This, which is a 
modified Thompsonian course, has cured many even hopeless 
cases. Ifthe child is old enough, the vapour bath should not 
be neglected. The father may give it one on his knees, as 
Thompson did, (see page138.) In additionto theelastic bandage 
on the head, a cold compress may be put on in the form of a 
linen or cloth cap, wet with vinegar or vinegar and water will 
been found beneficial. There is one word for this, as for many 
other complaints, that is, perseverance. 
SCARLATINA, OR SCARLET FEVER 
Is a dangerous disease, most prevalent with the young. It is 
contagious, malignant, and inflammatory, and often carries off 
whole families. The disease commences in the same way as 
all other fevers, with cold and heat alternately, shivering, &c. ; 
after which the skin presents a red spotted appearance, at 
first covering the breast and neck. It may be distinguished 
from the measies by the fact of the spots being larger, 
irregular, and gradually running into each other, and finally 
assuming a general scarlet rush over the whole body. It is 
generally accompanied with an affection of the throat, 
difficulty of swallowing, great thirst, hot skin, &c., and as the 
disease advances, headache, which often becomes intense; 
the sleep is broken by sudden twitchings of the limbs, 
convulsive starting and very often delirium. When the disease 
is violent and not properly managed death takes place at a very 
early period. The causes are numerous, independent of con- 
tagion ; unwholesome food, filthy and damp houses, unclean- 
liness, putrid animal and vegetable effluvia, &c. It is hard, 
sometimes, to account for the appearance of this trouble, 
especially in the colonies, where the conditions of life 
are more favourable than athome. We have seen it originate 
in a family where none of the above-named causes were 
found. While we would avoid anything approaching 
to superstition, may we not acknowledge that the sense 
