Three medicines have been so highly commended in scarlet fever generally, by trust worthy observers, that it is expedient to notice them. The first is chlorate of potash (KO,C100 dissolved in water in the proportion of a dram to a pint. A pint, or a pint and a half, may be taken daily. It was originally prescribed under the idea that it gave off its oxygen to the blood, and was eliminated from the system as chloride of potassimn KCl).( Although this view is DOW known to be incorrect, there is no doubt that the salt is often prescribed with great benefit in this and some other diseases, as for example, diphtheria and typhus fever. The second medicine is a very weak, watery solution of chlorine, of which a pint may be taken in the day; and the third is carbonate of ammonia in five-grain doses three times a day, given in beef-tea, wine, etc.
In the early stage, before the appearance of the rash, scarlatina may be readily mis• taken for several other (ebrile diseases; after the appearance of the rash, the only disease for which it can lie mistaken is measles, and we must refer to the article on that disease for a notice of the distinctive characters of the two affections.
There is no complaint in ;void) the final result is more uncertain than this, and tho physician should give a very guarded opinion as to how any special case may termi nate.
Whether the disease is contagious throughout its course, or only at one particular period, is unknown; and if the physician is asked at what period the danger of imparting the disease on the one hand, or catching it on the other, is over, lie should candidly declare that he does not know. That the contagion remains attachea to furniture, clothing, etc.. for a long period is undoubted. Dr. Watson gives a remarkable instance of a small piece of infected flannel commtmicating the disease after the interval of a year The popular delusion that scarlatina is a mild and diminutive form of scarlet fever should always be corrected, as the error, if uncorrected, may do much harm by leading to a disregard of those precautions which are always necessary in this disease.