site logo

Period Of Desquamation Or Peeling-off

Categories: DESCRIPTION OF SCARLET-FEVER.
Sources: Hydriatic Treatment Of Scarlet Fever In Its Different Forms

About the sixth or seventh day, the epidermis, or cuticle of the skin

begins to peal off, commencing in those places which first became the

seat of the rash, and gradually continuing all over the body. In such

parts as are covered with a thin delicate cuticle (as the face, breast,

&c.) the cuticle comes off in small dry scurfs; in such parts as are

covered with a thicker epidermis, in large flakes. There have been

inst
nces of almost complete gloves and slippers coming away from

patients' hands and feet.--The fever subsides entirely, and so does the

inflammation of the throat and mouth, which become moist again. Also the

epithelia, or the delicate cuticles of the mucous membranes, which have

been affected by the disease, peal off and are coughed up with the tough

thick mucus covering the throat, or they are evacuated with the faeces

and the urine, forming a sediment in the latter.--Desquamation is

usually completed in from three to five days; sometimes it requires a

longer time; under hydriatic treatment it seldom lasts more than a few

days. Whilst desquamation is taking place, a new cuticle forms itself,

which, being exceedingly thin at first, gives the patient a redder color

than usual for some time, and requires him to be cautious, in order to

prevent bad consequences from exposure.--



Thus the disease makes its regular course in about ten days, and, under

a course of hydriatic treatment, which not only assists the organism in

throwing off the morbid poison and keeps the patient in good condition,

but also protects him from the influence of the atmosphere, the patient

may consider himself out of danger and leave the sick-room under proper

caution, of which we shall speak hereafter.



More

;