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

followed by tuberculosis. They furnish the soil, which only needs the
planting of the seed for its development. Children begotten of syphilitic
and cancerous parents come into the world handicapped by a feeble
vitality, and the conditions are favorable for tuberculosis.
Environment.—The surroundings, habits, and occupations also figure
prominently as predisposing causes. Among that large class of the
human race, known as the submerged half, their method of living is
conducive to the disease. Herded together in close quarters, where the
sun never finds its way, where foul air reeks with the poison given off
from the filthy inhabitants, and where wholesome food is an unknown
quantity, we find all the conditions favorable for the disease.
Dissipations of all kinds also tend to produce it, while occupations that
are attended by inhaling irritant particles, render the subject peculiarly
liable. Summing up the predisposing causes, we find that,—whether the
result of heredity, such as tuberculous, syphilitic, or cancerous offspring,
or from environment—poverty, drunkenness, or occupation, or from
previous diseases, whether catarrhal or infectious,—they all produce the
same result; viz., an enfeebled vitality, a poorly elaborated blood and
feeble resisting power; and when the infectious material, whatever it
may be, gains entrance into the system, the battle begins. The
conservative forces of the body are marshaled for the fray, the leukocyte
or phagocyte against the parasite. The weak succumbs to the strong,
the bacilli come off victorious, and tuberculosis is established. The
vitality having been reduced, the contest is a short one.
Exciting Cause.—The bacillus tuberculosis of Koch is now generally
recognized as the exciting cause. This organism is a slender, rod-shaped
body, straight or slightly curved, and, in rare instances, branched. Its
average length is from one and one-half to three and one-half microns,
or one-half the diameter of a red-blood corpuscle. After staining, it
presents a beady appearance, which may be due to the presence of
spores. (See frontispiece.)
It stains slowly with the basic aniline dyes, and what is peculiarly
characteristic is its resistance to decolorizing agents, such as a twentyper-cent
solution of sulphuric or nitric acid, the bacillus of leprosy being
the only other micro-organism possessing this same characteristic. It
may be grown on blood serum, glycerin, agar, bouillon, or potato, but
more easily on blood serum, which must be kept at 98°, the temperature
of the body. It requires about two weeks for their development, when
The Eclectic Practice of Medicine - PART I - Infectious Diseases - Page 181