SCARLET FEVER. Synonyms.—Scarlatina; Scarlet Rash. Definition ...

Synochoid fever is frequently complicated with local diseases, most
generally of an inflammatory character; yet, as the fever is fully
developed before the local disease commences, the symptoms of the
latter are often very obscure.
“With Predominant Affection of the Cerebro-Spinal Centers.—This forms
the nervous fever of older writers, and is not an uncommon disease. The
symptoms are all increased in intensity; the skin is intensely hot and
pungent, especially of the head and face; the pulse is rapid, strong, and
full; the breathing frequent and suspirous, and the eyes injected and
suffused. There is great irritability and restlessness, with more or less
intense headache, giddiness, intolerance to light and noise, and greatly
increased general sensibility. Within three or four days, delirium makes
its appearance, followed in a longer or shorter time by coma-vigil, coma
and insensibility, and by subsultus tendinum.
“In some cases, the cerebral affection being intense, we find stupor
making its appearance speedily, accompanied by a slow, oppressed, and
intermittent pulse. If the affection of the nervous centers is acute, the
disease may terminate fatally without much disorganization of the
blood; but if not, the fever rapidly assumes a typhoid character.
“With Predominant Affection of the Respiratory Apparatus.—This is the
most common complication of continued fever, though, generally, it
exists in but a slight degree. The bronchial mucous membrane is
frequently irritated, with slight implication of the lungs. This necessarily
aggravates the fever, and induces farther complication by preventing
proper oxygenation of the blood. The patient complains of slight
oppression and difficulty of breathing, with accelerated respiration and
slight cough. If bronchitis is fully developed, the difficulty of breathing
is increased, and secretion is generally established early, and a mucous
rhoncus is heard over the chest, upon auscultation. If much of the
structure of the lung becomes diseased, the breathing is hurried,
oppressed, and sometimes laborious, the sputum rounded and streaked
with blood, and in a short time exhibits the characteristic rusty color of
pneumonia. There are manifest symptoms of imperfect aeration of the
blood, dark, dusky hue of the lips. and tongue, flushed appearance of
face, oppressed circulation, and coldness of tlie extremities. With such
complications, we notice that prostration is very rapid, and
contamination of the fluids speedily ensues, with typhoid symptoms.
Low delirium and coma are frequent attendants upon this condition.
The Eclectic Practice of Medicine - PART I - Infectious Diseases - Page 258